Graduation Requirements for the Major

A.  Major Requirements (36 credits)
Students majoring in journalism and media studies are required to earn 30 credits in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies (subject code 567) of the School of Communication and Information (SC&I), plus 6 credits in the two prerequisite courses required for admission to the major (04:189:102, and either 04:189:101 or 04:189:103). The 30 credits of courses in the department include the following two courses:

  04:567:324  News Reporting and Writing (3)

  04:567:480  Media Ethics and Law (3)

In addition, all students must take at least one of the following two courses:

  04:567:310  Broadcast Newswriting (3) or

  04:567:325  Writing and Editing for Print Media (3)

Students also must take at least two conceptual courses in journalism and media studies. The remainder of the 30 credits (students may not take more than 30 credits in the major) may be in any additional journalism courses; up to 9 credits may be taken in a combination of internship and independent study. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses taken for major credit. No more than two courses (6 credits) taken outside of Rutgers will count toward the journalism major.

Please refer to the SC&I section of the catalog for a full description of the requirements of the journalism and media studies major. Students are also advised to check with the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.

B.  SEBS Core Requirements for Students Majoring in Journalism and Media Studies (40 credits)

SEBS majors in journalism and media studies must complete the SEBS core, involving a total of 42 credits, plus a SEBS minor or certificate program (21 or more credits, depending on the student's choice). With careful planning, however, it may be possible for a student to use up to 6 credits of courses that fulfill the major requirements to also fulfill some of the SEBS core requirements. Students are strongly urged to consult both with their academic adviser and with an assistant dean at SEBS for guidance in developing a plan of coursework.

I.  School Mission:  Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis (3 credits)

One 3-credit Junior/Senior Colloquium (See the 

for a description of this requirement.)

II.  Introductory Life and Physical Sciences (7 credits)

See suggested courses in the SEBS Degree Requirements chapter. Students should be aware that their choice of a SEBS minor or certificate program (see item C. below) could have implications for their selection of these introductory life and physical science courses.

III.  Humanities and the Arts (6 credits)

                See suggested courses in the SEBS Degree Requirements chapter.

               IV.  Multicultural and International Studies (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the SEBS Degree Requirements chapter. Students should note that this SEBS requirement could be partially met with the 3-credit course 04:567:334 (Women, Minorities, and the Mass Media), which would also be used toward the journalism and media studies major requirements.

               V.  Human Behavior, Economic Systems, and Political Processes (9

               credits)

See suggested courses in the SEBS Degree Requirements chapter. Students should be aware that their choice of a SEBS minor or certificate program (see item C. below) could have implications for their selection of these Human Behavior, Economic Systems, and Political Processes courses.

               VI.  Oral and Written Communication (3 credits)

01:355:101 Expository Writing I or an equivalent

VII.  Experience-Based Education (3 credits)
The journalism internship or journalism thesis option fulfills this SEBS requirement. Other students may fulfill the requirement with an appropriate, adviser-approved placement in cooperative education or an independent research project. Students should note that some of these options could also be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.

VIII.  Quantitative Skills (3 credits)

C.  SEBS Minor or Certificate Program (minimum of 18 credits)

All SEBS students majoring in journalism and media studies must complete either a SEBS minor or a certificate program offered by SEBS (18 or more credits, depending on the student's choice). Students should review the available minors and certificate programs early in their programs, since the requirements of the minor could affect the student's selection of courses fulfilling some of the SEBS core requirements (such as items II and V above). Students are urged to consult with their academic adviser or with one of the assistant deans in the SEBS Office of Academic Programs and Research (Martin Hall, second floor) regarding their choice of minor or certificate program.

D.  Unspecified Electives (up to 34 credits)

In addition to courses meeting the above requirements, students can take any other courses offered by the university, for which they meet the course eligibility requirements, to bring their total number of credits to the minimum of 128 required for graduation.