Mission & Goals
The ability of people to govern themselves in a democratic society can be no better than the quality of news and information they receive. The Founding Fathers recognized this principle in the First Amendment, which attempts to guarantee that no government can censor the free flow of information, information which people need in order to be informed and to think critically and well. This principle is just as vital in our modern world, where the lack of timely, reliable, high-quality information leads to erroneous impressions and flawed public policy. The San Francisco State University Department of Journalism prepares students to search for, gather and present news in words and pictures according to the highest standards of truth, honesty, fairness, clarity, courage, independence, importance, perseverance and service to the democratic ideals that underlie the First Amendment.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, students must complete the “core” requirements of 28 units and take a total of 40 journalism units. (effective Fall 2005)
• For students in News-Editorial, Online News and Magazine sequences, only six journalism units may be lower division — Journalism 200 Journalism and the Mass Media, and Journalism 221 Newswriting, or their equivalents taken elsewhere.
• For students in the Photojournalism sequence, a maximum of nine journalism units may be lower division – Journalism 200 Journalism and the Mass Media, and Journalism 221 Newswriting, and Journalism 235 Photojournalism I, or their equivalents taken elsewhere.
• Journalism courses numbered 300 and above are not open to freshmen. It is recommended but not required that students become fluent as readers, conversationalists and writers in a foreign language.A journalism major must have a minimum of 80 non-journalism units in the 120 minimum overall units required for graduation. These 80 units must include at least 65 units in liberal arts and science courses. This requirement is consistent with the department’s philosophy that a well-rounded general education is crucial preparation for journalism and is consistent with the standards of the national accrediting agency that evaluates journalism education programs.
Core course units..........................28
Sequence course units.................12
Total required journalism units....40
Plus…
Non-Journalism units....................80
Total units for B.A. degree..........120Other Requirements
• Students may enroll in only one laboratory course per semester.
• Journalism majors and minors must earn at least C in each journalism laboratory and skills course.
• Journalism majors and minors must take all journalism courses and the required nine-unit upper division non-journalism block for letter grade only, except for Digital Skills for News.The VISUAL JOURNALISM REQUIREMENT
In recognition of the increasing visual emphasis in news communication, the Department of Journalism requires that all majors take at least one three-unit visual journalism course.ADDITION of the
ONLINE NEWS SEQUENCE
For the past several years, the department has offered an increasing number of online news courses to prepare majors for online news careers. Dozens of graduates have entered into online journalism since the mid-Nineties. Based on these successes we initiate the Online News Sequence, starting Fall 2002. With this addition, the number of sequences jumps to four. Courses required for this new sequence are listed in this brochure.NON-JOURNALISM
REQUIRED COURSESJournalism majors must complete at least nine upper division (300 and above) units in one of the following recommended areas of study:
Students must submit a 100-word proposal for the 9 units they wish to take, pending advisor's approval.
American Indian Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Black Studies, Business Administration, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, Critical Social Thought, Economics, English Language and Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature, History, Humanities, International Relations, Raza Studies, Labor Studies, Mathematics, NEXA, the Physical Sciences, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistics, Urban Studies or Women Studies, The Arts, Classics, Comparative Literature, Computer Science, Creative Arts, Drama, Ecology, Education, General Business and Management, Geography, Geology, Gerontology, Health Science, Health Studies, Holistic Health, Human Sexuality Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Music and Social Work.
Journalism majors must have a minimum of 80 non-journalism units in the 120 minimal overall units required for graduation.
These 80 units must include at least 65 units in liberal arts and science courses. This requirement is consistent with the department’s philosophy that a well-rounded general education is crucial preparation for journalism and is consistent with the standards of the national accrediting agency that evaluates journalism education programs. These standards exclude most classes in Broadcasting, Public Relations and Advertising from qualifying as non-journalism units. Journalism majors may take more journalism units than the 40 required.
MINOR IN JOURNALISM
This program is not a requirement for any credential or degree but is intended to give students an opportunity to pursue their interests in journalism in an organized way. A total of 25 units is required, approved by an adviser.
Program Units
JOUR 200 Journalism and the Mass Media 3
JOUR 220 Digital Skills for News 1
JOUR 221 Newswriting 3
JOUR 300 Reporting 3
JOUR 330 Editing 3
JOUR 609 Publication Laboratory 3
JOUR 610 Cultural Diversity and News 3
Units selected from the following: 3
JOUR 320 Depth Reporting
JOUR 321 Feature Writing
JOUR 420 Reporting Public Affairs
JOUR 421 Analytic Journalism
JOUR 560 Public Journalism
JOUR 595 Magazine Writing
Units selected from the following: 3
JOUR 301 History of Journalism
JOUR 666 Ethical Issues in Journalism
Total 25
