Professional Writing, B.A.
View ChecksheetMinimum Total Credit Hours: 120
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 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.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
JMC 1013 | Introduction to Media | 3 |
JMC 2033 | Media Writing & Storytelling | 3 |
JMC 3011 | Practicum | 1 |
JMC 3011 | Practicum | 1 |
JMC 3011 | Practicum | 1 |
JMC 3504 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 4 |
JMC 4514 | Writing the Novel | 4 |
JMC 4524 | Writing the Short Story | 4 |
JMC 4563 | Category Fiction | 3 |
JMC 4573 | Theories of Professional Writing | 3 |
JMC 4603 | Business of Professional Writing | 3 |
JMC 4813 | Media Law | 3 |
Electives | ||
Choose 9 hours upper division JMC elective | 9 | |
Total Credit Hours | 42 |
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 3013 | Intermediate Cross-Platform Reporting | 3 |
JMC 3023 | Long Form Storytelling | 3 |
JMC 3103 | News Editing | 3 |
JMC 3723 | Introduction to Documentary | 3 |
JMC 3753 | Electronic Media Criticism | 3 |
JMC 4503 | Tutorial in Writing | 3 |
JMC 4533 | Mystery Writing | 3 |
JMC 4543 | Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writing | 3 |
JMC 4593 | Young Adult Fiction Writing | 3 |
JMC 4803 | History of Media | 3 |
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
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 | |
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 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: Arts and Humanities | ||
Artistic Forms | ||
Choose one course | 3 | |
Western Culture | ||
HIST 1483 | United States to 1865 | 3 |
or HIST 1493 | United States, 1865 to the Present | |
Choose one course (excluding HIST 1483 and HIST 1493) | 3 | |
World Culture | ||
Choose one course | 3 | |
Core Area V: First-Year Experience | ||
Choose one course | 3 | |
Total Credit Hours | 37-47 |
ADDITIONAL GAYLORD COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Western Culture | ||
Choose one upper-division course outside the major and in addition to University General Education Core IV | 3 | |
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 Hours | 3-6 |
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.
Freshman | ||
---|---|---|
First Semester | Credit Hours | |
ENGL 1113 | Principles of English Composition (Core I) | 3 |
HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
Second Semester | ||
ENGL 1213 or EXPO 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 Hours | 17 | |
Sophomore | ||
First Semester | ||
JMC 3504 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 4 |
Artistic Forms (Core IV) | 3 | |
Natural Science with lab (Core II) | 4 | |
Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
Intermediate Language | ||
Upper-Division Western Culture (Core IV) outside major | ||
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division | ||
Free Elective, lower-division | 2 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Second Semester | ||
JMC 4524 | Writing the Short Story | 4 |
JMC 3011 | Practicum (PW Readings) | 1 |
Natural Science without lab (Core II) | 3 | |
World Culture (Core IV) | 3 | |
Social Science Core III | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Junior | ||
First Semester | ||
JMC 4514 | Writing the Novel | 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 Hours | 14 | |
Second Semester | ||
JMC 4573 | Theories of Professional Writing | 3 |
JMC 3011 | Practicum (PW Readings) | 1 |
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 | |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Senior | ||
First Semester | ||
JMC 4563 | Category Fiction | 3 |
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 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Second Semester | ||
JMC 4603 | Business of Professional Writing | 3 |
JMC Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 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 | 120 |