USC
University of Southern California
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School of Journalism

Undergraduate Degrees

The School of Journalism offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations. The school also offers minors in Advertising and News Media and Society. Journalism students are encouraged to pursue double majors or minors in other areas of study. They must consult with an undergraduate journalism advisor at least once each semester to receive academic advisement covering major course selection and university degree requirements. A grade point average of at least C (2.0) on all baccalaureate units attempted at USC, as well as on the combined USC-transfer GPA, is required for undergraduate degrees. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all attempted upper division courses for the major is also required. Students must complete each journalism class with at least a grade of C- in order to count the course toward a major requirement. Journalism courses with a grade of D+ or below must be repeated; courses may only be retaken once.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. Click here and here for more information.

Core Curriculum

The School of Journalism’s core curriculum prepares students to write and report for print, broadcast and online media. Print journalism, broadcast journalism and public relations students are required to complete both print and broadcast newswriting classes. Journalism majors are also required to complete print and broadcast reporting classes. Print journalism majors must complete a newspaper editing and design class; broadcast journalism majors must complete a broadcast production class. In addition to the online media elements integrated into the newswriting and reporting classes, print journalism and broadcast journalism majors must complete an introduction to online media course.

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Examination (GPSE) Requirement
Journalism and public relations majors enrolling in the core newswriting classes will take a diagnostic exam at the beginning of the semester to prepare for the Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Examination (GPSE). The core newswriting instructors will administer the GPSE during final examination week.

Students who do not pass the GPSE may retake the exam in the spring semester immediately following their enrollment in core newswriting. The GPSE will be offered on two dates in the spring term -- the first week in February and the week of spring final examinations. (Students will be notified of the exam dates at the start of the spring semester.)

Students must pass the GPSE by the completion of the spring semester or they will not be allowed to progress in the School of Journalism and will be dismissed from the major.

Note: Students with disabilities may register with the Disabilities Services and Programs office (DSP) so the DSP staff can assess the nature of the students’ disabilities and recommend the appropriate accommodations to be provided for each student.

Broadcast Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower divisionUnits
JOUR 201History of News in Modern America4
JOUR 202Newswriting: Print3
JOUR 203Newswriting: Broadcast3

Required courses, Upper divisionUnits
JOUR 302Reporting: Print3
JOUR 303Reporting: Broadcast3
JOUR 306Production: Broadcast3
JOUR 309Introduction to Online Media3
JOUR 310Investigative Reporting4
JOUR 462Law of Mass Communication4

Two courses from:
JOUR 402Advanced Television Reporting4
JOUR 403Television News Production4
JOUR 405Non-Fiction Television4
JOUR 409Radio News Production4

Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor
6

Print Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower divisionUnits
JOUR 201History of News in Modern America4
JOUR 202Newswriting: Print3
JOUR 203Newswriting: Broadcast3

Required courses, Upper divisionUnits
JOUR 302Reporting: Print3
JOUR 303Reporting: Broadcast3
JOUR 308Newspaper Editing and Design3
JOUR 309Introduction to Online Media3
JOUR 310Investigative Reporting4
JOUR 462Law of Mass Communication4

Two courses from:
JOUR 431Feature Writing4
JOUR 435Writing Magazine Non-Fiction4
JOUR 440 Environmental Journalism4
JOUR 448Government and Public Affairs Reporting4

Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor

Public Relations Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower divisionUnits
JOUR 201History of News in Modern America4
JOUR 202Newswriting: Print3
JOUR 203Newswriting: Broadcast3

Required courses, Upper divisionUnits
JOUR 350Principles of Public Relations4
JOUR 351abPublic Relations Media4-4
JOUR 450Advanced Public Relations4
JOUR 462Law of Mass Communication4
JOUR 463Research and Analysis4

One course from:
JOUR 451Promotional Public Relations4
JOUR 452Public Relations in Entertainment4
JOUR 455Public Relations for Non-Profit Organizations4
JOUR 456Public Relations for Diverse Audiences4
JOUR 458Public Relations in Politics and Political Campaigns4

Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor
6

Advertising Minor

The Advertising minor is designed for students interested in building a career in, or developing a better understanding of, the field of advertising. It explores the key role played by advertising in today’s global economy. At no time has advertising been more successful or more controversial than it is today, and this program will explore both the positives and the negatives. Emphasis is placed throughout the program on both the practical skills required to meet the demands of the marketplace and the theoretical underpinnings of those practices. Program content includes: the history of advertising; creation of written and visual advertising elements; the measurement, selection and analysis of media; the concept of “branding;” the role of advertising in creating and maintaining successful brands; the analysis of advertising campaign case studies; and the creation of integrated marketing communications campaigns.

required coursesunits
JOUR 340Introduction to Advertising4
JOUR 341Advertising Copywriting4
JOUR 342Advertising Media and Analysis4
JOUR 343Advertising Design and Production4
MKT 406Practicum in Advertising and Promotion Design4

select one additional course from the following:
MKT 405Advertising and Promotion Management4
MKT 425Direct Response Marketing4
MKT 470Marketing Research4
Total units24

News Media and Society Minor

News Media and Society is a journalism minor that explores the responsibilities, the influence, the ethics and the diversity of the news media. It explodes the myths about news media in the United States and explains what the news media are, how they work, what they do wrong and what they do right, and why they are important to a society whose citizens depend on the free and unfettered flow of information. This minor will help all students in all majors to understand one of the most important and misunderstood forces in American society: the news media.

News Media and Society benefits every student at the university because it gives students a new appreciation and understanding of the news media that so much influence their lives on a daily basis.

Required course, Lower divisionUnits
JOUR 201History of News in Modern America4

Required courses, Upper divisionUnits
JOUR 371Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace4
16 upper division journalism units16
24

Students are urged to choose their 16 upper division units from these classes:
JOUR 373The Ethics of Television Journalism4
JOUR 375The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture4
JOUR 460Social Responsibility of the News Media4
JOUR 466People of Color and the News Media4
JOUR 467Gender and the News Media4

Annenberg International Programs

Spring Semester in London (City University School of Journalism)
The semester program offers students the opportunity to study at the City University School of Journalism in London. Participants will be close observers of the British media and will have an opportunity for personal and direct comparison between the more structured and governmental controlled media system of the United Kingdom and the laissez faire approach to media regulation in the United States. Students earn 16 USC credits; 8 units will count toward Journalism major credit.

International Communication Studies -- London, Paris, Prague and Geneva
The International Communication Studies program (ICS) allows undergraduate students to study a range of approaches to public communication media across Europe.

Students divide the five-week course into stays in London, Paris, Prague and Geneva. In addition to regular class meetings, students discuss the interplay of current world issues and international media practices with communication practitioners from international news and public relations media, government institutions, private industry and global organizations.

Students enroll in JOUR 482 Comparative Media in Europe (4 units) and JOUR 490x Directed Research (2 units) or COMM 490x Directed Research (2 units) for a total of 6 units.

For further information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276 or ascworld@usc.edu.

Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta is a national communication/ journalism honor society that is open to declared majors who have completed at least 32 units (minimum 3.0 GPA), 12 of which are in the major (minimum 3.25 GPA).

Admission, Advisement and Financial Aid

Admission is competitive. Transfer students must submit high school transcripts. The School of Journalism does not accept units for journalism course work taken at other institutions to fulfill degree, major or minor requirements. For students applying to USC, refer to the USC Application for Undergraduate Admission for application deadlines.

Upon admission to the school, students must contact the Annenberg Student Services Office, (213) 740-0900, for academic advisement and class registration. Advisement through this office is required each semester.

Students currently enrolled at USC who wish to change their major to journalism must file a formal application with all supporting documents through the Annenberg Student Services Office. Supporting documents include: completed School of Journalism application form (for current USC students only); completed change/addition of major form; statement of intent; one writing sample; and sealed letters of recommendation. For current USC students, the application deadline is at the end of the first week of classes in the fall and spring semesters. Students must complete at least one semester of USC course work to be eligible to apply. It takes a minimum of five semesters from the time of admission to the program -- starting in a fall semester -- to complete the major requirements.

Academic Integrity Policy

Since its founding, the USC School of Journalism has maintained a commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic excellence. Any student found guilty of plagiarism, fabrication, cheating on examinations, or purchasing papers or other assignments will receive a failing grade in the course and will be dismissed from the School of Journalism. There are no exceptions to the school’s policy.