UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Program: B.A., Journalism

Public Relations Option

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)

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, 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: Stephanie Bluestein
Manzanita Hall (MZ) 210A
(818) 677-3135

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism will be able to:

  1. Report and write for diverse publics, using proper grammar and punctuation, word usage and spelling, and sentence and storytelling structures across multiple journalistic formats.
  2. Gather and analyze information, including basic numerical concepts, using reporting techniques, such as interviewing, observation, and researching primary and secondary sources
  3. 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 publics.
  6. Understand and apply the historical, theoretical, legal and societal contexts for producing and consuming news media for consumers, ranging from local to global publics.

ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps

Students who have graduated with a verified Associate Degree for Transfer and have been admitted to a CSUN program that has been deemed similar will be able to complete the baccalaureate degree within 60 semester units. For additional information, see ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps.

Journalism/Public Relations Option - AA-T in Journalism (2023-Present)

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