The journalism and media studies (JMS) major provides an opportunity to study print, broadcast, and electronic journalism, and new media, including law and ethics as well as media theory, with an emphasis on how the media affects individuals, social groups, and political processes in a democratic society. The major provides undergraduate students with a broad spectrum of courses in the theory and practice of journalism and media, preparing them for professional careers in magazines, the creative industries, television, newspapers, radio, web production, media management, the news agencies and wire services, publishing, and public information service in the government and private sectors. Journalism and media studies students are encouraged to take electives outside the School of Communication and Information to complement both their studies in the major and their career interests.
Graduates of the program are expected to be able to:
- articulate the current and historical roles and responsibilities of the news media in a democracy;
- gather, evaluate, and disseminate verbal and visual information in print, broadcast, online and other formats;
- express ethical and legal practices in journalism and emulate those practices;
- understand how the media transmit ideas, especially about gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and culture, in the United States and global settings; and
- evaluate critically media performance and become educated media consumers.
Career Opportunities
The program offers a broad spectrum of courses in the theory and practice of journalism and media studies, preparing students for professional careers in print, broadcast, new media, advertising, and public relations and public information services in the government and private sectors. The courses focus on the practice of journalism and mass media and the impact of media on society, new technology and the media, public policy and understanding, and the planning and development of public information systems.
The JMS major also provides strong writing skills and academic preparation for students who are preprofessional for law school, M.B.A. programs, and other advanced degrees.
Admission to the Major
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies seeks a highly motivated and diverse student body. Admission to the journalism and media studies major is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. General writing ability and communication skills, as evidenced in both the personal essay of the application and success in relevant courses are required. Minimum requirements for admission include
- completion of at least 15 credits at Rutgers, or 15 transfer credits, with a grade-point average of 2.0 or better;
- a grade of C or better in the required prerequisite course 04:189:102 Introduction to Media Systems and Processes (or an equivalent transfer course);
- a grade of C or better in Expository Writing or an equivalent course or placement; and
- completion of the application including a personal statement.
Grades in other journalism and media studies courses will get particular attention, but applicants are not required to have taken such courses before applying. The admissions committee may seek evidence of interest in journalism and media studies including extracurricular involvement. The admissions committee considers the following criteria when reviewing student essays: (a) evidence of your interest in the major, (b) your future plans and their relationship to the major, (c) your strength as a writer, and (d) any other qualities that make you a strong candidate for admission to the journalism and media studies major. Students may be admitted for the fall, spring, and summer semesters; check the website for application deadlines each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the school's website for up-to-date information regarding admissions procedures, program requirements, course offerings, and special programs.
Major Requirements
Students majoring in journalism and media studies must complete the prerequisite survey requirement of 04:189:102 Introduction to Media Systems and Processes (3 credits) or an equivalent transfer course before admission to the major. Students must also fulfill an interdisciplinary requirement within the school outside of the major prior to their senior year in order to graduate:
SC&I Interdisciplinary Requirement (3 credits)
Either
04:189:101 Introduction to Communication and Information Processes (3) OR
04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics (3)
A total of 15 required credits, including 9 in core areas and 6 in conceptual courses.
Core Requirements (9 credits)
All students must complete these two courses:
04:567:324 News Reporting and Writing (3)
04:567:480 Media Ethics and Law (3)
All students must complete at least one of the following two courses:
04:567:310 Broadcast Newswriting (3) or
04:567:325 Writing for Print Media (3)
Conceptual Requirements (6 credits)
All students must take at least two conceptual courses in journalism and media studies. Courses such as 04:567:278 News Media and Government in America, 04:567:334 Gender, Race, and Class in the Media, and 04:567:350 Development of Mass Media, among others, fulfill this requirement. Check the school's website for a complete list of which courses will fulfill this requirement.
Elective Requirements (15 credits)
Each student must complete 15 credits of departmental electives. Students are strongly encouraged to take 04:567:394 Internship in Journalism and Media Studies, a 6-credit internship. See below for further information. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken in a combination of internship and independent study; in addition, students may not enroll in the internship and an independent study concurrently.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all 04:567 courses in order for those courses to count toward the major.
Internships and Other Educational Opportunities
An internship is a highly recommended capstone experience for JMS majors. Students pursue placements in major media outlets throughout the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia markets.
The department internship coordinator assists students in finding an internship. Students must qualify, receive permission, and then register for the 6-credit internship. To qualify, a student must be a major who completed a minimum of 75 overall credits and five journalism (567) courses, at least three of which must be skills courses; have an overall GPA of 2.5 or better; and have a 2.75 GPA or better in the major.
Course Transfers
A maximum of 6 credits from outside the JMS program may be counted toward the major. A maximum of 3 transfer credits (or one course) may be applied to the conceptual requirement and a maximum of 3 transfer credits (or one course) may be applied to the skills requirement.
Courses that students have taken at other New Jersey colleges, which are articulated through the NJ Transfer system and recorded on a student's transcript with a JMS course number, will be counted toward the major. However, such courses do count as transfer courses to the major and therefore a maximum of 6 credits may be applied to the major.
Students who wish to have a course they have taken elsewhere at Rutgers or externally at another university considered as one of their required or elective courses in the journalism and media studies major must submit a request for transfer equivalency in writing to the Office of Student Services. To submit such a request, the letter of petition must include a copy of the full syllabus of the course, a copy of the student's transcript showing the grade achieved, note which JMS course it is requested to replace, and the reasons for consideration. The courses are evaluated in terms of their very close match of content and skills to the JMS course, the level of the course, and the grade achieved, which should typically be a B or better. Students will be notified in writing of the outcome of the petition.
