This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, Please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2019-2020

Program: B.A., Journalism

Public Relations

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students who seek careers in a wide variety of contemporary selections—particularly in broadcast, public relations, and participatory and ethnic media. With a focus on digital, community/participatory and global media studies, the program teaches a balance of practical and theoretical elements of journalism and media studies. Students take core courses in media law and ethics and history/theory in tandem with a variety of multimedia skills courses, emphasizing the diverse elements of today’s emerging landscape.

The undergraduate major offers career-based programs in Journalism and two formal options in either Broadcast or Public Relations.

The Public Relations option teaches theory, but it also focuses on how to apply learning to “real life” situations, involving corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and the entertainment industry. Students learn about crisis communication, audience analysis and social media as they develop public relations and marketing strategies and plans for clients through projects and Agency 398, the student-run PR practicum, and other projects.

Program Requirements

1. Required Core Courses (30 units)

a. Lower Division (16 units)

b. Upper Division (14 units)

Journalism Practicum (4 units)
Select one set of courses from the following:

*Credit/No Credit only.
**Required for Public Relations option.

2. Public Relations Option Courses (18 units)

a. Required (6 units)

JOUR 362 Public Relations Campaigns (3)
JOUR 440 Public Relations Management (3)

b. Electives (12 units)

Select four courses from the following:

***May not take both JOUR 371 and JOUR 372.
Repeatable one time.

3. Courses Outside of Journalism (72 units)

Majors are required to take at least 72 units of the 120 required for graduation outside of Journalism and Mass Communication to meet national accreditation standards.

Students are strongly recommended to select an interdisciplinary field that complements the Journalism major. The interdisciplinary field must contain at least five upper division courses, totaling a minimum of 15 units in a selected area of study. See an advisor for recommendations.

4. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
3 units are satisfied by the following course in the major: JOUR 100 satisfies E Lifelong Learning.

If taken, JOUR 365 satisfies 3 units of upper division D1 Social Sciences and fulfills the Information Competence requirement. JOUR 371 or JOUR 372 satisfies 3 units of upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.

Total Units in the Major/Option: 48

General Education Units: 45

Additional Units: 27

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

Contact

Department of Journalism
Chair: Linda Bowen
Manzanita Hall (MZ) 210A
(818) 677-3135
Facebook
Twitter
The Monday Memo

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  1. Be able to write for a diverse audience, using proper grammar and punctuation, word usage and spelling, sentence and storytelling structures across multiple journalistic formats.
  2. Be able to gather and analyze information, including basic numerical concepts, using journalistic storytelling techniques, such as interviewing, observation, and researching primary and secondary sources.
  3. Be able to think critically, creatively and independently.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
  5. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the news media professions in which they work to communicate for and with diverse audiences.
  6. Be able to understand and apply the historical, theoretical, legal and societal contexts for producing news media for consumers, ranging from local to global publics.