Journalism (News-Editorial), B.A.

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Degree Plan (JOUNWEDBA)

General Education Curriculum

GEC 01. Written Communication (6 hours)

ENG 101 - Composition One 3 hrs.
ENG 102 - Composition Two 3 hrs.

GEC 02. Basic Science and Mathematics (11 hours minimum)

Science Requirement (8 hours minimum)

Select 2 courses with labs:

AST 111 - General Astronomy I 3 hrs. (Recommended) AND
AST 111L - General Astronomy I Laboratory 1 hr. (Recommended)
AST 112 - General Astronomy II 3 hrs. AND
AST 112L - General Astronomy II Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 103 - Biology and Society 3 hrs. ◊ (Recommended) AND
BSC 103L - Biology and Society Laboratory 1 hr ◊ (Recommended)
BSC 110 - Principles of Biological Science I 3 hrs. AND
BSC 110L - Principles of Biological Science I Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 111 - Principles of Biological Science II 3 hrs. AND
BSC 111L - Principles of Biological Science II Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 250 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 3 hrs. AND
BSC 250L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 251 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 3 hrs. AND
BSC 251L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 104 - Chemistry and Our Environment 3 hrs. (Recommended) AND
CHE 104L - Chemistry and Our Environment Laboratory 1 hr. (Recommended)
CHE 106 - General Chemistry I 3 hrs. AND
CHE 106L - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 107 - General Chemistry II 3 hrs. AND
CHE 107L - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr.
GHY 104 - Weather and Climate 3 hrs. AND
GHY 104L - Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 hr.
GHY 105 - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography 3 hrs. AND
GHY 105L - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography Laboratory 1 hr.
GLY 101 - Physical Geology 3 hrs. (Recommended) AND
GLY 101L - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 hr. (Recommended)
GLY 103 - Historical Geology 3 hrs. AND
GLY 103L - Historical Geology Laboratory 1 hr.
MAR 151 - Introduction to Ocean Science 3 hrs. (Recommended) AND
MAR 151L - Introduction to Ocean Science Laboratory 1 hr. (Recommended)
PHY 103 - Introductory Physics 3 hrs. AND
PHY 103L - Introductory Physics Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 111 - General Physics I 3 hrs. AND
PHY 111L - General Physics I Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 112 - General Physics II 3 hrs. AND
PHY 112L - General Physics II Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 201 - General Physics I with Calculus 4 hrs. AND
PHY 201L - General Physics I with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 202 - General Physics II with Calculus 4 hrs. AND
PHY 202L - General Physics II with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr.
PSC 190 - Living in a Material World 3 hrs. (Recommended) AND
PSC 190L - Lab for Living in a Material World 1 hr. (Recommended)

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)

MAT 100 - Quantitative Reasoning 3 hrs. or higher Mathematics

GEC 03. Global History and Culture (12 hours)

Social Sciences Requirement (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

Humanities Requirement (9 hours)

ENG 203 - World Literature 3 hrs.

Select both courses:

HIS 101 - World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E. 3 hrs. *
HIS 102 - World Civilizations: 1500 to the present 3 hrs. *

GEC 04. Aesthetic Values (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

GEC 05. Decision-Making and Responsibility (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

GEC 06. Computer Competency Requirement* (Major Area)

MCJ 200 - Introduction to Digital Media Production 2 hrs.

GEC 07. Writing-Intensive Requirement* (Major Area)

MCJ 300 - Multimedia Storytelling 3 hrs. (WI)
ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

GEC 08. Oral Communication Requirement* (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

CMS 111 - Oral Communication 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 305 - Interpersonal Communication 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 320 - Business and Professional Speaking 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 330 - Small-Group Communication 3 hrs. (SI)

GEC 09. Capstone Requirement* (Major Area)

MCJ 402 - Advanced Reporting 3 hrs. (Capstone)
Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Note:

*This particular GEC course is required for this major.

◊ GEC restrictions apply; see here .

For full description of the GEC, see here .

Program Curriculum

DEG 01. Bachelor of Arts Requirements (12 hours minimum)

Select 1 course:

PHI 151 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 hrs.
REL 131 - Comparative Religion 3 hrs.

Select 1 course:

ENG 200 - Introduction to Drama 3 hrs.
ENG 201 - Introduction to Fiction 3 hrs.
ENG 202 - Introduction to Poetry 3 hrs.
HIS 201 - Survey of United States History to 1877 3 hrs.
HIS 202 - Survey of United States History since 1877 3 hrs.
FLM 170 - Introduction to Film Studies 3 hrs.
WS 301 - Introduction to Women’s Studies 3 hrs.

Select 1 course not selected in GEC 03:

Foreign Language Requirement:

12 hours in a single foreign language; fewer hours may suffice, but course level 202 must be completed.

DEG 02. Major Area of Study Requirements (36-39 hours)

Successful completion of MCJ 101 , MCJ 102 , MCJ 103 , and MCJ 200 with a “C” or better is required for enrollment in upper-division MCJ courses.

MCJ 101 - Survey of Mass Communication 3 hrs.
MCJ 102 - Introduction to Media Writing 3 hrs.
MCJ 103 - Literacy Skills for the Mass Media 1 hr.
MCJ 200 - Introduction to Digital Media Production 2 hrs.
MCJ 203 - Reporting 3 hrs.
MCJ 300 - Multimedia Storytelling 3 hrs. (WI)
MCJ 303 - Investigative Strategies for Journalists 3 hrs.
MCJ 311 - News Editing and Design 3 hrs.
MCJ 402 - Advanced Reporting 3 hrs. (Capstone)
MCJ 454 - Media Law and Ethics 3 hrs.
Select 3-6 hours of MCJ courses

In consultation with an academic advisor, select 2 courses:

MCJ 342 - History of Photography 3 hrs.
MCJ 355 - Gender, Race and Media 3 hrs.
MCJ 407 - Theories of Mass Communication 3 hrs.
MCJ 450 - History of Journalism 3 hrs.
MCJ 455 - Media Ethics 3 hrs.
MCJ 460 - Media Law 3 hrs.
MCJ 461 - Mass Media History 3 hrs.
MCJ 462 - Media Criticism 3 hrs.
MCJ 463 - Media Management and Economics 3 hrs.

DEG 03. Required Minor (18 hours)

Students must fulfill requirements to receive a minor in another discipline.

DEG 04. Electives

A minimum of 80 hours of courses outside of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism, including 65 hours in the basic liberal arts and sciences, is required for this major. Choose electives as needed with adviser’s approval. (See Hours to Degree below.)

Hours to Degree

124 hours are needed to graduate with a BA in Journalism with an emphasis in News-Editorial. At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree at The University of Southern Mississippi must be earned from a senior college, and 45 of these hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The last 25 percent of course work must be earned from Southern Miss. The student must earn at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss.