Journalism
College of Arts and Humanities
Dean: Paul Sherwin
Department of Journalism
HUM 305
Phone: 415-338-1689
E-mail: jour@sfsu.edu
Web Site: www.journalism.sfsu.edu
Chair: Venise Wagner
Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism
HUM 307
Phone: 415-338-2083
E-mail: CIIJ@sfsu.edu
Faculty
Professors: Daley, Funabiki, Kobré
Associate Professors: Kanigel, Wagner, Wilson
Assistant Professor: Azocar
Programs
B.A. in Journalism
Concentrations in:
Program Scope
The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism prepares students for careers in journalism. This is accomplished by providing instruction that requires students to demonstrate a working knowledge of the skills, laws, ethics, power, and responsibilities of the news media. A strong liberal arts education also is required.
The main goals of the program's skills courses are to help students become accurate and thorough researchers; precise and graceful writers; technically, aesthetically fine photojournalists; and competent digital technologists. Introductory courses emphasize the need to think and write clearly. Many students choose the major because these skills provide excellent preparation for numerous occupations, not only for journalism.
Writing students are required to take introductory courses in research, reporting, writing, digital skills, and editing. Photojournalism students are required to take introductory courses in writing, digital skills, and reporting as well as courses in basic photography and news photography. All students are required to take a course in multimedia journalism. Advanced courses are more specialized—feature writing, depth reporting, public journalism, investigative reporting, computer-assisted reporting, advanced multimedia, magazine writing, design courses and visual journalism for writers and editors. In order to understand the role of journalism in society, students also are required to take courses in mass media, journalism ethics and law, and cultural diversity. Students are strongly urged to develop speaking, writing, and listening competency in a second language.
Application Process: The journalism major is impacted. This means that the department has more applicants than resources to meet the demand of all of its majors. For that reason the department is beginning an admissions process that caps the number of new majors. Each year we will cap new enrollments based on the department's actual capacity. This will allow us to better meet the needs of current majors. Any student interested in becoming a major will have to apply to the program with a supplemental admissions application. This includes current SF State students who want to change their major to journalism and prospective students (freshmen or community college transfers) who plan to apply to the university for admission. Admission is only for the fall semester. All students interested in the journalism program can apply during the application period, Oct. 1-Nov. 30. If you get into the program you will be eligible to take journalism courses starting the following Fall semester. Applications will be available on the Journalism Department Web site at www.journalism.sfsu.edu once the application period opens. The department will be looking at GPA, prior experience on student or professional publications, community service, participation in the Bay Area Multicultural Media Academy, language abilities other than English, qualification for financial assistance and Educational Opportunities Program, and critical thinking and writing ability on a 500-word journalism essay.
Minor in Non-Journalism Discipline: Because the practice of journalism requires an understanding of larger social, political and cultural issues in society, the program requires students complete a minor in a liberal arts or science discipline. The list of approved minors can be found on the Journalism Department Web site at www.journalism.sfsu.edu. Students should consult with an academic adviser in journalism to determine the best minor for their interests and professional goals.
Practicum: To give students pre-professional experience, the program requires students to work on a laboratory publication with a world-wide on-line and broad print circulation. These publications are produced by classes and are taken for credit. Consistent with the department's commitment to protect students' First Amendment rights, students have editorial control of the publications. Students must complete two semesters of publication. In their second semester they can choose between working on the student publication, completing an approved internship, completing a senior seminar project or working in the department’s News Bureau for professional publications. Students should consult with an adviser to choose the option that works best for them.
Internships: Students may earn up to three units for approved journalism internships, and if the internship is rigorous, they can get credit toward publication laboratory requirements. Students should consult the department office about how to arrange credit for internships. Doing internships is strongly encouraged. Students who succeed in finding journalism jobs upon graduation are those who have two or more internship experiences before they graduate.
Advising: To help students stay on top of the challenges they face, all journalism majors and minors are strongly encouraged to consult with a faculty adviser every academic year. They can choose their advisers or have one assigned by the department office. Students are asked to provide advisers with ongoing records of their complete academic record for the department advising folders. Upper division students will have mandatory advising. If these students don’t get advising by the designated deadline, they will have a hold placed on their registration. The Department will send an email notifying upper division students about mandatory advising.
CIIJ: Services are available to all journalism students at the department's Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism. The privately funded center was established in 1990 to create programs that increase retention rates and job/internship placement of journalism students and to increase ethnic minority enrollment and graduation rates. It conducts special programs for high school and community college students, high school journalism advisers, and for Bay Area journalists in both mainstream and ethnic news media. Through the center, department faculty and students and center staff engage in research that has had a national and international impact on journalism, with an emphasis on research about the coverage on ethnic minority people and issues.
The Department and Faculty: The journalism department is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). It is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association and sponsors a student chapter of the National Press Photographers Association.
The faculty includes seven full-time members and a fluctuating number of part-time instructors, most of them active journalists. Faculty encourage and assist students in finding jobs and internships.
Career Outlook
The writing, editing, photography, and online news skills taught in the department prepare students for entry-level jobs in a wide variety of news organizations, magazines, and new media. The critical thinking and clear expression that are taught in department courses prepare students well for jobs in broadcast journalism and in many fields outside journalism. Because of the department's national reputation for excellent preparation of students and for being ethnically diverse, students in the department are recruited from throughout the nation for internships and entry-level jobs in journalism.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, students must complete 40 journalism units. Only ten journalism units may be lower division--JOUR 205 and JOUR 221, JOUR 222, JOUR 226 (plus JOUR 235 for photojournalism students), or their equivalents taken elsewhere. Courses numbered 300 and above are not open to freshmen. The department requires students have their own personal computers, modems and digital audio recorders. Upon enrolling in journalism classes, students will be required to use their SF State e-mail accounts. These email addresses will be used as the primary source of communication between students and the department.)
In order to assure that every journalism student's education is as rich and varied as possible, the department has established these requirements:
- A journalism major must complete a minor in one of the areas of study approved by faculty advisers. A list of approved disciplines for this requirement is posted at www.journalism.sfsu.edu. Students should consult with an academic adviser in journalism to determine the minor that best meets their interests and professional goals.
- A journalism major must have a minimum of 80 non-journalism units in the 120 minimal overall units required for graduation. These 80 units must include at least 65 units in liberal arts and science courses. Included in these 80 units must be the minor in a single subject area chosen in consultation with the adviser. The 80-unit requirement is consistent with the department's philosophy that a well-rounded education is crucial preparation for journalism and is consistent with the standards of the national accrediting agency (ACEJMC) that evaluates journalism education programs. These standards exclude classes in broadcasting, public relations, and advertising from qualifying as non-journalism units.
Journalism majors who successfully complete JOUR 300 GW in Fall 2009 and thereafter will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Print and Online Journalism
Pre-Major
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 205 | Social Impact of Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 221 | Newswriting | 3 |
| JOUR 222 | Newswriting Lab (1) | 1 |
Pre-Major total units: 7
Core
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 226 | Digital News Gathering | 3 |
| JOUR 300 GW | Reporting - GWAR | 3 |
| JOUR 307 | News Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 395 | Introduction to Online Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 610 | Cultural Diversity and News | 3 |
Core total units: 15
Concentration Print and Online Journalism
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 330 | Editing | 3 |
Advanced Journalism Elective (6 units)
(must choose two, at least one from Category A)
Category A
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 320 | Investigative Reporting |
| JOUR 321 | Feature Writing |
| JOUR 560 | Public Journalism |
| JOUR 570 | Opinion Writing |
| JOUR 575 | Community Media |
| JOUR 595 | Magazine Writing |
| JOUR 650 | Seminar: Contemporary News |
| JOUR 667 | Variable Topics |
Category B
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 500 | Contemporary Magazine |
| JOUR 635 | Photojournalism V |
| JOUR 675 | News Entrepreneurship |
| JOUR 680 | Advanced Multimedia |
Visual Journalism (3 units)
(Must Choose One)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 235 | Photojournalism I |
| JOUR 336 | Visual Storytelling |
| JOUR 450 | Publication Design and Graphics |
Concentration total units: 12
Practicum
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory | 3 |
Second Semester Publication Laboratory Elective (3 units)
(must choose one)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 608 | News Bureau |
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory |
| JOUR 617 | Journalism Internship |
| JOUR 695 | Senior Seminar |
Practicum Total Units: 6
Total Required Units: 40
Non-journalism units (includes required minor): 80 units
These 80 units must include a single subject minor chosen in consultation with an adviser and at least 65 units in liberal arts and sciences. Classes in broadcasting, public relations, and advertising cannot qualify as non-journalism units.
Total for Degree: 120
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Photojournalism
Pre-Major
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 205 | Social Impact of Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 221 | Newswriting | 3 |
| JOUR 222 | Newswriting Lab (1) | 1 |
Pre-Major total units: 7
Core
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 226 | Digital News Gathering | 3 |
| JOUR 300 GW | Reporting - GWAR | 3 |
| JOUR 307 | News Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 395 | Introduction to Online Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 610 | Cultural Diversity and News | 3 |
Core total units: 15
Concentration Photojournalism
Photojournalism Core
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 235 | Photojournalism I | 3 |
| JOUR 335 | Photojournalism II | 3 |
| JOUR 435 | Photojournalism III | 3 |
Photojournalism Electives (3 units)
(Must choose one)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 535 | Photojournalism IV |
| JOUR 635 | Photojournalism V |
| Any Category A or Category B course | |
Total units for Concentration: 12
Practicum
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory | 3 |
Second Semester Publication Laboratory Elective (3 units)
(must choose one)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 609 | Publication Laboratory |
| JOUR 617 | Journalism Internship |
| JOUR 695 | Senior Seminar |
Practicum Total Units: 6
Total required units: 40
Non-journalism units (includes required minor): 80 units
These 80 units must include a single subject minor chosen in consultation with an adviser and at least 65 units in liberal arts and sciences. Classes in broadcasting, public relations, and advertising cannot qualify as non-journalism units.
Total for Degree: 120
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Skills Courses
Skills courses offered by the Department of Journalism impart the various skills and crafts necessary to the practice of journalism. There are three levels of skills courses: foundational, advanced, and practicum. The practicum skills courses provide students a culminating opportunity to integrate skills acquired in foundational and advanced courses, working and learning collaboratively. Journalism majors and minors must earn grades of C+ or better in all foundational, advanced, and practicum skills courses.
- Foundational Courses: JOUR 205, Social Impact of Journalism; JOUR 221, Newswriting; JOUR 222, Newswriting Lab; JOUR 226, Digital News Gathering; JOUR 300 GW, Reporting - GWAR; JOUR 330, Editing, JOUR 395, Introduction to Online Journalism; JOUR 235, Photojournalism I
- Advanced Journalism Courses:
Category A: JOUR 320, Investigative Reporting; JOUR 321, Feature Writing; JOUR 560, Public Journalism; JOUR 570, Opinion Writing; JOUR 575, Community Media; JOUR 595, Magazine Writing; JOUR 650, Seminar: Contemporary News; JOUR 667 Variable Topics in Journalism
Category B: JOUR 500, Contemporary Magazine; JOUR 635 Photojournalism V; JOUR 675, News Entrepreneurship; JOUR 680, Advanced Multimedia
Photojournalism: JOUR 335, Photojournalism II; JOUR 435, Photojournalism III; JOUR 535, Photojournalism IV; JOUR 635 Photojournalism V. - Practicum: JOUR 609, Publication Laboratory; and for the 2nd semester of practicum: JOUR 608, News Bureau; JOUR 617, Journalism Internship; and JOUR 695, Senior Seminar are also options.
Other Requirements
Students may enroll in only one laboratory course section per semester.
Journalism majors and minors must earn a minimum grade of C+ in all practicum and skills courses, and must attain at least an overall C+ average in the major and the minor.
Journalism majors and minors must take all journalism courses for letter grade only.
Minor in Journalism
This program is not a requirement for any credential or degree but is intended to give students an opportunity to pursue their interests in journalism in an organized way. A total of 24 units is required, approved by an adviser.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Program
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 205 | Social Impact of Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 221 | Newswriting | 3 |
| JOUR 226 | Digital News Gathering | 3 |
| JOUR 300 GW | Reporting - GWAR | 3 |
| JOUR 307 | News Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JOUR 330 | Editing | 3 |
| JOUR 610 | Cultural Diversity and News | 3 |
Units selected from the following: (3 units)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JOUR 320 | Investigative Reporting |
| JOUR 321 | Feature Writing |
| JOUR 395 | Introduction to Online Journalism |
| JOUR 560 | Public Journalism |
| JOUR 570 | Opinion Writing |
| JOUR 575 | Community Media |
| JOUR 595 | Magazine Writing |
| JOUR 635 | Photojournalism V |
| JOUR 650 | Seminar: Contemporary News |
| JOUR 675 | News Entrepreneurship |
| JOUR 680 | Advanced Multimedia |
Total: 24
