San Francisco State University Journalism Department
Recommended Plan for Majors --

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 freshman 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 seven specific, core courses before they graduate. Those classes are:

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

Recommended Plan:


------------------------------------------------------------

1st Semester   Journalism 200:
                 Journalism & the Mass Media

------------------------------------------------------------

2nd Semester   Journalism 221:
                 Newswriting

                 Journalism 301:
                 History of Journalism

                 Journalism 610:
                 Diversity & U.S. Journalism

               + first class in non-journalism 9-unit block

------------------------------------------------------------

3rd Semester   Journalism 300:
                 Reporting

                 Journalism 305:
                 Mass Communication Law

                 Journalism 330:
                 Editing

               + second class in non-journalism 9-unit block

------------------------------------------------------------

4th Semester   An advanced writing class (pick one of these):

                 | Depth Reporting -- fall semesters only
                 | Reporting Public Affairs -- spring semesters only
                 | Magazine Writing
                 | Feature Writing

                  Journalism 666:
                  Ethical Issues in Journalism

                   

    + third class in non-journalism 9-unit block

------------------------------------------------------------

5th Semester   Journalism 609:
                 Production Laboratory (Golden Gate [X]press)

                 An advanced writing class (pick one of these):

                 | Depth Reporting -- fall semesters only
                 | Reporting Public Affairs -- spring semesters only
                 | Magazine Writing
                 | Feature Writing

------------------------------------------------------------

6th Semester   Journalism 609:
                 Publication Laboratory (Golden Gate [X]press)

------------------------------------------------------------
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.

Click here to return to SFSU Journalism Department Online