Journalism, B.A.J.M.C.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
Freshman Students
In order to be admitted to a program of study in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, freshmen must meet all University admission requirements. In order to continue in the program, each student must attain a minimum USC GPA of 2.50 upon completion of 30 degree-applicable hours. Credit received for remedial work is not counted toward the 30 hours.
Transfer Students
A student desiring to transfer to the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, from either another college of the University or another institution, must have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.50 on all work attempted. Transfer students from other institutions must take at least half the journalism and mass communications course work in residence at the University of South Carolina Columbia. Other journalism and mass communications courses from those institutions may be used as journalism and mass communications electives at the discretion of the SJMC administration. No more than 12 semester hours of journalism and mass communications related courses from non-ACEJMC-accredited institutions will be applied toward the journalism and mass communications degree.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
See College of Information and Communications for progression requirements and other regulations.
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 31-44 |
| 2. College Requirements | 18-21 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 12-23 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 48 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (31-44 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-7 hours)
- STAT 201 or STAT 205
- any other approved CC-ARP course
SCI – Scientific Literacy (7 hours)
Two approved Carolina Core Scientific Literacy courses from the natural sciences, including one laboratory course
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language (except Latin or Ancient Greek) equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in 122. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
One US History course selected from the following:
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
- any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)
Select one from the following:
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
- 1
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
2. College Requirements (18-21 hours)
Foreign Language (0-3 hours)
- only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency
History (3 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| European Civilization from Ancient Times to the Mid-17th Century | ||
| European Civilization from the Mid-17th Century | ||
| Introduction to the Civilization of the Islamic Middle East | ||
| Introduction to East Asian Civilization | ||
| Introduction to African History | ||
| Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Civilization | ||
| Science and Technology in World History | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Civilization | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Literature (3 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Special Topics in Fiction | ||
| Special Topics in British Literature | ||
| Drama | ||
| Special Topics in American Literature | ||
| Poetry | ||
| American Literature | ||
| English Literature | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Social Science (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
Social or Behavioral Science (3 hours)
A 300-level or higher course from HIST or POLI or three hours of Social or Behavioral Sciences at the 300 level or higher from: AFAM- African-American Studies; ANTH- Anthropology; COLA- College of Liberal Arts; GEOG-Geography (except GEOG 545 and GEOG 546); LASP-Latin American Studies; POLI- Political Science; PSYC- Psychology; SOCY- Sociology; SOST- Southern Studies; WGST- Women and Gender Studies.
Additional SJMC Requirements (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 224 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| MKTG 350 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| or MGMT 371 | Principles of Management | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
3. Program Requirements (12-23 hours)
Minor or Cognate (12-18 hours)
Students must complete either a minor or a cognate from courses outside the SJMC.
A minimum grade of C is required in all cognate or minor courses
Minor (18 hours)
A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a minor consisting of 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.
Cognate (12 hours)
A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a cognate. A cognate requires a minimum of 12 hours of courses in other departments related to the student’s major and/or career goals. Cognate courses may be taken in one or more departments depending on the interest and requirements of the student, but must have approval of the student’s adviser. Journalism courses may not be used in the cognate. At least 6 of the 12 hours must be at the 300-level or higher. No 100 level courses may be used in the cognate.
Electives (0-11 hours)
The Carolina Core, additional SJMC General Education Requirements, Minor/Cognate and Electives outside of the SJMC must include at least 72 semester hours in academic subjects. Students with fewer than 72 hours in general education courses must take enough electives to fulfill the 72-hour minimum.
No elective courses of a remedial, developmental nature may apply as credit toward the 72-hour minimum.
4. Major Requirements (48 hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses
Major Courses (27 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 101 | Media and Society | 3 |
| JOUR 204 | Principles of Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 291 | Writing for Mass Communications | 3 |
| JOUR 303 | Law and Ethics of Mass Communications | 3 |
| or JOUR 304 | Internet and Social Media Law | |
| JOUR 361 | Introductory Reporting and Writing | 2 |
| JOUR 361L | Introductory Reporting and Writing Lab | 1 |
| JOUR 471 | Intermediate Reporting and Production | 3 |
| JOUR 587 | Capstone I - Advanced Reporting - Multimedia Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 589 | Capstone II - Advanced Multimedia Journalism Production | 3 |
| JOUR 590 | Capstone III - Digital Journalism | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
Major Electives (21 hours)
- One advanced reporting directed elective corequisite with Capstone courses (3 hours)
- One professional practice directed elective: editing, reporting or management (3 hours)
- Two conceptual directed electives (6 hours)
- Additional Journalism Electives (9 hours)
Concentration in Sports Media (12 hours) Optional
Students may choose to complete a concentration in sports media. The sports media concentration may be used to fulfill 12 hours of the major elective requirements.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 391 | Sports Media and Society | 3 |
| Select three elective courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Sports Activism and Media | ||
| Special Topics in Sports Media | ||
| Live Television Sports Production | ||
| Media, Sports and Race | ||
| Social Media for Sports Media | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Sports Media | ||
| Sports Media Ethics | ||
| Super Bowl Commercials | ||
| Sports Announcing | ||
| Multimedia Sports Storytelling | ||
| Team Media for Sports Media | ||
| Sports Journalism | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Internship in Mass Communications | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.