Journalism Catalog

Journalism (BS)

Introduction

The Department of Communication's major in journalism integrates deep, socially responsible reporting and writing with appropriate digital media. Students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism tell true stories across print, broadcast, online and mobile platforms. In keeping with the trend toward media convergence, they think visually, use social media to report and promote stories and design multimedia publications.

For additional information about the major visit the Journalism website. 

Qualifications

Journalism majors must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, a minimum grade of C- in all required journalism courses, and a minimum overall average of 2.0 in all journalism coursework. The performance of all majors is subject to review relative to their continuance in the program. Journalism majors need at least 36 hours of journalism courses (or 33 hours for double majors).

Advisement

All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one.  Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.

A journalism major is assigned an advisor at the beginning of the freshman year. Those who transfer into the journalism major should contact the Communication Department office at 888-2115 to be assigned an advisor.

Double Majors

Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a double major. This decision may be based on career goals, planned graduate studies, and/or other student interests. Before a student declares a double major, it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement.  In order to declare a double major, the student must complete the Major/Minor Declaration form. This form will be submitted electronically and reviewed and approved by each department chairperson as well as the appropriate associate dean. 

Per university policy, each additional major requires a minimum of 15 credits that do not apply to the student's first or subsequent major.  Some double major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in other cases additional course work may be required. Please note that students will receive only one degree unless completing the dual degree requirement including at least 150 undergraduate credit hours, regardless of the number of majors they complete. Both (all) majors appear on a student’s transcript.

Students interested in declaring double majors within the Department of Communication (Strategic Communication, Digital Media Arts, Integrated Marketing Communication, or Journalism) will be allowed to share a maximum of 9 credits between the two majors. This requires 24 distinct credits for strategic communication, 27 distinct credits for digital media arts, 36 distinct credits for integrated marketing communication, and 24 distinct credits for journalism. Additionally, for students with a double major outside the Department of Communication, students may double count up to 9 credit hours of electives between the two majors. Please note, however, that the second major may not necessarily allow double counting of credits. For more information, please contact the department chair.

Journalism students who are double majors and successfully complete 3 or more credit hours in Internships (JRN 488 or JRN 498) are required to complete 30 hours of in-class credit in order to complete the journalism major. Otherwise, students complete a minimum of 33 credit hours of journalism courses. Students may wish to consider developing a foreign language competency, as well as a specialty in a field such as political science, economics, science, or religion.

Each journalism major and double major is assigned a department faculty advisor to plan an individual program that will satisfy the department’s requirements and the student’s personal goals. Course selections develop from the journalism requirements, prerequisites and electives.

Minors in Other Disciplines

Minors provide students the opportunity to pursue additional interests but generally do not require as many courses as a major.  Minors generally range from five to eight required courses. To receive a minor, the student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their other credentials (i.e., majors, other minors). The complete list of minors is available on the Canisius website and in the catalog and provides links to each minor. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional coursework may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
JRN 100	Introduction to Journalism	3
JRN 200	Multimedia Storytelling	3
COM 203	Writing for Contemporary Media	3
JRN 301	Newsgathering and Reporting	3
JRN 310	Journalism	3
COM 351	Media Ethics	3
or DMA 216	Digital Media Law
JRN 490	Senior Project and Portfolio	3
Upper-level Concentration Courses (5 courses)		15
Total Credits		36

Upper-Level Concentration Courses

Journalism majors will select an area of concentration, also open to other majors who may be interested. There are three options for the concentration, each of which requires a total of five courses for 15 credit hours:

Sports Journalism and Broadcasting

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
JRN 336	Sports Journalism	3
JRN 358	Sports Field Production I	3
JRN 359	Sports Field Production II	3
Concentration Electives
Sports Communication – Select one of the following:		3
SPMT 412	Sport Marketing
SPMT 430	Sport Communications
Sports Broadcast and Journalism – Select one of the following:		3
JRN 201	Advanced Multimedia Storytelling
JRN 311	Advanced Journalism and Investigative Reporting
JRN 322	Feature/Magazine Writing
COM 367	Producing Multi-Platform Content
DMA 361	TV Studio Production
or JRN 369	Television Features
Total Credits		15

Narrative Journalism

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
JRN 322	Feature/Magazine Writing	3
JRN 340	Podcasting and Audio Storytelling	3
JRN 342	Narrative Journalism	3
Concentration Electives
Select two of the following:		6
JRN 201	Advanced Multimedia Storytelling
JRN 311	Advanced Journalism and Investigative Reporting
JRN 336	Sports Journalism
JRN 369	Television Features
ENG 294	Introduction to Creative Writing
ENG 393	Advanced Creative Writing: Memoir & Nonfiction
Total Credits		15

Multimedia Journalism

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
JRN 201	Advanced Multimedia Storytelling	3
DMA 361	TV Studio Production	3
or JRN 369	Television Features
CSC 108	Introduction to Web Computing	3
or DMA 342	Introduction to Web Design
Concentration Electives
Select two of the following: must be different from required courses taken		6
JRN 311	Advanced Journalism and Investigative Reporting
JRN 322	Feature/Magazine Writing
JRN 369	Television Features
or DMA 361	TV Studio Production
COM 367	Producing Multi-Platform Content
DMA 212	Professional Practices and Portfolio
DMA 218	Motion Graphics
Total Credits		15

Internships

Internships (JRN 488, JRN 498), awarding up to a maximum of 12 credit hours, may be earned by qualified journalism majors at approved locations in Buffalo or elsewhere. The internships are individually arranged, require department approval and are available only to junior or senior candidates with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a journalism average of at least 2.7. Internships are taken on a pass/fail basis and are counted toward free elective credit. Students are encouraged to plan early to do an internship during their junior or senior year.

Note: To gain valuable experience, journalism majors are advised to participate in clubs such as the student newspaper, television station, radio station, and digital media arts clubs.

Roadmap

Recommended Semester Schedule for Major Course Requirements

Freshman
Fall	Spring
JRN 100	JRN 301
JRN 200	COM 203
Sophomore
Fall	Spring
JRN 310	COM 351 or DMA 216
Junior
Fall	Spring
Concentration requirement or elective	Concentration requirement or elective
Concentration requirement or elective	Concentration requirement or elective
Senior
Fall	Spring
Concentration requirement or elective	JRN 490

Learning Goals and Objectives

These learning Goals and Objectives apply to all Journalism majors.

Student Learning Goal 1

Majors will understand the history and current state of the profession of journalism.

Students will:

• Objective A: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of Journalism’s professional qualities and ethical standards, including the need to report facts fairly and accurately.
• Objective B: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of media law, the First Amendment, Sunshine Laws, and FOIA.

Student Learning Goal 2

Majors will think critically and creatively.

Students will:

• Objective A: Understand the nature of current and upcoming events in order to report meaningful news stories.
• Objective B: Exercise sound, responsible news judgment even under pressures of immediacy and competition.

Student Learning Goal 3

Majors will write for audience, platform, and message.

Students will:

• Objective A: Demonstrate the ability to produce lively stories in various modes of journalism, based on facts they have gathered, verified, analyzed and interpreted, using multiple sources and methods.
• Objective B: Demonstrate the ability to write cogently in a structure appropriate for the chosen platform.

Courses