Visual Communications, 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 School of Journalism and Mass Communications for progression requirements and other regulations.

Program of Study

Requirements Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core 31-44
2. College Requirements 12-15
3. Program Requirements 16-32
4. Major Requirements 45
 

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) 

SCI – Scientific Literacy (7 hours)

Two approved Carolina Core Scientific Literacy courses, 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) 

Select one US History course from the following:

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours) 

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)

INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)

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 (12-15 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 South Asian History
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
Conquest, Colonization, and Captivity: A Cultural History of the Americas from 1441 to 1888
History of Asian Art
Film and Media History
German Culture and Civilization

Social Science (3 hours)

Social or Behavioral Science (3 hours)

  • Any course from HIST- History; POLI- Political Science;  AFAM- African-American Studies; ANTH- Anthropology; COLA- College of Liberal Arts; CRJU- Criminal Justice; 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, or any one of the following JOUR courses:
Course Title Credits
Sports Activism and Media
Social Media and Society
Law and Ethics of Mass Communications
Internet and Social Media Law
Media, Sports and Race
Media and Youth
Hip Hop, Media and Society
Race, Gender, and Class in Mass Media
Gender, Sexuality, and Sports Media
Sports Media and Society
Sports Media Ethics
Diversity Topics in Mass Media
Domestic Study Away in Journalism and Mass Communications

Additional SJMC Requirements (3 hours)

Select any one of the following:

Course Title Credits
ECON 224Introduction to Economics3
MKTG 350Principles of Marketing3
MGMT 371Principles of Management3
 

3. Program Requirements (16-32 hours)

Minor (0-18 hours) optional

A minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. 

Courses used to fulfill minor requirements may not be used to fill other degree requirements, except the Founding Documents Requirement (FND). Some FND courses may be applicable to some minors in some cases. 

If a minor course is also required for another component of the student's degree, the College will approve an appropriate alternate course, ensuring that a unique, appropriate course fulfills each requirement. 

Requirements for all minors currently offered at USC are available in the Programs A-Z section of the Undergraduate Academic Bulletin. 

All courses used in the minor must be passed with a C or higher.

Electives (0-32 hours)

A minimum of 120 degree-applicable credits are required to complete the degree. After all other degree requirements are complete, general electives will fulfill any remaining hours required to reach 120 degree-applicable credits. Courses of a remedial or developmental nature are not applicable to the degree and may not be used to fulfill general elective or any other degree requirement.

 

4. Major Requirements (45 hours)

A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses

Major Courses (30 hours)

Course Title Credits
JOUR 101Media and Society3
JOUR 203Principles of Visual Communications3
JOUR 291Writing for Mass Communications3
JOUR 303Law and Ethics of Mass Communications3
or JOUR 304 Internet and Social Media Law
JOUR 346Graphics for Visual Communications3
JOUR 347Photography for Visual Communications3
JOUR 442Advanced Graphics for Visual Communications3
JOUR 447Video for Visual Communications3
JOUR 449Design of Online Content3
JOUR 560Capstone Portfolio Development3
Total Credit Hours30

Major Electives (15 hours)

Course Title Credits
Select one Visual Communications special topics course3
Live Television Sports Production
Principles of User Experience and Design (UX/UI)
Toolkit for Concept Development
Toolkit for Brand Communication: Creative Execution
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
Digital Signage
Creative: Strategy to Execution
Multimedia Sports Storytelling
Informational Graphics
Multimedia for Visual Communications
Studio and Location Lighting for Still Photography
Freelancing for Creative Professionals
Photojournalism
Special Topics in Visual Communications
Sports Journalism
Intermediate Reporting and Production
Power Producing
Special Topics in Nonfiction Storytelling with Emerging Technologies
Brand Communications Practicum/Competitions
Publication Writing and Design
The Carolina Agency
The Bateman Team
Motion-Based Graphics for Visual Communications
Domestic Study Away in Journalism and Mass Communications
Study Abroad in Journalism and Mass Communications
Internship in Mass Communications
Total Credit Hours3
Course Title Credits
Select one JOUR concept/lecture course3
Principles of Public Relations
Principles of Advertising and Brand Communications
Principles of Journalism
History and Philosophy of the Mass Media
Name, Image and Likeness in Brand Promotion
Jobs in the Sports Media
Sports Activism and Media
Principles of User Experience and Design (UX/UI)
Social Media and Society
Social Media Influencer Blueprint: A Playbook for Online Fame and Fortune
Law and Ethics of Mass Communications
Internet and Social Media Law
Theories of Mass Communications
Media, Sports and Race
Media and Youth
Hip Hop, Media and Society
Race, Gender, and Class in Mass Media
International Mass Communications
Social Media Marketing Strategy
Mass Communications Research
Public Relations for Nonprofit Organizations
Social Media for Sports Media
SEC Football and Sports Media
Gender, Sexuality, and Sports Media
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
Business Basics for Communications
Social Media Planning
Sports Media and Society
Sports Media Ethics
Diversity Topics in Mass Media
Digital Media and Big Data Analysis
Media Analysis
Super Bowl Commercials
Leadership and Internal Relations Management
Team Media for Sports Media
Freelancing for Creative Professionals
Media Management
Communication and Information Transfer
Freedom, Responsibility, and Ethics of the Mass Media
Mass Media Criticism
Health Communication: The Science and Practice
Faith, Values, and the Mass Media
Environmental Communication: The Science and Practice
Advertising Management
Creative Leadership
Crisis Communications
Ethics in Public Relations and Public Policy
Public Opinion and Persuasion
Public/Civic Journalism
Domestic Study Away in Journalism and Mass Communications
Study Abroad in Journalism and Mass Communications
Total Credit Hours3
Course Title Credits
Select three additional Journalism electives9
Total Credit Hours9

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 391Sports Media and Society3
Select three elective courses from the following:9
Jobs in the Sports Media
Sports Activism and Media
Special Topics in Sports Media
Live Television Sports Production
Media, Sports and Race
Social Media for Sports Media
SEC Football and Sports Media
Gender, Sexuality, and Sports Media
Sports Media Ethics
Super Bowl Commercials
Sports Announcing
Multimedia Sports Storytelling
Sports Journalism
Power Producing
Power Producing Lab
Total Credit Hours12
 

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.

Visual Communications, B.A.J.M.C.