Journalism and Media Studies, BA
Requirements
Students in Journalism and Media Studies should carefully review the degree map (see tab above) because not all courses are offered every term. Students should also note that JMS 220 MEDIA WRITING is a prerequisite for several courses in the major and should be taken as soon as possible; it can be taken concurrently with COMM 201 COMMUNICATION IN THE INFO AGE. Consult a faculty member or an academic advisor in the program if you have questions.
Students complete a total of 12 courses (37 credit hours) for the Journalism and Media Studies degree, including 10 core courses and two major electives. Highlights of the program include:
- COMM 201 COMMUNICATION IN THE INFO AGE is the gateway to the program. We recommend students take COMM 201 as soon as they complete ENG 102. Transfer students may have an equivalent course that can be substituted.
- Students complete a required professional internship experience in the field, JMS 399 MEDIA INTERNSHIP
- Students conclude their program with a required capstone project, JMS 392 THE MULTIMEDIA PROJECT
- Transfer students must complete at least seven JMS courses (21 credit hours) at Roosevelt.
Note these guidelines:
- 100-level courses do not count toward the hours required for Journalism and Media Studies.
- Letter grades (not pass/fail) are required for courses in Journalism and Media Studies, with the exception of JMS 399 MEDIA INTERNSHIP Internships are pass/fail.
- Grades below C (not C-) are may not be used toward the major in Journalism and Media Studies.
Journalism & Media Studies B.A.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| JMS 203 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA THEORY | 3 |
| JMS 219 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA PRODUCTION | 3 |
| JMS 220 | MEDIA WRITING | 4 |
| JMS 305 | VIDEO PRODUCTION | 3 |
| JMS 319 | MULTIMEDIA REPORTING | 3 |
| JMS 350 | EDITING | 3 |
| or IMC 240 | MARKETING RESEARCH | |
| JMS 351 | PUBLIC OPINION & PROPAGANDA | 3 |
| JMS 363 | LAW AND ETHICS | 3 |
| JMS 392 | THE MULTIMEDIA PROJECT | 3 |
| JMS 399 | MEDIA INTERNSHIP | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Two courses at the 200 or 300 level in Journalism and Media Studies, Communication, Graphic Design, or Integrated Marketing Communications (COMM 201 may not be used as an elective) | 6 | |
| General Education, University Writing Requirement, and Electives | ||
| Hours outside the major to total 120 | 83 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
-
CORE Requirements (General Education)
Course List Code Title Credit Hours First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course FYS 101 FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE 1 or TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101 Communication Requirement ENG 101 COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING 3 ENG 102 COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH 3 COMM 101 PUBLIC SPEAKING (or program specific CORE communications course) 3 Ideas of Social Justice 3 credits in coursework categorized as Ideas. 3 Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts 9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Art History, English (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 102), History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Communication and Women's and Gender Studies 9 Mathematics MATH 110 QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or above) 1 3 Science One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab). 7-8 Social Sciences 9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies 9 Experiential Learning 6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning. 6 Total Credit Hours 47-48 - 1
Higher level of Math may be required by major
These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.
- Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
- Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
- Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
- Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
- Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
- Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
- Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
- Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)
Journalism and Media Studies BA
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| FYS 1011 | 1 | ENG 102 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | 3 | COMM 101 | 3 |
| MATH 110 | 3 | Ideas of Social Justice6 | 3 |
| BIOL 111 or 1125 | 4 | Physical Science5 | 3 |
| Social Science #1 | 3 | Social Science #2 | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| COMM 201 (Social Science #3) | 3 | JMS 305 (offered spring terms only) | 3 |
| JMS 203 | 3 | JMS 319 (offered spring terms only) | 3 |
| JMS 219 | 3 | JMS 350 (or General Elective)4, 8 | 3 |
| JMS 220 | 4 | Humanities #2 | 3 |
| Humanities #1 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| JMS 351 | 3 | JMS 399 (or General Elective)7 | 3 |
| JMS 363 | 3 | JMS 2XX or JMS 3XX2, 3 | 3 |
| IMC 240 (or General Elective)4,8 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| Humanities #3 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| General Elective4 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| JMS 399 (or General Elective)7 | 3 | JMS 392 (offered spring terms only)7 | 3 |
| JMS 2XX or JMS 3XX2, 3 | 3 | General Elective 4 | 3 |
| General Elective 4 | 3 | General Elective 4 | 3 |
| General Elective 4 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| General Elective 4 | 3 | General Elective4 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credit Hours 120 | |||
- 1
The First-Year Success course is required of freshmen with fewer than 12 hours and is taken in the first semester at RU.
- 2
Any course at the 200 level within the discipline. Two electives in the major are required.
- 3
Any course at the 300 level within the discipline. Two electives in the major are required.
- 4
General electives are courses outside the major. A course counting toward a minor may be taken here in place of a general elective.
- 5
One Natural Science course must have a lab; BIOL 111 (3 cr. hrs.) and BIOL 112 (1 cr. hr.) = 4 credit hours.
- 6
An Ideas of Social Justice course is required for all new students with fewer than 30 hours and should be taken in students' second semester at Roosevelt. Ideas of Social Justice courses at the 200 level in Integrated Marketing Communications or Journalism and Media Studies can fulfill this requirement and simultaneously be used as an elective in the major for students in the B.A. in Digital Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations; the B.A. in Graphic Design; and the B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies.
- 7
JMS 392 THE MULTIMEDIA PROJECT and JMS 399 MEDIA INTERNSHIP fulfill the university's requirement for two Experiential Learning courses. Additional Experiential Learning courses are optional.
- 8
Students majoring in Journalism and Media Studies choose between JMS 350 EDITING and IMC 240 MARKETING RESEARCH . Discuss your career plans with your advisor before making your selection.