Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 EIU Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 EIU Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Department of Journalism

Journalism (B.A.)



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Our students report breaking news, investigate corruption, design award-winning publications, produce newscasts, cover professional sports, promote college athletics, and frame major events with their lenses. Our alumni win Pulitzer Prizes, Emmy Awards and earn all kinds of other recognitions for their journalistic efforts. But our students learn so much more than journalism. They run major movie studios, lobby to save the environment, create digital businesses, direct social media, argue legal cases, run political campaigns, write graphic novels, and build websites. In our program, students learn to think critically, produce creatively, write precisely, process information quickly, interview thoughtfully, manage people, and develop an excellent work ethic. This option is for those who prefer a broader, more general approach to learning about journalism. 

Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

The Journalism major consists of 745 hours in required journalism coursework and additional liberal arts classes.
 

Complete one of the following courses:


Students may take additional Media & Society courses as electives.

Journalism Option Required Courses: 18 hours


Complete all of the following required courses.

II. Liberal Arts Area (Block A) - Total Hours: 18


Journalism majors with Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, and Sports Media Relations options must complete Block A coursework with consultation from their academic advisors. Note: Students may double count a general education course that appears on any Block A list, but they may not double count classes in Block A and Block B.

1. Required courses:

  • HIS 3940: History of American Journalism
  • PLS 3603: State and Local Government
  • One course with emphasis on international or cultural diversity from a specific list of courses kept updated as university offerings change. *The list is available in the journalism office and from your academic advisor.
  • A fourth class from either SOC or ECN.

2. No more than 2 classes may come from the same discipline.

3. No more than 2 classes may come from the following list of courses at the 2000-level.

  • ANT 2200G     Introduction to Anthropology
  • ECN 2800G     Economics of Social Issues
  • ECN 2801G     Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ECN 2802G     Principles of Microeconomics
  • ENG 2760       Introduction to Professional Writing
  • FL_ 2201        Intermediate French, German, Italian, Latin, or Spanish
  • PHI 2500G     The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics
  • PLS 2253       Introduction to International Relations
  • PLS 2703       Introduction to Public Policy
  • SOC 2750G    Social Problems in Contemporary Society
  • SOC 2761      Introduction to Criminology

4. Remaining classes must come from 3000+ classes in the following disciplines. Any class at the 3000+ level from these disciplines is acceptable. Students and advisors should pay attention to prerequisites. A list of suggested classes is kept in the journalism department office and with your advisor.

  • CMN
  • ECN
  • ENG
  • GEO
  • HIS
  • PHI
  • PLS
  • PSY
  • SOC

III. Non-Journalism Specialty (Block B) - Total Hours: 12


For Journalism, Broadcast Journalism and Sports Media Relations options.

Selection of these upper-division courses [numbered 3000 and 4000], ordinarily in a block from a single department or related courses offered by more than one academic department, requires consultation with student’s advisor. Upon recommendation of advisor, chair may approve one lower division course if it’s a prerequisite for upper division courses. Courses must be integrated into student’s program in Journalism. Block A courses cannot be counted toward Block B. A second major or a non-journalism minor meets the block B requirement.

IV. Co-Curricular Volunteer Activities


Students who have worked on student media have found co-curricular learning activities and experiences to be invaluable. Opportunities available on student media: news, business and advertising staffs of The Daily Eastern News, DENNews.com, the Warbler yearbook, WEIU-TV-FM, the Agency.

Organizations that offer significant learning experiences include the Public Relations Student Society of America, National Association of Black Journalists, Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association, Mid-America Press Institute, and Society for Collegiate Journalists.

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