Apr 06, 2025  
2013-2014 EIU Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2013-2014 EIU Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Journalism (B.A.)

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Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

Semester Hours required for the Journalism Major: 70 semester hours

Major

Journalism majors may apply no more than 12 transfer credit hours, nor more than 48 total credit hours in journalism courses, toward the 120-hour graduation requirement. Journalism majors must successfully complete HIS 3940 and either PLS 1153G or HIS 3600G. A minimum grade of C is required for all Journalism courses. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all Journalism coursework.

The Journalism major consists of 69-70 hours in three required areas and a fourth voluntary area of co-curricular activities.

I. Journalism Course Work - Total Hours: 39-40

* This requirement may be waived by the department chair with evidence of equivalent experience.

Core:  27 or 28 hours

Plus one Media and Society Course from:

Electives - Total Hours: 12

Students may choose a maximum of 12 hours of elective courses in Journalism to complete the 39- or 40-hour requirement or they may use their elective hours to pursue a concentration (listed later in this section) in a specific area of Journalism. With the assistance of their academic advisors, students should choose their Block A and Block B courses to complement their concentrations.

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

With consultation of the academic advisor, include a course from three of these four areas: Political Science, History, Sociology, and Economics. With permission of advisor and chair, student may substitute other courses at same level (e.g., 2000, 3000) or higher for listed courses within the same field of study.

  • Foreign Language 2201G
  • any upper division course in Geography
  • any upper division course in International History
  • any upper division course in Philosophy
  • any upper division course in International Political Science
  • any upper division course in Psychology
  • any upper-division course in Sociology.

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

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 is 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, Fresh, the Warbler yearbook, WEIU-TV-FM, the Agency.

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

Concentration in Writing and Reporting

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of writers and reporters in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Nine Hours from the Following:

Concentration in Editing

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of editors in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Six Hours from the Following:

Concentration in Design

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of visual communicators in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Three Hours from the Following:

Concentration in Photojournalism

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of photojournalists and videographers in journalistic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Three Hours from the Following:

Concentration in New and Emerging Media

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of new media journalists and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Three Hours from the Following:

Concentration in Public Relations

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of public relations professionals and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Students pursuing a Public Relations Concentration must take JOU 3920 as their Media and Society course in the Journalism Core.

Concentration in Broadcast News

This concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and values necessary to understand the roles and functions of journalists in broadcasting/electronic media and to provide them with the skills and practice necessary to excel in such roles.

Choose Six Hours from the Following:

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