University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2021-2022 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Journalism, B.A.


The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Journalism helps students turn their passion for storytelling into careers in news and documentary, advertising and public relations, film and media production, Spanish-language media and visual communication. The school balances enduring values of fair and ethical communication with emerging practices and new technologies. Students prepare for the professional world with experiential learning in the school's own production centers and agencies as well as with its media partners. Our alumni make a difference in their communities and across the world through the stories they tell and the causes they support.

Student Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • demonstrate the ability to write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
  • demonstrate understanding of concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.
  • demonstrate and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances.
  • demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and their historical development, and be able to work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups (including communities defined by gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion and sexual orientation) in a global society in relationship to communications.
  • conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.

Contact Information


301 Reynolds School of Journalism
(775) 784-6531

Please visit our website for information about academic advising and to make an appointment.

Sally Echeto (graduating seniors) - echeto@unr.edu
Amanda Rios (pre-majors, majors, and minors) - amandarios@unr.edu
Paul Mitchell (recruitment, retention) - pmitchel@unr.edu

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreements  and the degree planner (available by clicking at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement  is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core Agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Admission Requirements


PRE-MAJOR AND MAJOR STATUS

Students may declare a Journalism major at any time by completing a Declaration of Major form and submitting it to the advising center in RSJ 303. Beginning journalism students maintain Pre-Journalism status until the following requirements are met:

  • Sophomore standing (30 units completed).
  • An overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher and a journalism grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
  • Completion of: JOUR 103, JOUR 107 and JOUR 108, with a grade of “C” or better in each and a GPA of 2.5 in the three classes. NOTE: Each of these classes may be repeated only once.
  • Submission of a completed major application form.

Journalism majors must maintain these GPAs to remain in the major.  A major will revert to Pre-Major status whenever either the journalism or overall GPA fall below 2.5.  After two consecutive semesters below 2.5 in either the overall or major GPA, the student may be removed from the major.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.5
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.5
  • Residency Requirement | 30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 40 Upper-Division Units
  • Half Program Units/4 Year Institution | 60 Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “ Core English and Math Completion Policy  

Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course descriptions.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO2  courses.

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L


At least one course must have an approved lab component. 

Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO4/CO4L  courses.

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6  courses.

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


F. History & Culture (6 units) - CO5


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO5  courses.

G. Constitution (3 units) - CO8


II. Additional Core Requirements (12 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV).  Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


C. Global Contexts - CO11


D. Ethics - CO12


E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13


F. Application - CO14


III. Additional College Requirements (4-8 units)


Students are required to take at least 72 units outside the School of Journalism to meet accreditation requirements. Besides core requirements and major requirements, students must also take:

A. Foreign Language (4-8 units)


Must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equal to a second-semester course level by:

(a) completion of a second-semester college course in a foreign language, 

(b) placement examination or credit-by-examination through the Department of World Languages and Literatures.

Note(s):


  • First-semester foreign language courses are prerequisites for the courses listed above. 
  • Four years of high school foreign language instruction does not satisfy this requirement.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 40 upper-division credits to graduate. The journalism major requires 27 upper-division credits; this means another 13 credits of upper-division courses must be earned as part of the core curriculum or the minor requirement. 

IV. Major Requirements (39 units)


The journalism major includes 21 journalism core units and 18 journalism elective units.

Twelve of the required 39 units must be earned in courses numbered 400-499.

B. Journalism Electives (18 units)


Students must complete one journalism emphasis for their upper-division course work (18 units). TWO of these upper division courses must be at the 400-level. 

We have six emphases to choose from:

  • News, Broadcasting and Documentary
  • Public Relations and Advertising
  • Film and Media Production
  • Visual Communication
  • Spanish Language Media
  • Media Studies

We encourage students to talk with a faculty mentor when planning a path through the journalism major.

Many upper-division courses require prerequisites. Students should plan courses carefully to insure they are prepared to take the 400-level courses they need to graduate. Some courses are taught every semester but others are only taught once a year or once every other year. The class schedule on MyNevada provides a list of those courses taught in a given semester. For a complete list of journalism courses and prerequisites, visit the Course Descriptions section in the online catalog.

News, Broadcasting and Documentary Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who want to tell compelling stories of diverse communities accurately and fully with a variety of media. Future careers could include journalist, reporter (print, digital, TV, radio), editor, producer, anchor, videographer, photographer, podcaster, documentarian, writer, engagement editor, data journalist, social media manager, audience analyst, and many other possibilities.

Public Relations and Advertising Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who want to develop their ability to think creatively and influence communities, consumers and society. Future careers could include work for public relations and advertising agencies, private and corporate businesses, government agencies, non-profit and charitable organizations and independent freelance businesses.

Film and Media Production Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who want to create short and long form audiovisual narratives for a variety of purposes. Future careers could include filmmaker, documentarian, creative director, multimedia producer and many other possibilities.

Choose one from the following (3 units)

Courses used to meet other requirements may not be reused here.

Elective (6 units)

Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis.

Visual Communication Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who are curious and want to know how the world works, who like to tell stories visually by taking photographs, shooting video, designing brands, data visualizations, websites, or promotional materials, who care about making things better, and like to do something new every day. Future careers could include visual communication designer, information designer, interactive producer, web designer, photographer, product designer, video producer, videographer.

Spanish Language Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who want to work professionally in journalism or advertising/public relations incorporating English and Spanish. Future careers could include working as bilingual reporters, editors and producers. Bilingual account executives and managers. Engagement editors, media producers and media managers interested in targeting Spanish-speaking populations.

Media Studies Emphasis (18 units)


This emphasis is for students who thrive in complexity and are looking for sophisticated analytical and critical tools to address big questions about why media professionals do what they do, on a local, regional, national and global level. Future careers could include media management, production, education, administration, entrepreneurship, media buying, digital technologies, data analytics, social media strategies, national and international correspondence, journalistic reporting, PR/advertising, strategic messaging, public policy and service, politics, law and careers in academia as educators and scholars.

V. Minor Requirements (18-21 units)


Students may complete any minor approved by the University, except that students may not receive credit for both a minor and a major in the same discipline. Completion of a second major or degree approved by the university satisfies this requirement.

Journalism students are encouraged to consider a second major or double minor. With advance planning, many double majors can be completed within four years.

VI. Electives (13-23 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


If you are considering a double major or double minor please make an appointment with a journalism advisor so we can assist in your selection of core curriculum courses.

A. First Year


First Semester (16 units)


Second Semester (16 units)


B. Second Year


First Semester (15 units)


  • (3 units)
  • History & Culture (3 units) CO5
  • Physical & Natural Phenomena (3 units) CO4 or CO4L
  • Minor (6 units) 

Second Semester (15 units)


  • (3 units)
  • Science, Technology & Society (3 units) CO9
  • Minor (3 units)
  • General Elective (3 units)
  • History & Culture (3 units) CO5

C. Third Year


First Semester (15 units)


Second Semester (15 units)


D. Fourth Year


First Semester (15 units)


Second Semester (13-15 units)


  • JOUR Emphasis #5 (3 units)
  • JOUR Emphasis #6 (3 units) 
  • General Elective OR Minor (7-9 units)