News-Editorial Sequence

The Journalism Department faculty recommends the plan below as an effective way to move through the News-Editorial sequence in the department. Skills classes may not be taken until after the sophomore year. This plan is designed for students who choose the plan early in their academic career. Students who begin the major later will need to adapt this plan, but all students will need a minimum of five semesters to complete the journalism requirements.
Students are urged to complete general education requirements early. See the current SF State university bulletin for information about requirements.

Meet with your advisor every semester to update advising records and to plan your schedule.
All journalism majors are required to take eight specific, core courses before they graduate. Those classes are:

Journalism 200 -- Journalism and the Mass Media Journalism 220 -- Digital Skills for News (1 unit)
Journalism 221 -- Newswriting
Journalism 300 -- Reporting
Journalism 301 -- History of Journalism
Journalism 305 -- Mass Communication Law
Journalism 609 -- Publication Lab (two semesters)
Journalism 610 -- Cultural Diversity and News
Journalism 666 -- Ethical Issues in Journalism
It is recommended but not required that students become fluent as readers, conversationalists and writers in a foreign language.

Recommended Plan:

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1st Semester

Journalism 200:
Journalism & the Mass Media

Journalism 220:
Digital Skills for News

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2nd Semester

Journalism 221:
Newswriting

Journalism 301:
History of Journalism

Journalism 610:
Cultural Diversity and News

+ first class in non-journalism upper division (300 and above) 9-unit block

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3rd Semester

Journalism 300:
Reporting

Journalism 305:
Mass Communication Law

Journalism 330:
Editing

+ second class in non-journalism 9-unit block

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4th Semester

An advanced writing class (pick one of these):

<> | Opinion Writing
| Public Journalism<>
| News Bureau
| Magazine Writing
| Feature Writing
| Analytic Journalism

Journalism 666:
Ethical Issues in Journalism

+ third class in non-journalism 9-unit block

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5th Semester

Journalism 609:
Production Laboratory (Golden Gate [X]press)

An advanced writing class (pick one of these):

<> | Opinion Writing
| News Bureau
| Public Journalism
| Magazine Writing
| Feature Writing
| Analytic Journalism

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6th Semester

Journalism 609:
Publication Laboratory (Golden Gate [X]press)

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-- News-Editorial sequence students must complete Journalism 221, and Journalism 300, and an advanced writing class, in that order, with at least a C in each, before enrolling in a publications lab. Majors and minors must make at least a C in each skills a nd laboratory course.

<>-- Students can choose one Visual Journalism course from the following:
Jour 235 Photojournalism I
Jour 336 Visual Storytelling
Jour 450 Publication Design&Graphics
Jour 395 Intro to Online Journalism

Click here to return to SFSU Recommended Plan for Journalism Majors