University General Course Catalog 2024-2025
Journalism, B.A.
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 Return to: Programs in the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism
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.
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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 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, 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 “ 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
Choose one course:
B. Diversity & Equity - CO10
Choose one course:
C. Global Contexts - CO11
Choose one course:
E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13
Choose one course:
F. Application - CO14
Choose one course:
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.
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.
A. Journalism Core (21 units)
B. Journalism Electives (18 units)
Students must complete one journalism emphasis for their upper-division course work (18 units).
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
- Sports Media
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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Choose one from the following (3 units)
Choose two from the following (6 units)
Elective (6 units)
Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis. 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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Choose one from the following (3 units)
Elective (6 units)
Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis. 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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Choose one from the following (3 units)
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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Choose two from the following (6 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. 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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Elective (6 units)
Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis. 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.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Required (6 units)
Choose two courses from the following list: Choose two from the following (6 units)
Elective (6 units)
Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis. Sports Media Emphasis (18 units)
This emphasis is for those who are captivated by the complexities of the sports media and want to learn about sports media production and critical thinking skills to tackle the biggest questions in sports media. Dive deep into the strategies of writers, broadcasters, commentators, and athletes across every level, from your local high school bleachers to the global broadcast booth. Future careers could include sports media manager, orchestrating productions that capture the raw emotion and drama of the game; sports media analyst, uncovering hidden trends and informing winning strategies; sports journalist, crafting compelling stories that ignite fan passion and drive engagement; social media strategist, building vibrant communities and amplifying fan voices; sports PR and advertising professional, putting your team’s best foot forward in the media spotlight; sports media educator, sharing your knowledge and shaping the future of athletic narratives; and more.
6 of the 18 units required must be at the 400-level for this emphasis.
Choose four from the following (12 units)
Elective (6 units)
Complete two additional upper-division journalism courses in any emphasis.
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. First Semester (16 units)
Second Semester (16 units)
First Semester (15 units)
- JOUR 108 - Media Design (3 units)
- History & Culture (3 units) CO5
- Physical & Natural Phenomena (3 units) CO4 or CO4L
- Minor (6 units)
Second Semester (15 units)
- JOUR 208 - Media Production (3 units)
- Science, Technology & Society (3 units) CO9
- Minor (3 units)
- General Elective (3 units)
- History & Culture (3 units) CO5
First Semester (15 units)
Second Semester (15 units)
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)
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Return to: Programs in the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism
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