The B.A. in Journalism prepares students for positions in media production, reporting, editing and design. The curriculum offers a blend of courses to support this goal with an emphasis on work in the sports industry. The coursework begins with basic photo, video, writing, reporting and visual literacy skills. These are then followed by courses that focus on production, management and advanced writing projects. Students in Sports Information will take courses in sports journalism, sports marketing, sports production and communication.
On-campus outlets for student writing and productions include Penguin Rundown, Rookery Radio, JambarTV, and thejambar.com. Internships and other writing opportunities are available at local media outlets including local TV, radio and newspapers, such as The Business Journal, The Vindicator, and the Tribune Chronicle. We also place students in YSU athletics and with local minor league sports teams.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Student Requirement | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement Any GE Approved Math (MATH 2623 recommended) | 3 | |
| GE: Arts and Humanities (6 SH) | ||
| JOUR 2603 | Media Ethics and Social Responsibilities required for major | 3 |
| GE: Arts & Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences (7 SH) 2 different GE approved science courses, 1 must include a lab | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 SH) | ||
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory required for major | 3 |
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture required for major | 3 |
| General Education Electives (9 SH) | ||
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations required for major | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication required for major | 3 |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Required Support Courses (18 SH) | ||
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 2624 | Communication Technology - Photo and Video | 3 |
| MCOM 2625 | Communication Technologies: Aesthetics and Design | 3 |
| MCOM 3726 | American Media: History, Principles and Practices | 3 |
| MCOM 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| JOURNALISM MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (15 SH) | ||
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 3721L | News Content Creation 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 3731L | News Content Creation 2 | 3 |
| JOUR 4824 | Communication Law | 3 |
| Sports Journalism Required Courses (18 SH) | ||
| JOUR 3716 | Feature Writing | 3 |
| or JOUR 3717 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | |
| JOUR 3759 | Sports Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 3769 | Principles and Practices of Sports Information | 3 |
| JOUR 3790 | Documentary Storytelling | 3 |
| JOUR 4894 | Journalism Internship | 3 |
| JOUR Elective Course Choose from JOUR 2605, JOUR 2632, JOUR 4890, JOUR 3717 | 3 | |
| Sports Information Support Courses (15 SH) | ||
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 4879 | Sports Communication Message Design | 3 |
| or CMST 5889 | Theory of Sports and Communication | |
| MCOM 1570 | Sports Field Production 1 | 3 |
| MKTG 3703 | Marketing Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| MKTG 3749 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| Seminar Requirement (3 SH) | ||
| JOUR 4825 | Selected Topics in Journalism | 3 |
| or MCOM 4897 | Seminar | |
| Capstone (3 SH) | ||
| JOUR 4893 | Journalism Senior Project | 3 |
| Free Electives (10 SH) *Hours will vary based on what is needed for 120 SH | 10 | |
| Student must complete a minimum of 39 SH of Upper-Level Courses (3700-5800) | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 2624 | Communication Technology - Photo and Video | 3 |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture | 3 |
| MCOM 2625 | Communication Technologies: Aesthetics and Design | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3721L | News Content Creation 1 | 3 |
| MCOM 1570 | Sports Field Production 1 | 3 |
| MCOM 3726 | American Media: History, Principles and Practices | 3 |
| JOUR 2603 | Media Ethics and Social Responsibilities | 3 |
| GE: Math Course *Any GE approved Math, MATH 2623/2623C recommended | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3731L | News Content Creation 2 | 3 |
| JOUR 3759 | Sports Journalism | 3 |
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3716 or JOUR 3717 | Feature Writing or Editorial and Opinion Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 4825 or MCOM 4897 | Selected Topics in Journalism or Seminar | 3 |
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| MKTG 3703 | Marketing Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| GE:Lab Science | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3769 | Principles and Practices of Sports Information | 3 |
| JOUR 4824 | Communication Law | 3 |
| JOUR 4894 | Journalism Internship | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| Journalism Elective *Select 1 JOUR 2605, JOUR 2632, JOUR 3717, JOUR 4890 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 4879 or CMST 5889 | Sports Communication Message Design or Theory of Sports and Communication | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 | |
| GE: Arts & Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3790 | Documentary Storytelling | 3 |
| MKTG 3749 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| JOUR 4893 | Journalism Senior Project | 3 |
| GE: Natural Science | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
SLO1: Students will create news copy for multiple media platforms that is accurate, well-sourced and adheres to professional standards.
SLO2: Students will produce content for organizations that is consumed by audiences.
SLO3: Students will apply ethical and legal techniques in the creation and distribution of information.
SLO4: Students will use industry standard technology to create visual and interactive components that tell stories.