University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 22, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2024-2025

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.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences, and purposes they serve.
  • understand 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.
  • understand professional ethical principles and their historical development, and be able to work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
  • understand 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  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  is not available for your transfer institution, please check the  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, JOUR 108, and JOUR 208 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

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


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “ 

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


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.

III. Additional College Requirements (4-8 units)


Besides core requirements and major requirements, students must also take a foreign language. Units may vary depending on initial course placement.

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.

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.