Program: B.A., Journalism
Public Relations
Program Description
The Public Relations option teaches theory, but it also focuses on how to apply learning to “real world” situations, involving corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and the entertainment industry. Students learn about crisis and strategic communications, audience analysis and social and emerging media as they develop public relations and marketing strategies and plans for clients through Agency 398, the student-operated PR practicum, and other projects.
Program Requirements
1. Required Core Courses (30 units)
a. Lower Division (16 units)
JOUR 100 Mass Communication (3)
JOUR 104 Introduction to Journalism (1)*
JOUR 110/L News Reporting I and Lab (2/1)
JOUR 210/L News Reporting II and Lab (2/1)
JOUR 225 Multimedia Storytelling (3)
JOUR 250 Visual Communication (3)
or JOUR 255 Introduction to Public Relations (3)**
b. Upper Division (14 units)
JOUR 325 Multiplatform Storytelling (3)
or JOUR 341 Writing for Public Relations (3)**
JOUR 400 Media Law and Ethics (3)
JOUR 480 History of the American News Media (3)
or JOUR 478 International News Media (3)
Journalism Practicum (4 units)
Select one set of courses from the following:
JOUR 395B Broadcast News Practicum (2)
and JOUR 395C Broadcast News (2)
JOUR 397B News Practicum (2)
and JOUR 397C News—The Sundial (2)
JOUR 398B Public Relations Practicum (2)
and JOUR 398C Public Relations—Agency 398 (2)
*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:
JOUR 371 Gender and Media (3)***
or JOUR 372 Diversity and the Media (3)***
JOUR 374SLJ Spanish-Language News Environment (3)
JOUR 375 Engaging Diverse Communities (3)
JOUR 465 Mass Communication and Popular Culture (3)
JOUR 491 Media Leadership (3)†
***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, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.
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
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The Monday Memo
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- 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.
- 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.
- Be able to think critically, creatively and independently.
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
- Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the news media professions in which they work to communicate for and with diverse audiences.
- 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.