Journalism, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 48

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 30


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Last 60 Hours GPA: 2.50

Program Code: B610

Requirements to Remain in Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

After direct admission, all incoming Freshman or transfer students must meet the following requirements to remain in Gaylord College:

  • Pass the Gaylord College Entrance Exams – Language Skills Test and Academic Integrity Test
  • Complete JMC 1013  (Introduction to Media) with a grade of C or better;
  • Maintain a minimum combined retention grade point average of 2.50 on all work attempted, as well as a 2.50 on all major work.
  • Transfer Students must have a 2.50 combined retention grade point average to gain admission into the college.

Major Requirements

A maximum of 50 hours of Journalism and Mass Communication may be counted in the 120 hours required for graduation. No student will be awarded a BA in Journalism degree without completing at least 70 semester credit hours outside the College.

A grade of C or better is required in all Journalism and Mass Communication courses.

JMC Core
JMC 1013Introduction to Media3
JMC 2033Media Writing & Storytelling3
JMC 4813Media Law3
Foundational Courses
Choose 5 of the following 6 courses:5
Principles of American Journalism
Visual Literacy
Digital Literacy
Journalism Writing & Editing
News Judgment & Interviewing
Reporting with Numbers
Intermediate Courses
JMC 3013Intermediate Cross-Platform Reporting3
JMC 3663Visual Reporting3
JMC 3683Digital Reporting3
JMC 4013Essential Reporting3
JMC 4833Journalism Ethics3
Advanced Courses
JMC 4033Advancing Cultural Proficiency in Media Leadership3
JMC 4183Advanced Cross-Platform Reporting3
JMC 4803History of Media3
JMC 4863Journalism, Ethics and Democracy3
Journalism Electives
Choose two courses (6 hours) from a list maintained by the department. Suggested courses include:6
Long Form Storytelling
Community Journalism
Business of Media
News Editing
Photojournalism
Backpack Reporting
Television News
Data Journalism
Multimedia Content Management
Special Topics (approved topics: Social Media Strategies, The Listening Project, Innovators in Journalism, Reporting in D.C.)
Practicum
JMC 3011Practicum1
Total Credit Hours48

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.

Choose a minor 115-21
Total Credit Hours15-21
1

Required Completion of a Minor – 15-21 hours (hours vary due to minor chosen).

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and College of Journalism requirements must be from the approved General Education course list. Courses graded S/U or P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language
(0-10 hours, 2 courses in the same language) May be met by successful completion of 2 years of the same language in high school (additional language requirement – see below)
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Mathematics
Choose one course3
Core Area II: Natural Science
Choose two courses from different disciplines; one must include a laboratory7
Core Area III: Social Science
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms
Choose one course3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course (excluding HIST 1483 and HIST 1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course3
Core Area V: First-Year Experience
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours37-47

ADDITIONAL GAYLORD COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

Western Culture
Choose one upper-division course outside the major and in addition to University General Education Core IV3
Language or Western Culture
Choose one from:0-3
a language course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level
an additional upper-division Western Culture general education course outside the major
Total Credit Hours3-6

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

Information regarding Total Hours; Hours by Examination, Correspondence Study and/or Extension; Repeat of Failed Coursework; and Requirements for Full Admission to the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication can be found in the catalog under Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication: Undergraduate Study.

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.
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.

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.

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
JMC 1013 Introduction to Media 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
First-Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
JMC 2033 Media Writing & Storytelling 3
MATH (Core I) 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore
First Semester
JMC 3011 Practicum 1
Journalism Foundational Course 1
Journalism Foundational Course 1
Journalism Foundational Course 1
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Choose one of the following: 3
Intermediate Language
Upper-Division Western Culture (Core IV) outside major
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
JMC 3663 Visual Reporting 3
Journalism Foundational Course 1
Journalism Foundational Course 1
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
World Culture (Core IV) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours14
Junior
First Semester
JMC 3013 Intermediate Cross-Platform Reporting 3
JMC 3663 Visual Reporting 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
JMC 3683 Digital Reporting 3
JMC 4013 Essential Reporting 3
JMC 4833 Journalism Ethics 3
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000 level) 3
Upper-division Western Culture outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
JMC 4033 Advancing Cultural Proficiency in Media Leadership 3
JMC 4803 History of Media 3
JMC 4183 Advanced Cross-Platform Reporting 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 2
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
JMC 4813 Media Law 3
JMC 4863 Journalism, Ethics and Democracy 3
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 2
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000) 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120