San Francisco State Journalism Department

Core Curriculum

All journalism majors are required to take ten specific, core courses before they graduate. Those classes are:

Journalism 200 — Journalism and the Mass Media
Journalism 220 — Digital News Gathering (1 unit)
Journalism 221 — Newswriting
Journalism 300 — Reporting
Journalism 301 — History of Journalism
Journalism 305 — Mass Communication Law
Journalism 330 — Editing*
Journalism 609 — Publication Lab (two semesters)**
Journalism 610 — Cultural Diversity and News
Journalism 666 — Ethical Issues in Journalism

* Not required for Photojournalism Sequence.

** The second semester of Publication Lab can be fulfilled with the following classes: Jour 608, News Bureau, Jour 609, Publication Lab OR Jour 617, Journalism Internship.

It is recommended but not required that students become fluent as readers, conversationalists and writers in a foreign language.

Students are urged to complete general education requirements early.  Starting in Spring 2009, students must complete Seg I, Seg II, U.S. History and Government requirements with a C average and Jour 221, Newswriting with at least a C, before taking Jour 300, Reporting. 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.

News-Editorial Sequence

Complete two of the following:

Journalism 320 — Investigative Reporting
Journalism 321 — Feature Writing
Journalism 560 — Public Journalism
Journalism 570 — Opinion Writing
Journalism 595 — Magazine Writing

And one of the following:

Journalism 225 — Photojournalism I
Journalism 336 — Visual Storytelling
Journalism 395 — Intro to Online Journalism
Journalism 450 — Publication Design/Graphics

Magazine Sequence

Complete two of the following:

Journalism 500 — Contemporary Magazine
Journalism 595 — Magazine Writing

And one of the following:

Journalism 336 — Visual Storytelling
Journalism 450 — Publication Design/Graphics
Journalism 560 — Public Journalism

Online Sequence

Complete the following:

Journalism 395 — Intro to Online Journalism
Journalism 680 — Advanced Online Journalism

And two from of the following:

Journalism 320 — Investigative Reporting
Journalism 321 — Feature Writing
Journalism 560 — Public Journalism
Journalism 570 — Opinion Writing
Journalism 595 — Magazine Writing

Photojournalism Sequence

Complete either Photo I, II and II or Photo II, III and IV:

Journalism 235 — Photojournalism I
Journalism 335 — Photojournalism II
Journalism 435 — Photojournalism III
Journalism 535 — Photojournalism IV
Journalism 635 — Photojournalism V

Also, complete a 3-unit Journalism course not required for this sequence.

 

Fall 2008 Bulletin

For students entering the university in Fall 2008 and after, the Core curriculum remains the same, but the sequences are different.  Students must choose from two concentrations: Print/Online or Photojournalism. All journalism majors must also complete a minor in an area of liberal arts and science.  See the list of approved minors below.

Print/Online Concentration

Complete two of the following:

Journalism 320 — Investigative Reporting
Journalism 321 — Feature Writing
Journalism 395 — Intro to Online Journalism
Journalism 500 — Contemporary Magazine
Journalism 560 — Public Journalism
Journalism 570 — Opinion Writing
Journalism 595 — Magazine Writing
Journalism 680 — Advanced Online Journalism


And one of the following:

Journalism 235 — Photojournalism I
Journalism 336 — Visual StoryTelling
Journalism 450 — Publication Design/Graphics
Journalism 635 — Photojournalism V

Photojournalism Concentration

Complete either Photo I, II, and III or Photo II, III and IV or V:

Journalism 235 — Photojournalism I
Journalism 335 — Photojournalism II
Journalism 435 — Photojournalism III
Journalism 535 — Photojournalism IV
Journalism 635 — Photojournalism V

Also, complete a 3-unit Journalism course not required for this sequence.

Students who are following the bulletin in Fall 2008 and after must complete a minor in an area of liberal arts and science.

Required Minor in Non-Journalism Discipline: Because the practice of journalism requires an understanding of larger social, political, and cultural issues in society, the program requires students complete a minor in a liberal arts or science discipline. The list of approved minors includes:

African Area Studies Economics Middle East & Islamic Studies
Africana Studies English or other languages Modern Greek Studies
American Indian Studies European Studies Pacific Asian Studies
American Studies Finance Philosophy
Anthropology Foreign Languages Physics
Asian American Studies Global Peace, Human Rights, & Justice Political Science
Astronomy Health Education Raza Studies
Biology History Religious Studies
Chemistry Holistic Health Social Science
Cinema (Theory courses only) Humanities Sociology
Classics Information Systems South Asian Studies
Comparative Literature International Relations Urban Studies
Computer Science Jewish Studies Women's Health Issues
Criminal Justice Studies Labor Studies Women Studies
Critical Social Thought Latin America Area Studies World Development Studies
Decision Science Literature
Earth Science Mathematics

 

San Francisco State University Journalism Department
1600 Holloway Avenue, Humanities 305
San Francisco, CA 94132
415-338-1689
jour@sfsu.edu