Professional Writing, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 124

Major Hours: 42

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 36


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Last 60 Hours GPA: 2.50

Program Code: B795

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.

Major Requirements

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.

Required Courses
JMC 1013Introduction to Media3
JMC 2033Media Writing & Storytelling3
JMC 3011Practicum1
JMC 3011Practicum1
JMC 3011Practicum1
JMC 3504Introduction to Professional Writing4
JMC 4514Writing the Novel4
JMC 4524Writing the Short Story4
JMC 4563Category Fiction3
JMC 4573Theories of Professional Writing3
JMC 4603Business of Professional Writing3
JMC 4813Media Law3
Electives
Choose 9 hours upper division JMC elective9
Total Credit Hours42

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). 

Recommended JMC Electives

JMC 3013Multimedia News Gathering3
JMC 3023Feature Writing3
JMC 3103News Editing3
JMC 35344
JMC 3723Introduction to Documentary3
JMC 3753Electronic Media Criticism3
JMC 4503Tutorial in Writing3
JMC 4533Mystery Writing3
JMC 4543Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writing3
JMC 45833
JMC 4593Young Adult Fiction Writing3
JMC 4803History of Media3

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
Choose one of the following: 3
Introduction to Media
Social Science (Core III)
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
Choose one of the following: 3
Introduction to Media
Social Science (Core III)
MATH (Core I) 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore
First Semester
Choose one of the following: 3
Media Writing & Storytelling
Artistic Forms (Core IV)
Choose one of the following: 3
Intermediate Language
Upper-Division Western Culture (Core IV) outside major
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 2
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Choose one of the following: 3
Media Writing & Storytelling
Artistic Forms (Core IV)
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
World Culture (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
JMC 3011 Practicum (PW Readings) 1
 Credit Hours16
Junior
First Semester
JMC 3504 Introduction to Professional Writing 4
JMC 3011 Practicum (PW Readings) 1
Western Culture (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
JMC 4524 Writing the Short Story 4
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Upper-division Western Culture outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
JMC 3011 Practicum (PW Readings) 1
 Credit Hours14
Senior
First Semester
JMC 4514 Writing the Novel 4
JMC 4813 Media Law 3
JMC 4563 Category Fiction 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
JMC 4573 Theories of Professional Writing 3
JMC 4603 Business of Professional Writing 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours124