Courses and Requirements for the Minor

Student working on a project

To complete the minor, students must take at least six Journalism courses, including four required classes. The minor also requires completion of an internship at a news media outlet.

All courses are open to non-minors unless specified otherwise.

The required courses are:

  • JOUR-1100 Introduction to Journalism
    Offered in the fall and spring
    This course provides students an overview of the basics of journalism, beginning with how to assess the news value of an event or situation, how to develop story ideas and how to put together a story. Much attention is paid to writing clearly and accurately and developing interviewing skills. The course also introduces students to the changing media landscape and the various multi-platforms available to journalists today. Journalistic ethics are a focus as well. Guest speakers include working journalists from the Washington media community. There will be several short writing assignments and a final project.
    Note: This is the gateway course for journalism minors.
     
  • JOUR-2200 Digital News
    Offered in the fall and spring
    This course gives students a grasp of the skills necessary to produce online news content as well as an understanding of the forces that are driving the rapidly changing and diversifying online news industry. Students receive a mixture of practical instruction in online news writing and multimedia news production. Students are also be expected to engage in critical analysis of the journalism profession, contemporary online journalism and the economic, social and technological drivers shaping online news consumption. Assignments include breaking news stories and multimedia elements, including podcasting and video production.
    Prerequisite: JOUR-1100 Introduction to Journalism
     
  • JOUR-4925 The Media Industry
    Offered in the fall and spring
    This course is for students who are participating in an internship (or have already completed an internship) at a media outlet (print, broadcast or online). This workshop-style course will give students an opportunity to share their experiences with other students engaged in similar journalistic pursuits, while exploring the business of journalism, career journalists and the media world at large. Written assignments will include a career plan, critical media assessment and business profile.

     
  • JOUR-4970 Journalism Capstone
    Offered in the fall and spring
    Candidates for the minor take this course in their senior year. This course requires one substantial piece of journalism to be developed, reported and written during the semester with an eye toward publication.

Sequence

It’s recommended that courses be taken in the following order to successfully complete the Minor:

  1. JOUR-1100 Introduction to Journalism
  2. JOUR-2200 Digital News
  3. JOUR-4925 The Media Industry
  4. JOUR-4970 Journalism Capstone must be taken in a student’s senior year.

The two required electives may be taken at any time.

Electives

The list of electives below is not comprehensive, and not every course is taught each semester. This is a sample of some courses we’ve offered in the past and may currently be offering. Current lists of courses will be maintained by the registrar. Courses that students wish to count toward their electives that are not on the list must be presented for review to the Minor Director or Asst. Director before the student takes the course.

  • Feature Writing
  • The Art of Editing
  • Living Out Loud: Writing for Radio
  • Covering Sports
  • Media Law in the Digital Age
  • Media and Social Justice
  • The Reported Memoir
  • Magazine Writing in the Digital Age
  • The Interview
  • Government-Media Relations in the Digital Age
  • Pop Culture, Race & The Media
  • Broken News: Journalism & Citizenship
  • Crime and Media
  • Science and Environmental Justice
  • Telling the Truth