Mar 28, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2017-18 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2017-18 [Archived Catalog]

Journalism News and Information Major (B.S.J.)


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Major code BJ6906

Scripps College of Communication
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
200 Schoonover Center for Communication
20 E. Union St.
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.2590
Fax: 740.593.2592
http://www.scrippsjschool.org
info@scrippsjschool.org

Eddith Dashiell, Ph.D., Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies, contact person
 

Program Overview

The news and information track replaces four previous sequences (news/editing, online, magazine and broadcast news), reflecting the changes in the fundamental nature of journalism with the advent of mobile technology and the advent of the World Wide Web. Today’s media professionals create news and information in a variety of platforms, such as print, video, audio and digital. This semesters-based program responds to the new media landscape by giving students flexibility to take courses across what were previously narrow industry niches. The program includes courses in professional journalistic skills and conceptual issues in journalism along with a solid foundation in liberal arts.
 

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

 

The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism strives to admit the best academically and professionally qualified freshmen. The school considers the following criteria in granting admission:

·  Strength of high school curriculum

·  Performance in high school curriculum

·  High school class rank (if your class ranks)

·  High school grade point average

·  ACT and/or SAT scores

 

Students demonstrating notable talent or experience, as well as applicants from historically underrepresented populations, are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to include in their application essay information about all media-related experience, as well as participation in the school’s High School Journalism Workshop, if applicable.

Instead of reporting minimum test scores and GPA requirements, we report the middle 50% range to give a more accurate picture of the students who we are admitting. Our incoming freshmen class will be made up of students who are in the top 25% with higher scores as well as students in the lower 25% with lower scores. See the university-wide profile for comparison.

 For example, the middle 50% of the school’s admitted freshman classes for the fall of 2012 and 2013 had:

·  High school class rank: top 7-34%

·  ACT composite scores: 24-28

·  SAT composite scores (Math + Critical Reading): 1050-1250

·  High school grade point average: 3.64 (4.0 scale)

NOTE:  Students who attended our High School Journalism Workshop and earned Ohio University credit should indicate on the freshman application that they previously attended Ohio University (they should use the traditional application for incoming freshmen, despite the credit hour earned as a high school students). 

Change of Program Policy

Students seeking to change their major to journalism follow the same requirements as external transfer applicants.

External Transfer Admission

The requirements for transfer apply to all transfers from other departments at Ohio University as well as from other colleges and universities.

  1. Transfer applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall or a 3.0 in the last two semesters (three quarters) to be considered for admission. Please note that a 3.0 qualifies a student only for consideration and does not guarantee admission.
  2. Transfer applicants must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) by the time of application.
  3. Applications for transfer are taken twice per academic year. The deadline of 5 p.m. September 28 (or the following Monday if on a weekend) is for admission for spring semester. The deadline of 5 p.m. February 15 (or the following Monday if on a weekend) is for admission for the following fall semester.

Applicants will receive written notification of acceptance or denial. The transfer application includes completing an application form and providing a college transcript or DARS, letters of recommendation, essay and optional writing samples.
 

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Students will find career opportunities in mass communication fields such as journalism, including news reporting and producing online and offline for digital, broadcast and print platforms. Students will be prepared to pursue graduate study in mass communication, international communication and news media.
 

Requirements

 

Universitywide Graduation Requirements


To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements .

College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication


View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication .

Journalism Core


Complete the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:

News & Information Track


Complete the following course:

Complete three of the following courses:


Journalism Electives - Part 1


Complete two of the following courses or one of the following courses and one course from VICO or *MDIA. *Note: MDIA 1010 not allowed.

Internship


Complete an advisor approved internship.

Area of Specialization


Journalism majors are required to take a total of 21 semester hours.  Advisor approval of specialization is required.  (Note: Courses taken to fulfill specialization requirements cannot also count toward general requirements.  They can fulfill university Tier requirements.) Complete one of these two options:

Option 1


21 semester hours in a single department other than Journalism, Media Arts & Studies, or Visual Communication (6 hours must be at the 3000 or higher level).

Option 2


Complete 12 semester hours in a single department other than Journalism, Media Arts & Studies, or Visual Communication (6 hours must be at the at the 3000 or higher level) and 9 semester hours in any other department or an advisor-approved collection of related courses. The 9 hours must be in a subject area other than Journalism.

General Liberal Arts Requirement


Complete one course from each of the following:

  • African American Studies (AAS) or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
  • Applied Science
  • Arts & Sciences elective or COMS 1030  
  • Fine Arts/Interdisciplinary Arts
  • Natural Science
  • Political Science
  • Psychology (not PSY 1110 )
  • Sociology or Anthropology
  • Statistics (PSY 1110 , MATH 2500 , or ECON 3810 )
  • Tier II CCP course (not MDIA 3175 )

Complete two courses from each of the following:

  • Economics (ECON) [Take either two ECON courses or one ECON course and one of the following: ACCT 1010 , BUSL 2000 , MGT 2000 , MKT 2020 , FIN 3000 , MIS 2021 .]
  • English (ENG, one in literature)
  • Foreign or Sign Language (must be same language)
  • History
  • Philosophy (PHIL 1200 , plus additional PHIL or CLWR course) 

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