Journalism Undergraduate Requirements Guide Your Guide to Getting In, Staying In, and Graduating from the School of Journalism

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Journalism Undergraduate Requirements Guide Your guide to getting in, staying in, and graduating from the School of Journalism.

Admission is competitive. The number of students admitted each ADMISSION semester depends on the number graduating in the preceding semester and the J-School’s overall capacity. Candidate selection There are three categories, or paths, for admission into the University is based on grade-point average. Ninety percent of available spaces of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass are filled by the candidates with the highest KU cumulative grade- Communications (or the J-School, as it is commonly called): point averages. The remaining ten percent are selected from among those who petition before the deadline, provided that the student PATH #1: has a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5. In reviewing Journalism School Scholars may declare a journalism major directly petitions, the J-School considers elements such as ACT scores, out of high school and must: socioeconomic factors, academic progress, and commitment to the profession. The J-School uses a student’s transfer cumulative grade- Have a composite ACT score of 30 or better (1330 SAT-I score), AND point average if he or she does not have a KU cumulative grade-point Have a cumulative KU grade-point average of 3.7 or higher, AND average. The J-School does not combine transfer and KU cumulative Apply for admission and scholarships to KU, indicating a journalism grade-point averages. major, by December 1. All students admitted to the J-School must do the following in Each year 15 to 20 Journalism School Scholars are eligible to receive order to remain in the J-School and in good standing: scholarships from the J-School during their first year. Meeting the Complete J101 with a grade of 2.5 or higher, AND Maintain a 2.5 above criteria does not guarantee a J-School Scholar receives a cumulative grade-point average and a 2.5 journalism grade-point scholarship. The selection process is competitive. average, AND Complete ENGL 101 (or exemption) and ENGL 102 or ENGL 105 (or exemption or advanced placement) and one of the PATH #2: following courses—ENGL 203, ENGL 205, ENGL 209, ENGL 210, Students will be considered for admission directly out of high school or ENGL 211—with a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher* (students to the School of Journalism if they: can complete these courses after they are admitted), AND Complete the first- and second-year requirements by the beginning of junior Have a composite ACT score of 24 or higher (1090 SAT-I score), AND year (fifth semester, not including summer sessions). Graduate from high school with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher, AND Apply to the J-School by the following deadlines: – Fall or *All students take the grammar test when admitted to the J-School. If Summer: February 1 – Spring: September 1 they do not earn a score of 75 or higher, they must take J002 Grammar and Usage and complete it with a C (2.0) or higher while enrolled in The above are minimum requirements. Admission is competitive. If J301 or J302. Students who do not have a 2.5 English gpa must take the J-School must set an admissions quota, students with the highest the grammar course regardless of their score on the grammar test. ACT (or SAT-I) score and grade-point average will be accepted. Students failing to meet the conditions above are placed on probation PATH #3: for one semester. If a student does not raise his or her cumulative This pathway is for transfer students and current KU students who and journalism grade-point averages to 2.5, she or he is dropped do not declare journalism as their major during the first semester of from the J-School. If a student is applying in the semester in which their first year. They may apply for admission if they: he or she is enrolled in J101, admission will be rescinded if a grade of 2.5 is not earned.” Earn 24 or more credit hours the semester of application (either at KU or another institution) with a 2.5 or higher grade-point average, AND Journalism New Student Orientation: Complete or are enrolled in JOUR 101 Media and Society the Recently-admitted students are required to attend a Journalism New semester of application, AND Earn a C (2.0) or higher in J101 (if Student Orientation. It is an opportunity to learn about J-School culture, applying while enrolled in J101, admission is rescinded if a C or higher advising, academic requirements, student organizations and career is not earned), AND Apply to the J-School by the following deadlines: services. These sessions will be held in September and February – Fall or Summer: February 1 – Spring: September 1 each year. Students will receive detailed information after admission into the J-School. Students are required to attend and can be dropped *Students applying with more than 60 hours of college credit (at from the School of Journalism if they miss the Orientation sessions KU, another institution or a combination of both) must meet with a offered in their first two semesters in the J-School. Journalism adviser to determine their admission eligibility.

Updated June 2012 Western Civilization Requirement: FIRST- AND SECOND-YEAR REQUIREMENTS HWC 204 or 114 and HWC 205 or 115

A student’s first semester of college is the first semester in which she/ Non-Western Culture Requirement: he enrolls after high school graduation. Students must complete these One Non-Western culture course marked NW. See the Undergraduate requirements by the beginning of the fifth semester, not including summer Catalog or online schedule of classes for a list of course options. sessions. Requirements subject to change. Diversity Requirement: • ENGL 101 (or exemption) and ENGL 102 or ENGL 105 (or The School of Journalism is committed to teaching the values of a di- exemption or advanced placement) and one of the following verse society and workplace and the importance of reflecting that di- courses—ENGL 203, ENGL 205, ENGL 209, ENGL 210, or ENGL versity in mass media. 211—with a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher. (All students take the grammar test when admitted to the J-School. If they do The requirement may be met in ONE of the following SEVEN ways. not earn a score of 75 or higher, they must take J002 Grammar Check the prerequisite courses for each course listed. Require- and Usage and complete it with a C (2.0) or higher while enrolled ments subject to change. in J301. Students who do not have a 2.5 English grade-point average must pass the grammar test with a score of 75 or above 1) Complete one of the following Journalism School courses: a second time after completion of J301 or J302 in order to remain • J201: Current Issues in Journ (topics in media, diversity, ethics) in the J-School.) • J500: Depending on topic (could be an experiential or service • Complete through one of the following: MATH 105, MATH 106, learning course) MATH 111, MATH 115, MATH 121, MATH 141, MATH 365, or BIOL • J590: International Journalism 570. If a student takes MATH 002, those three credit hours do not • J534: Diversity in Media count toward the 124 hours needed for graduation. • J613: International Strategic Communications

• COMS 130 or COMS 230 or exemption for one year of high school 2) Complete one of the approved courses offered in the College of work in debate or forensics with a grade of 3.0 or higher. Liberal Arts & Sciences: For a complete list of approved courses, see www.journalism.ku.edu/academics/diversityreq.shtml. • One four or five credit hour natural science course with a laboratory. 3) Complete an Area Distribution Requirement (3 X 3) in one of • A course in humanities designated H by the College of Liberal the following: Arts & Sciences. • A Foreign Language • African and African-American Studies • A course in a social science designated S by the College of Liberal • East Asian Languages and Cultures Arts & Sciences. • Latin American Studies • Slavic Languages and Literatures • A basic economics course (ECON 104 or ECON 142 or ECON • Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies 144 or equivalent).

• Completion of a foreign language through the second course. 4) Complete one of the following KU-established programs: Demonstration of fourth semester language proficiency is required • A Study Abroad program approved by KU for graduation. Students are encouraged to complete the foreign • The KU Global Awareness Program (GAP)—see the KU Website language requirement during the first two years. 5) Completing selected minors: English Placement Guide: • A Foreign Language • African and African-American Studies • English ACT 31-36 or SAT 650-800: Enroll in Engl 105 • East Asian Language and Cultures • English ACT 27-30 or SAT 600-649: Enroll in Engl 102 • Global and International Studies • English ACT 00-26 or SAT 000-599: Enroll in Engl 101 • Latin American Studies • Leadership Studies Minor (competitive admission) Math Placement Guide: • Peace and Conflict Studies • Slavic Languages and Literatures • Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies • Math ACT 26 or better & three years high school math including two years of algebra & a half year trigonometry: 6) Complete a co-major in: Enroll in Math 105/106/111/115 • European Studies • Math ACT 22-25: Enroll in Math 101, College Algebra • Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies • Math ACT 00-21: Enroll in Math 002, Intermediate Algebra 7) Complete a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree in: • A Foreign Language GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS • African and African-American Studies • East Asian Languages and Cultures • Global and International Studies In addition to the first- and second-year requirements listed above, • Latin American Studies students also must meet the following requirements to graduate. • Slavic Languages and Literatures • Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Foreign Language Requirement: Graduation from the School of Journalism requires the completion of International students studying at KU or military service abroad fulfills a fourth semester level or fourth semester proficiency in a foreign lan- the diversity requirement. guage or the demonstration of proficiency in a foreign language as determined by the appropriate language department. Non-native speak- ers of English may be exempt.

www.journalism.ku.edu Area Distribution Requirement: ***A minor in the School of Business or School of Music will not Student must complete one of the following area distribution options fulfill the requirement. to graduate: Complete all requirements for a second degree in CLAS or • Humanities completion of co-major in Russian, East European and Eurasian One block of courses must be taken in a subject area identified Studies or European Studies. as a humanities, e.g. Engl., Hist., Hist. of Art Students who opt to complete a CLAS major or co-major must be • Social Science advised in CLAS as well as Journalism. One block of courses must be taken in a subject area identified as a social science, e.g. Pols., Soc., Psyc. Note: Students who opt for the minor need finish the necessary paperwork to declare the minor. Students who opt for the double • S, H, N, Area Studies major must finish requirements of both degrees simultaneously The third block of courses can be from a subject area identified or finish their CLAS major first. Students completing a non-CLAS degree need to complete option A or B. A third option exists for as social sciences (S), humanities (H), natural sciences (N) or students who began at KU prior to Fall 2012. That option is called the interdisciplinary studies. 3x3. Please contact the Journalism Advising office for more details. It is the intent of the faculty that a student will take groups that will complement his or her major in journalism. Two of the courses JUNIOR/SENIOR HOURS: in each block must be for three hours of credit. One two-hour Students must complete 45 hours in upper-divison courses (junior/ course will be accepted in a 3x3 group. Each group of three senior credit). courses must include at least one course at the junior/senior level (300+). For example:

English (H) Pols (S) History (H) JOURNALISM TRACKS 1. Engl 209 1. Pols 110 1. Hist 128 2. Engl 322 2. Pols 511 2. Hist 129 3. Engl 479 3. Pols 515 3. Hist 627 Students choose to specialize in one of two tracks after completion of J101 and J300, 302, and 304—News and Information OR Strategic • Approved Areas Communication. While students choose a track in which to specialize, Approved areas in the social sciences (courses marked S) are: note that all undergraduate students graduate with a bachelor’s degree Anthropology (S), Economics, Geography (S), Applied Behavorial in Journalism. Science, Linguistics (S), Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Communication Studies (S). The News and Information track prepares students for innovative careers in multimedia, focusing on reporting, writing and editing for the Web, Approved areas in the humanities (courses marked H or WH) magazines, newspapers, radio, television and new media. The Strategic are: Anthropology (H), Classics, East Asian Languages and Communication track prepares students to work in media sales and Cultures, English, Film and Media Studies, French and Italian, management and marketing communications fields, including advertising Germanic Languages and Literatures, History, History of Art, and public relations. Humanities and Western Civilization (except HWC 204, 205, 114 and 115), Linguistics, Musicology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, A student must complete a minimum of 40 hours* in journalism, including Slavic Language and Literature, Spanish and Portuguese, and all of the required courses in his or her track. A student must take the Theatre (H). Note: Some courses in Communication Studies are School’s grammar and usage test before enrolling in J302. designated as humanities courses. These may be used to fulfill the humanities area requirements.

In addition to the above areas, area studies programs that offer at least three designated courses may be taken to fulfill one of the NEWS AND INFORMATION Credit Hours required blocks. A student also may elect to take the third block of courses in one of the natural sciences or in mathematics. As Foundation Core (6) long as all three courses are in the same department (for example, J101: Media Literacy 3 Coms, Anth, Geog) in a third block, the designations may include J300: Visual Storytelling 3 courses marked S, H, or N. J302: Infomania 3 J304: Writing for the Media 3 ***The following courses do not count toward fulfilling a three- Intermediate Core (6) course block: any undesignated course (U) except Span 324 J415: Multimedia Reporting 3 and 328 and any courses in any department where the student J419: Multimedia Editing 3 received credit as a student assistant or proctor. J550 4 Complete an approved CLAS (College of Liberal Arts & Upper-Level Core (6) Sciences) minor plus a three-course concentration. J618: First Amendment and Society 3

J608: Ethics and the Media 3 The concentration must have a designation different from that of the minor. For example, if the minor is in humanities, the nine hours Two Semesters of Advanced Media Courses 6 must be in a social science or a natural science. At least one course Take any two courses designated as in the concentration must be numbered 300 or above. Advanced Media (J610, J621, J630, J635, J636, J650, J690, J699 or approved sections of J500) Requirements for a minor are determined by the department of the minor, not the School of Journalism, and may be found on the Strategic Communication information on following page CLAS Web site.

www.journalism.ku.edu StraTEgic Communication Credit Hours HELPFUL INFORMATION

Foundation Core (6) Important Numbers to Know: J101: Media and Society 3 • Students must earn at least 30 credit hours after admission. J300 Visual Storytelling 3 • The J-School allows students to complete a maximum of six of the J302: Infomania 3 last 30 hours at another college. A student should check with Advising J304: Writing for the Media 3 Office before enrolling at another school outside KU during their last 30 hours. Intermediate Core (9) • Students who started at KU prior to Fall 2011 are required to complete Jour 320: Strategic Communication 3 a minimum of 124 hours. Students who started at KU in Fall 2011 or Jour 420: Stratcom 1: Prin of Advertising and PR 3 after are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours. (A minimum Jour 460: Research Methods in Strategic of 80 hours must be completed outside of Journalism and 65 of Communication 3 those hours must be completed within the College of Liberal Arts and Required Prerequisites of J640 (3) Sciences.) J560: Message Development 3 • Additional requirements for the B.S. degree in Journalism are listed Upper-Level Core (6) in the Undergraduate Catalog (www.ku.edu/academics/catalogs). J618: First Amendment and Society 3 • Students must maintain 2.5 cumulative and journalism GPAs to remain J608: Ethics and the Media 3 in the J-School. Capstone Course (4) • Maximum of 12 journalism transfer hours is allowed. J640: Strategic Campaigns 3 Faculty Mentors: Students admitted to the J-School are assigned a faculty mentor in their area of interest. Faculty members focus on such career advising issues as choosing electives, planning study abroad, internships, etc. Students are required to open a KU e-mail account and check it regularly throughout the semester. This is how faculty and administration will communicate with students.

Academic Advising: The Journalism Advising and Records Office, 117 Stauffer-Flint, focuses on requirements for admission and graduation. The office advises each student in preparing a semester-by-semester graduation plan at the time of admittance and provides graduation checks after that, by appointment. Graduation within four years is ideal. Students are ultimately responsible, however, for meeting admission and graduation requirements. All students must have a graduation check in the semester prior to graduation.

Getting the Degree: Students must apply for graduation in the semester prior to the one in which they plan to complete their degree requirements. Detailed information will be sent to students in advance. In addition to KU Commencement, a special graduate recognition ceremony is held each year to individually honor J-School graduates. A degree from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications is a significant accomplishment and will place you among the world’s elite “Jayhawk Journalists.”

NEW JOURNALISM MINOR: We also offer a Journalism Minor. Admission deadlines for this 18-credit hour program are Sept. 1 and Feb. 1. For detailed program requirements please see the Journalism Advising and Records Office or www.journalism. ku.edu/academics/minor.shtml.

QUESTIONS? For more information, please visit the Journalism Undergraduate Advising and Records Office in 117 Stauffer-Flint Hall, call 785-864-4080 or email [email protected].

Visit the J-School online: www.journalism.ku.edu