Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 124
Major Hours: 36
Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48
Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 24
Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50
Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50
Last 60 Hours GPA: 2.50
Program Code: B815
Requirements for Full Admission to the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
All incoming freshmen or transfer students are classified as Pre-Journalism majors until the following requirements are met:
- Successfully pass the Gaylord College Entrance Exams;
- Successfully complete JMC 1013 (Introduction to Media) with a grade of C or better;
- Successful completion of at least 21 hours of courses acceptable for General Education credit; and
- Achieve a minimum combined retention grade point average of 2.75 on all work attempted, as well as a 2.75 on all major work.
Once admitted as a major in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication you may choose a major in one of the following: Advertising, Creative Media Production, Journalism, Professional Writing, or Public Relations.
If you have any questions or advising concerns, please contact: Student Services Center, Gaylord Hall, Room 2533, (405) 325-5684.
- A maximum of 50 hours of Journalism and Mass Communication may be counted in the 124 hours required for graduation. No student will be awarded a BA in Journalism degree without completing at least 80 semester credit hours outside the College. At least 65 of these hours must be in liberal arts and sciences courses.
- A grade of C or better is required in all Journalism and Mass Communication courses.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| JMC 1013 | Introduction to Media | 3 |
| JMC 2033 | Media Writing & Storytelling | 3 |
| JMC 3413 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| JMC 3423 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| JMC 3433 | Public Relations Publications | 3 |
| JMC 4403 | Public Relations Campaigns-Capstone | 3 |
| JMC 4453 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| JMC 4813 | Media Law | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Internship | ||
| Public Relations Case Studies | ||
| Sports Public Relations | ||
JMC 4443 | ||
| Public Relations Management | ||
| Electives | ||
| Choose 9 hours (minimum) to 10 hours (maximum) of electives | 9-10 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36-37 | |
Required Minor
All Gaylord College students pursuing a baccalaureate major are also required to complete an academic minor of their choice in accordance to JMC policies.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a minor 1 | 15-21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15-21 | |
| 1 | Required Completion of a Minor – 15-21 hours (hours vary due to minor chosen). |
Recommended JMC Electives
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JMC 3303 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| JMC 3800 | Internship | 2-3 |
| JMC 4223 | Digital Advertising | 3 |
| JMC 4243 | Strategic Fashion Communication | 3 |
| JMC 4303 | International Advertising | 3 |
| JMC 4413 | Crisis Communication | 3 |
| JMC 4683 | Multimedia Content Management | 3 |
| JMC 4853 | Race, Gender and the Media | 3 |
| JMC 4970 | Special Topics | 1-3 |
General Education and College Requirements
Courses graded S/U or P/NP will not apply.
Courses for fulfillment of General Education and College of Journalism requirements must be from the approved General Education course list.
University-Wide General Education Requirements
(minimum 40 hours)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication | ||
| English Composition | ||
| ENGL 1113 | Principles of English Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 1213 | Principles of English Composition | 3 |
| or EXPO 1213 | Expository Writing | |
| Foreign Language | ||
| (0-10 hours, 2 courses in the same language) May be met by successful completion of 2 years of the same foreign language in high school (additional foreign language requirement – see below) | ||
| Beginning Course | 0-5 | |
| Beginning Course, continued | 0-5 | |
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose one course | 3 | |
| Core Area II: Natural Science | ||
| Choose two courses from different disciplines; one must include a laboratory | 7 | |
| Core Area III: Social Science | ||
| P SC 1113 | American Federal Government | 3 |
| Choose one course | 3 | |
| Core Area IV: Humanities | ||
| Understanding Artistic Forms | ||
| Choose one course | 3 | |
| Western Civilization and Culture | ||
| HIST 1483 | United States, 1492 to 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 1493 | United States, 1865 to the Present | |
| Choose one course 1 | 3 | |
| Non-Western Culture | ||
| Choose one course | 3 | |
| Core Area V: Senior Capstone Experience | ||
| The capstone is satisfied within the major requirements. | 0 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 34-44 | |
| 1 |
Additional Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language | ||
| Choose one course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level | 0-3 | |
| Western Civilization | ||
| Choose 2 upper-division courses outside the major and in addition to University General Education Core IV | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6-9 | |
Free Electives
Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.
Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements
Total Hours: A Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree requires 124 hours, 48 of which must be upper-division (3000-4000 level courses). Transfer work will be counted as lower-division or upper-division credit depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where the work was taken. All two-year college work is considered to be lower-division.
Hours by Exam, Correspondence Study and/or Extension: A maximum of 31 semester hours (or 1/4 of the total hours required for a preprofessional program of study) may be completed by a combination of exam, correspondence study and/or extension credit.
Attendance: Students who do not attend a JMC class or lab on the first day of classes may be dropped from the class or lab.
Transfer Work: Students may transfer in a maximum of 12 credit hours of journalism and mass communication coursework prior to full admission to the Gaylord College. Once fully admitted to the college, students may petition the faculty to have an additional three (3) credit hours from an outside ACEJMC institution applied to their University of Oklahoma degree. A maximum of fifteen (15) credit hours of JMC transfer coursework may be applied to a degree.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation.
Repeat of Failed Coursework: A student earning a grade of “F” in an upper-division course at OU may not repeat the course for credit at another institution without the prior written permission of the department that offered the course at OU.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:
- A minimum of 30 semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be earned in residence at OU, including at least 15 of the last 30 hours applied toward the degree.
- At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
- OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.
- Credits earned via examination are neither resident nor nonresident credit.
Special Degrees: Students may qualify for an Honors degree (cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, or Summa cum Laude) by completing specific requirements of the Honors College. A degree will be earned with Distinction if the student completes at least 60 semester hours at OU with at least a 3.60 combined retention GPA and OU retention GPA. A degree will be earned with Special Distinction if the student completes at least 60 semester hours at OU with at least a 3.80 combined retention GPA and OU retention GPA.
Application for Graduation: Students must apply for graduation during the term in which they complete their degree requirements in order to graduate in that term. Application forms are available in the Student Services Center, 2533 Gaylord Hall. The deadline for completion of all coursework to graduate in a particular term is the last day of classes in that term.
Requirements for full Admission to the College of Journalism and Mass Communication
All incoming freshmen or transfer students are classified as Pre-Journalism majors until the following requirements are met:
- Successfully pass the Gaylord College Entrance Exams;
- Successfully complete JMC 1013 (Introduction to Media) with a grade of C or better;
- Successful completion of at least 21 hours of courses acceptable for General Education credit; and
- Achieve a minimum combined retention grade point average of 2.75 on all work attempted, as well as a 2.75 on all major work.
Once admitted as a major in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication you may choose a major in one of the following: Advertising, Creative Media Production, Journalism, Professional Writing, or Public Relations.
If you have any questions or advising concerns, please contact: Student Services Center, Gaylord Hall, Room 2533, (405) 325-5684.
Suggested Semester Plan of Study
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1113 | Principles of English Composition (Core I) | 3 |
| HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 |
United States, 1492 to 1865 (Core IV) or United States, 1865 to the Present |
3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Media | ||
Social Science (Core III) |
||
| Beginning Foreign Language (Core I) | 5 | |
| Free Elective, lower-division | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 1213 or EXPO 1213 |
Principles of English Composition (Core I) or Expository Writing |
3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Media Writing & Storytelling | ||
Social Science (Core III) |
||
| MATH (Core I) | 3 | |
| P SC 1113 | American Federal Government (Core III) | 3 |
| Beginning Foreign Language continued (Core I) | 5 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Public Relations | ||
Understanding Artistic Forms (Core IV) |
||
| Intermediate Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Natural Science with lab (Core II) | 4 | |
| Western Civilization & Culture (Core IV) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Relations Writing | ||
Understanding Artistic Forms (Core IV) |
||
| JMC Public Relations Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Natural Science without lab (Core II) | 3 | |
| Non-Western Culture (Core IV) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| JMC 3433 | Public Relations Publications | 3 |
| JMC Public Relations Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
Western Civilization & Culture (Core IV) |
||
Upper-division outside major (Gen. Ed.) |
||
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| JMC 4453 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
Western Civilization & Culture (Core IV) |
||
Upper-division outside major (Gen. Ed.) |
||
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| JMC 4813 | Media Law | 3 |
| JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 2 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| JMC 4403 | Public Relations Campaigns-Capstone | 3 |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 124 | |
- Bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 48 hours of upper-division (3000-4000) coursework.
- This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement.