Journalism B.A.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
- In the first three or four semesters of study, students take courses in the major and in the liberal arts and sciences. Journalism courses must be taken at University of Montana-Missoula, though the directors may occasionally accept substitutes taught at another school with programs accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. All non-journalism courses in the curriculum may be completed at any college or university if transfer credits are accepted by UM. Students may enter during either autumn or spring semester.
- Students may begin taking upper-division courses after they complete the lower-division prerequisites for those courses.
- This major requires a cumulative institutional GPA of 2.5. Any student whose GPA falls below a 2.5 must meet with their advisor to discuss the student's progress before classes resume the following semester.
- Students must complete at least 42 and no more than 48 Journalism (JRNL) credits.
- Students must complete at least 72 total credits outside of Journalism.
- The school strongly recommends students complete the first-year sequence of an approved language course or equivalent by exam before applying to the professional program.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Core Requirements 1 | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| JRNL 100H | Journalism and American Society (Prerequisite for JRNL 270) | 3 |
| JRNL 170 | Writing the News (Prerequisite for JRNL 270) | 3 |
| JRNL 257A | Beginning Video and Photojournalism (Prerequisite for JRNL 328 and 350) | 3 |
| JRNL 270 | Reporting the News (Co-requisite for JRNL 328 and 350; prerequisite for all other UD JRNL courses ) | 3 |
| Upper-Division Core Requirements | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| JRNL 300 | First Amendment and Media Law | 3 |
| JRNL 400 | Ethics & Trends in News Media | 3 |
| JRNL 498 | Supervised Internship | 3 |
| Capstone 2 | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Native News Honors Project | ||
| Reporting Native News | ||
| Magazine Production and Design | ||
| Advanced Audio | ||
| Campaign Coverage | ||
| Covering the Legislature | ||
| International Reporting | ||
| Reporting Video News | ||
| Student Documentary Unit | ||
| Upper-Division Electives | ||
| Complete five of the following courses: | 15 | |
| Diversity in Media | ||
| Intermediate Photojournalism | ||
| News Editing | ||
| Social Media and Audience | ||
| Intermediate Audio | ||
| Multimedia Sports Announcing and Writing | ||
| Intermediate Video Photography | ||
| Intermediate Video Reporting and Producing | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Beat Reporting | ||
| Hollywood and the War Correspondent | ||
| Documentary Film History | ||
| Native News Honors Project | ||
| Reporting Native News | ||
| Magazine Production and Design | ||
| Investigations | ||
| Advanced Photo & Multimedia Storytelling | ||
| Freelance Photography | ||
| Print & Web Editing & Design | ||
| Marketing Your Work | ||
| Advanced Audio | ||
| Campaign Coverage | ||
| Covering the Legislature | ||
| Opinion Writing | ||
| International Reporting | ||
| Reporting Video News | ||
| Advanced Video Storytelling | ||
| Student Documentary Unit | ||
| Pollner Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 39 | |
- 1
Students must maintain a 2.5 overall GPA and 2.5 GPA in the Journalism Lower-Division Core.
- 2
Please see your advisor for additional courses that may satisfy this requirement.
Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| JRNL 100H | Journalism and American Society | 3 |
| WRIT 101 or JRNL 257A |
College Writing I or Beginning Video and Photojournalism |
3-4 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirements | 3 | |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring | ||
| JRNL 170 | Writing the News | 3 |
| JRNL 257A or WRIT 101 |
Beginning Video and Photojournalism or College Writing I |
3-4 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirements | 6 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| JRNL 270 | Reporting the News | 3 |
| General Education Requirements | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper Division JRNL Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Requirements | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| Upper Division JRNL Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JRNL 300 | First Amendment and Media Law | 3 |
| Upper Division JRNL Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| JRNL 498 | Supervised Internship | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| JRNL 400 | Ethics & Trends in News Media | 3 |
| Upper Division JRNL Elective (writing in the disciplines course) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JRNL 410 |
Native News Honors Project (Capstone + lab) or Reporting Native News or Magazine Production and Design or Advanced Audio or Campaign Coverage or Covering the Legislature or International Reporting or Reporting Video News or Student Documentary Unit |
6 |
| Upper Division JRNL Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 122-124 | |
Last updated Autumn 2024