Requirements for the Major
Admission to the Journalism Degree Program
Graduation Requirements
Tracks within the Major
Honors in the Major
Distinction in the Major for Non-Honors Students
Thesis of Distinction
Practical Experience: Organizations
Internships
Job Information Service
Courses
5115 Vilas Communication Hall, 821 University Avenue, Madison. WI 53706; 608/262-3691; www.journalism.wisc.edu
Professors Baughman (director), Blum, Drechsel, Dunwoody, Fair, Friedland, McLeod, Mitchell, Scheufele, D. Shah, H. Shah, Vaughn; Associate Professor Downey; Assistant Professors Brossard, Robinson; Faculty Associates Culver, Danky, Hastings, Pierce, Walters
Undergraduate advisors in the major: Erica Salkin, 5134 Vilas Hall, 263-4858, salkin@wisc.edu, or Robert Schwoch, 5060 Vilas Hall, 263-7669, schwoch@wisc.edu
Faculty diversity liaison: Hemant Shah, 5142 Vilas Hall, 263-2928, hgshah@wisc.edu
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication, founded in 1905, offers professional education within the context of the liberal arts degree of the College of Letters and Science. The student earns the journalism bachelor of arts or journalism bachelor of science degree upon completion of the journalism program. Students are required to complete at least one of the two tracks described below.
The school seeks to provide students with both a broad cultural base for future careers and the competence to do professional work immediately after graduation. Of the 120 credits required for graduation, at least 21 must be in the social sciences/humanities—for example, economics, history, psychology, political science, sociology. In addition to skills courses, students are required to take courses in conceptual subjects such as law and history of mass communication, public opinion, international communication and communication theory. The student approaches mass communication as science, art, and service while relating it to many facets of society.
Students are eligible to apply for admission to the journalism degree program when they have completed (or will complete within the semester) a minimum of 40 credits (excluding AP and retroactive language credits) and Journalism 201. Final admission decisions are based on a comprehensive application packet including transcripts, a resume, personal statement, and work samples.
Students earning the journalism degree must satisfy all degree and track requirements. They must have a minimum 2.0 journalism GPA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA, complete the introductory and upper-level social science/humanities course requirements specified in this catalog, complete one of the school's two tracks (Journalism or Strategic Communication— a blend of advertising and public relations principles), and take three courses in theories and topics. Both tracks have specific course requirements, and students should pay close attention to requirements listed in this catalog.
All students are required to fulfill the L&S requirement of 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed in residence. All Journalism courses numbered 300 and above (except 335, 345, 515, and 697) count toward this requirement.
*Please check with a journalism undergraduate advisor regarding current requirements and prerequisites for the major.
Students who wish to declare themselves as degree candidates in journalism should submit a formal application to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Generally, first-semester sophomores are eligible to apply for admission. Prospective degree candidates must present to the school an academic record and writing ability that indicate a probability of success in some field of communication.
In order to apply for admission to the school, students must have met the following requirements:
Transfer students must be enrolled for at least one semester at UW-Madison before applying for admission to the school (their first semester may be in progress at the time they submit their application). Students transferring journalism course credit from other colleges and universities should check their record of transferred credit with a journalism advisor.
The school admits students to the program in the fall and spring semesters. The number of students to be admitted is subject to change based on the school's capacity to adequately provide access to required courses. Admissions decisions are based on the entire application, with particular emphasis on cumulative grade point average and writing ability. Specific guidelines for submitting the application portfolio are available through the undergraduate advisors.
After admission to the school, the student's classification will automatically be changed to JBA or JBS to reflect this change in status.
All students must complete either the Journalism or Strategic Communication track within the major. Both tracks are designed to provide breadth and depth of study as well as technical training to prepare students for careers after they graduate. The Journalism track addresses such elements as writing, reporting, editing and design for print, broadcast and new media, while strategic communication focuses on the principles behind advertising, public relations, and integrated communications.
Journalism: Journ 335; at least one among 401, 404, 405, 411*, 415, 417*, 419.
Strategic Communication: Journ 345; at least one among 411*, 417*, 419, 445, 447, 449.
*Journ 417 is available only in the fall semester; Journ 411 is available only in the spring semester.
Students planning to complete both tracks should consult with an undergraduate advisor about course availability and planning.
The following requirements for Honors in Journalism have been established to provide greater rigor in course work leading to research- and theory-oriented graduate study. Honors in Journalism students must:
Distinction in the Major is awarded to the student who has a 3.5 grade point average in journalism and who completes a senior thesis (Journ 691 and Journ 692).
The award "Thesis of Distinction" is granted for an exceptionally good or original thesis, without consideration of the student's record in other work. The director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will appoint a faculty member other than the advisor to read the thesis and then, upon the recommendation of the two readers, recommend to the dean that the "Thesis of Distinction" award be granted.
The school encourages students to gain practical experience through part-time jobs and internships. Campus publications include, but are not limited to, the Badger Yearbook, The Daily Cardinal, and the Badger Herald. Students in broadcast news courses can assist in the preparation of programs for WSUM radio. Professionals from the media and related fields appear often in classes and meet with students in professional student organizations.
Students planning careers as media professionals are encouraged to hold one or more internships in the area of their academic specialization(s). Declared journalism majors may earn course credit for internships that relate to their professional tracks. As part of their degree programs, students may earn a maximum of 3 credits of Journ 697 Internship during their undergraduate careers. Students may only earn one credit of Journ 697 per semester, but may repeat the credit up to three times. Students who want to earn degree credit for their internships should consult with Erica Salkin, the school's internship coordinator (5134 Vilas Hall), before they accept an internship. Students must enroll in Journ 697 at the time they hold the internship.
Journ 697 does not count as part of the 30 minimum journalism credits required for graduation. Students who wish to enroll in Journ 697 should see Erica Salkin for authorization to enroll.
The school provides a career information service for graduates seeking positions in the communications media, and for juniors and seniors seeking internships. Students may consult Erica Salkin, 5134 Vilas Hall, for specific information.
All classes listed in the course descriptions section will be offered regularly unless otherwise noted. Please check with the school office for information on specific courses.
201 Introduction to Mass Communication. I, II; 4 cr (b-S-E). How the mass media are organized and how they function in modern society; their technological basis, economic and political foundations, and social implications. P: Open to Fr; completion of Com-A crse.
202 Mass Communication Practices. I, II; 6 cr (E). Communication as a process involving sender and receiver, message and medium. Course provides students with a foundation of basic communication skills, helps students develop an appreciation of how different media influence the nature of information presented, and introduces students to technical skills. P: Admission to Schl of Journ.
335 Intermediate Reporting. I, II; 4 cr (I). Basic reporting for print and electronic media. Students will bring together technical and conceptual skills by creating a variety of print, audio, and web-based news stories on a current public issue. P: Journ 202.
345 Principles of Strategic Communication. I, II; 4 cr (I). Introduction to strategic communication for students interested in advertising, public relations, health communications, and political campaigns. P: Journ 202.
401 In-Depth Reporting. I, II; 4 cr (A). Advanced reporting with emphasis on critical evaluation of evidence and on recognizing the complex effects of government actions. Students will explore and develop community context stories that originate in a range of venues from the courts to the schools. P: Journ 335.
404 Interpretation of Contemporary Affairs. I or II; 4 cr (A). Preparing and writing of editorials, columns and news analyses. P: Journ 335.
405 Creative Nonfiction. I, II; 4 cr (A). Creative elements of non-fiction story telling to develop skills necessary for writing across the journalistic spectrum, from newspapers to magazines to books. P: Journ 335.
411 Multimedia Graphics. II; 4 cr (I). Principles of visual communication and their influence on old and emerging communities that use new media. Students examine how demographic communities of special interests, including ethnic groups, use multimedia and graphic design to give voice and vision to their members. P: Journ 335 or 345.
415 Science and Environmental Journalism. I or II; 4 cr (A). Instruction and practice in strategies for communicating science to the public. Emphases include (1) how to explain difficult concepts and processes; (2) skills for telling interesting and artful stories; and (3) strategies for making reasonable judgments about scientific evidence. P: Journ 335; cons inst for non-majors.
417 Magazines and Magazine Editing. I; 4 cr (A). Students study the modern magazine industry as they produce professional-quality magazine articles for the class Internet magazine, Online Wisconsin (www.journalism.wisc.edu/olw). P: Journ 335 or 345.
419 Electronic News for Web and Broadcast. I, II; 4 cr (A). News reporting, writing, and editing for the World Wide Web and for broadcast; includes interviewing, use of electronic equipment and presentation of webcasts, issues and problems in electronic news, production of webcasts. P: Journ 335.
445 Developing Creative Messages for Media. I or II; 4 cr (A). Introduction to the creative aspects of message development for advertising, public relations, and other strategic communications. P: Journ 345.
447 Strategic Media Planning. I or II; 4 cr (A). Introduction to media planning for students interested in careers in advertising, public relations, or other forms of strategic communication. P: Journ 345.
449 Strategic Communication Campaigns. I or II; 4 cr (A). Process of planning, implementing, and analyzing strategic communication campaigns. P: Journ 345.
475 Special Topics in Advanced Concepts and Skills. I or II; 1-4 cr (I). Exploration of a particular set of concepts and skills in more depth. Subject will vary. P: Cons inst.
515 Public Information Campaigns and Programs. (Crosslisted with L Sc Com, Fam Com) I, II; 3 cr (I). Design, production and evaluation of communication programs aimed at informing and educating publics about agricultural, environment, science, health and human ecology issues. P: L Sc Com 111 or 130, Sr st & cons inst.
544 Introduction to Survey Research. (Crosslisted with Soc, Poli Sci, Urb R Pl) I or II; 3 cr (S-A). Theory and practice of survey research; planning, sampling, questionnaire construction, interviewing, content analysis, machine tabulation, analysis of data; two hours lecture; two hours lab or field work. P: Jr st.
558 Public, Community, and Alternative Media. (Crosslisted with Com Arts) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (H-A). Examination of media outside the dominant commercial model, especially local and alternative practices, and their cultural role. P: Com Arts 351.
559 Law of Mass Communication. I, II; 4 cr (S-A). Freedom of speech and press with particular emphasis on major legal issues confronting media practitioners; introduction to such areas of law as censorship, libel, invasion of privacy, access to information, regulation of electronic media and commercial speech. P: Jr st.
560 History of Mass Communication. (Crosslisted with History) I, II; 4 cr (S-A). Evolution of the mass media in the United States in the context of political, social, and economic change. P: Jr st.
561 Mass Communication and Society. I, II; 4 cr (A). Relationships between mass communications and society; analysis and evaluation of media performance and of suggestions for change. P: Fall semester, Journalism Srs; spring semester, Sr st.
565 Effects of Mass Communication. I, II; 4 cr (S-A). Use and effects of mass communication for individuals and societies. Course examines who is affected, what effects occur and how much, what different media content is involved and what situations make effects more or less likely. P: Jr st.
570 History of Books and Print Culture. (Crosslisted with LIS, History) 3 cr (D). History of books and print culture in the West from ancient times to the present. Focus on the influence of reading and writing on social, cultural, and intellectual life. Methodologies, theories, and sources for study of book and print culture history. P: Jr st; or Grad st in Slis.
614 Communication and Public Opinion. II; 4 cr (S-A). The role of the mass media of communication in the formation of public opinion. Propaganda goals of government, political, economic, and social groups. P: Sr st.
616 Mass Media and Youth. (Crosslisted with L Sc Com, Com Arts, Fam Com) I or II; 3 cr (S-D). Children's and adolescents' use of mass media and mass media effects on them. Particular attention is given to changes in comprehension and other cognitive activities that give insights into media use and effects. P: Journ 565 or Com Arts 325 or cons inst.
617 Health Communication in the Information Age. (Crosslisted with L Sc Com, Com Arts, Fam Com) Irr.; 3 cr (S-A). This course will examine the role of communication in health, how the revolution in information technology has affected health communication, and the assumptions about health information and communication that drive current efforts to use technologies. P: Journ 565 or equiv.
618 Mass Communication and Political Behavior. I or II; 4 cr (S-A). Interrelationships of news media, political campaigning, and the electorate. Impact of media coverage and persuasive appeals on image and issue voting, political participation and socialization. P: Journ 265 or cons inst.
620 International Communication. I or II; 4 cr (S-A). Historical, political, economic and cultural trends in global mass communication systems. P: Jr st.
621 Mass Communication in Developing Nations. I or II; 4 cr (S-A). Development, structure, and role of mass communication systems in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. P: Jr st.
646 Mass Media and the Consumer. I or II; 4 cr (S-A). Advertising and other mass media content from the consumer's viewpoint; consumer's need and opportunities for information, and use of opportunities; consumer evaluation of media performance, guidelines for effective use; alternative means for obtaining information; implications of consumer movement. P: Jr st and 2 courses in soc st.
658 Communication Research Methods. I; 4 cr (A). Survey of methods for investigating mass communication process and effects. P: Journ majors: admission to the school; non-majors: cons inst.
662 Mass Media and Minorities. (Crosslisted with Asian Am) I, II; 4 cr (e-A). Representations of minority groups in U.S. news and entertainment mass media. Historical, social, political, economic, and other factors influencing the mass mediated depictions of minorities. P: Jr st.
669 Literary Aspects of Journalism. I, II; 3 cr (A). Critical reading of the best reporting and writing. P: Jr st.
675 Topics in Government and Mass Media. I or II; 3 cr (A). Analysis of political and legal relationships between mass communication and government with emphasis on current problems and issues. P: Sr or Grad st or cons inst.
676 Special Topics in Mass Communication. I or II; 1-4 cr (A). Analysis of a conceptual mass communication issue in more depth than is available in existing courses. Subject will vary. P: Cons inst.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 3 cr (A). P: Cons inst.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 3 cr (A).
691 Senior Thesis. I, II, SS; 3 cr (A).
692 Senior Thesis. I, II; 3 cr (A).
697 Internship. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (A). Students may earn no more than three internship credits as a part of their degree program. P: Admission to Sch of Journ and cons inst; graded on a Cr/N basis.
698 Directed Study. I, II, SS; 1-6 cr (A). P: Jr or Sr st. Graded on Cr/N basis; requires cons inst.
699 Directed Study. I, II, SS; 1-6 cr (A). P: Jr or Sr st. Graded on a lettered basis; requires cons inst.