The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Journalism and Media program requires you to complete a minimum of 120 credits. You must successfully complete:
- 34 credits required for the major
- 16 prescribed course credits
- 6 additional course credits
- 12 supporting course credits
- 45 General Education credits (12 included in requirements for the major)
- 25 Bachelor of Arts requirements
- 17–28 elective credits
If you are a transfer student, the number of credits you will have to take will vary according to the courses you transfer into the degree program. Once you are admitted into the degree program, an assigned academic adviser will help you with remaining requirements.
Courses cover a wide range of topics including:
- news writing
- multimedia journalism
- media ethics
- strategic communications
- digital media metrics
- telecommunications management
Course List - Bachelor of Arts in Digital Journalism and Media
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic News Writing Skills | COMM 160 | Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word usage skills required of journalists. | 1 credit |
| Principles of Multimedia Journalism | COMM 271 | The course introduces how journalists work with the tools of multimedia and how multimedia is changing journalism. | 3 credits |
| Intro to Telecommunications Technologies | COMM 280 | Students will evaluate content creation and distribution methods and demonstrate proficiency across emerging digital products and services. | 3 credits |
| Law of Mass Communications | COMM 403 | Nature and theories of law; the Supreme Court and press freedom; legal problems of the mass media. | 3 credits |
| Media Ethics | COMM 409 | Ethical problems in the practice of journalism; principal public criticisms of news media; case study approach. | 3 credits |
| Principles of Strategic Communications | COMM 428a | Provides an overview of the various media and communications methods that comprise modern integrated marketing campaigns. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Writing for the Media or News Writing & Reporting |
COMM 230W or COMM 260W |
The application of creativity to the practical concerns of narrative script and radio/television spot writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 015 and ENGL 202 or News and news values; legal and ethical problems of reporting; writing and reporting news for the mass media. Prerequisite: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; COMM 160; third-semester standing and typing proficiency |
3 credits |
|
The Mass Media and Society or Survey of Electronic Media and Telecommunications |
COMM 100 or COMM 180 |
Mass communications in the United States: organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books, and films. or The development of electronic media and telecommunications, emphasizing social, economic, political and global impact. |
3 credits |
Supporting Courses and Suggested Pathways — choose four courses
- you may choose any four courses (12 credits) from any pathway.
- pathways are suggestions for in-depth study in particular areas.
- take courses that match your career goals.
Digital Journalism Pathway
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Photojournalism |
COMM 269 |
Photography for communication in print and online; creating photographs for newspapers, magazines and the web; digital camera and software skills. Prerequisite or concurrent: COMM 260W or COMM 320 |
3 credits |
|
Introduction to Multimedia Production |
COMM 270 |
Introduction to multimedia project activities to explore image editing, layout, the integration of texts and images and web architecture. |
3 credits |
| Principles of Journalism | COMM 310 | Analysis of audience data for traditional and new media to create metrics for advertising, content marketing, and audience analysis. | 3 credits |
| Reporting Techniques | COMM 460 |
Techniques in reporting news and trends at the local, regional, and county levels. Emphasis on both deadline and interpretive reporting. Prerequisite: COMM 260W |
3 credits |
| News Editing | COMM 467 |
Concepts and procedures involved in processing news for various news media, but with emphasis on print media editing. Prerequisite: COMM 260W |
3 credits |
| Photography for the Mass Media | COMM 469 |
Development of an informed and critical approach to photocommunication; individual and team projects, seminars, and critiques. Prerequisite: COMM 269 |
3 credits |
| Advanced Multimedia Production | COMM 481 |
Advanced work in multimedia production using web authoring, video editing, audio editing, image editing, and animation software. Prerequisite: COMM 270 or COMM 260W plus one of the following: COMM 269, COMM 360, COMM 460, COMM 462 or permission of program |
3 credits |
Visual Media Pathway
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Basic Photography for Communications |
COMM 215 |
An introduction to digital photography, emphasizing camera skills, aesthetics, and storytelling. |
3 credits |
| Idea Development and Media Writing | COMM 342 |
Introduction to various modalities of idea development and written expression for media production. Prerequisite: COMM 242 and Film-Video Major |
3 credits |
| Writing for the Screen I | COMM 346 |
A beginning course in narrative Screenwriting emphasizing analysis, creativity, and critiquing skills necessary for the development of storytelling. Prerequisite: COMM 342W |
3 credits |
| Photography for the Mass Media | COMM 469 |
Development of an informed and critical approach to photocommunication; individual and team projects, seminars, and critiques. Prerequisite: COMM 269 |
3 credits |
| Advanced Multimedia Production | COMM 481 |
Advanced work in multimedia production using web authoring, video editing, audio editing, image editing, and animation software. Prerequisite: COMM 270 or COMM 260W plus one of the following: COMM 269, COMM 360, COMM 460, COMM 462 or permission of program |
3 credits |
Media Management Pathway
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Survey of Electronic Media and Telecommunications (if not taken as part of additional courses) |
COMM 180 |
The development of electronic media and telecommunications, emphasizing social, economic, political, and global impact. |
3 credits |
|
Digital Media Metrics |
COMM 310 |
Analysis of audience data for traditional and new media to create metrics for advertising, content marketing, and audience analysis. |
3 credits |
| Telecommunications Management | COMM 380 |
Introduction to basic principles of management as they apply in electronic media industries. |
3 credits |
| Strategic Communications Law | COMM 428b |
Analysis of laws and regulations affecting online advertising and strategic communications. Prerequisite: COMM 428A and permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Issues for Newsroom Managers | COMM 475 |
Newspaper and television management, the state of the industry and topics that prospective employees should know about. Prerequisite: COMM 260W |
3 credits |
| Advanced Telecommunications Management and Leadership | COMM 487 |
Strategic management, leadership, and ethics issues including marketing, financing, entrepreneurship, and innovation. |
3 credits |
| Internet Law and Policy | COMM 492 |
Development in the law, policy, and business of Internet-mediated communications and commerce; emphasis on impact on existing legal, regulatory, and economic models. Prerequisite: COMM 180 |
3 credits |
| Entrepreneurship in the Information Age | COMM 493 |
Provides students with knowledge/tools to take their innovation/technology idea through the business planning, capital, and operations budgeting processes. Prerequisite: COMM 180, COMM 380, or permission of the program |
3 credits |
Individualized Pathway
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Varies based on student decisions |
12 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Foreign Language (If foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination, these 0 – 12 credits may be completed from the electives) |
12 credits |
|
Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Natural Sciences, Quantification |
9 credits |
|
Other Cultures |
3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts – GA | 6 credits |
| Humanities – GH | 6 credits |
| Health and Wellness – GHW | 3 credits |
| Natural Sciences – GN | 9 credits |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences – GS | 6 credits |
| Writing and Speaking – GWS* | 9 credits |
| Quantification – GQ* | 6 credits |
| Integrative Studies | (6 credits)*** |
*A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
**12 credits are included in the requirements for the major.
***This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements.
Electives (17–28 credits)
Students should choose additional 17–28 credits to satisfy the electives requirement.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.