The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Journalism equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in content creation, writing, media production, reporting, public relations, editing, and design. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning.
The program begins with foundational courses in photo, video, writing, reporting, and content production skills. These are followed by advanced courses focusing on content creation, writing, editing, history, law and in-depth reporting. Students pursuing the Sports Information track will engage in additional coursework in sports marketing, sports production, and communication.
Students can gain practical experience through award-winning student media outlets such as the Jambar student newspaper, Jambar Sports Extra, Rookery Radio, Jambar In 10, Jambar Newsmagazine, and thejambar.com.
Internships and other writing opportunities are available at local media outlets, including television, radio, and newspapers such as The Business Journal, The Vindicator, and the Tribune Chronicle. Additionally, we facilitate student placements within YSU athletics, local minor league sports teams, and public relations agencies.
| 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 | ||
| GE: Natural Science | 3 | |
| GE: Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Social Science (6 SH) | ||
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture required for major | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| General Education Electives (9 SH) | ||
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations CMST 1545 or CMST 2620 required for major | 3 |
| or CMST 2620 | Science Communication | |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| JOURNALISM MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (18 SH) | ||
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 3721L | News Content Creation 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 3726 | American Media: History, Principles and Practices | 3 |
| or MCOM 3726 | American Media: History, Principles and Practices | |
| JOUR 3731L | News Content Creation 2 | 3 |
| or JOUR 3716 | Feature Writing | |
| or JOUR 3717 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | |
| JOUR 4824 | Communication Law | 3 |
| Required Support Courses (15 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 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Sports Information Required Courses (27 SH) | ||
| JOUR 3716 | Feature Writing Course selected must differ from writing class selected in CORE | 3 |
| or JOUR 3717 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | |
| or JOUR 3731L | News Content Creation 2 | |
| JOUR 3757 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| or MCOM 3717 | Public Relations Campaigns | |
| or CMST 3757 | Public Relations Writing | |
| or CMST 3717 | Public Relations Campaigns | |
| JOUR 3769 | Sports Public Relations | 3 |
| or JOUR 3759 | Sports Journalism | |
| JOUR 3790 | Documentary Storytelling | 3 |
| or JOUR 4890 | Writing and Producing Television News | |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 4879 | Game Day Content Production | 3 |
| or MCOM 4879 | Game Day Content Production | |
| 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 *Hours will vary based on what is needed for 120 SH | 16 | |
| Student must complete a minimum of 39 SH of Upper-Level Courses (3700-5800) | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 2603 | Media Ethics and Social Responsibilities | 3 |
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 2624 | Communication Technology - Photo and Video | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| Semester Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3725 | News Reporting | 3 |
| MCOM 2625 | Communication Technologies: Aesthetics and Design | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| GE: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3721L | News Content Creation 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 3726 or MCOM 3726 | American Media: History, Principles and Practices or American Media: History, Principles and Practices | 3 |
| MCOM 1570 | Sports Field Production 1 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| GE: Math Course *Any GE approved Math, MATH 2623/2623C recommended | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3731L | News Content Creation 2 or Feature Writing or Editorial and Opinion Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 3769 or JOUR 3759 | Sports Public Relations or Sports Journalism | 3 |
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture | 3 |
| GE: Natural Science | 3 | |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 3717 | Editorial and Opinion Writing or Feature Writing or News Content Creation 2 | 3 |
| JOUR 3757 | Public Relations Writing or Public Relations Campaigns or Public Relations Writing or Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| MKTG 3703 | Marketing Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| MCOM 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| GE: Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 3790 or JOUR 4890 | Documentary Storytelling or Writing and Producing Television News | 3 |
| MCOM 4879 or CMST 4879 | Game Day Content Production or Game Day Content Production | 3 |
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| MKTG 3749 | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| JOUR 4825 or MCOM 4897 | Selected Topics in Journalism or Seminar | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| JOUR 4824 | Communication Law | 3 |
| JOUR 4893 | Journalism Senior Project | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 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.