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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 division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 201 | History of News in Modern America | 4 |
| JOUR 202 | Newswriting: Print | 3 |
| JOUR 203 | Newswriting: Broadcast | 3 |
| Required courses, Upper division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 302 | Reporting: Print | 3 |
| JOUR 303 | Reporting: Broadcast | 3 |
| JOUR 306 | Production: Broadcast | 3 |
| JOUR 309 | Introduction to Online Media | 3 |
| JOUR 310 | Investigative Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 462 | Law of Mass Communication | 4 |
Two courses from: | ||
| JOUR 402 | Advanced Television Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 403 | Television News Production | 4 |
| JOUR 405 | Non-Fiction Television | 4 |
| JOUR 409 | Radio News Production | 4 |
Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor | 6 |
Print Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
| Required courses, Lower division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 201 | History of News in Modern America | 4 |
| JOUR 202 | Newswriting: Print | 3 |
| JOUR 203 | Newswriting: Broadcast | 3 |
| Required courses, Upper division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 302 | Reporting: Print | 3 |
| JOUR 303 | Reporting: Broadcast | 3 |
| JOUR 308 | Newspaper Editing and Design | 3 |
| JOUR 309 | Introduction to Online Media | 3 |
| JOUR 310 | Investigative Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 462 | Law of Mass Communication | 4 |
Two courses from: | ||
| JOUR 431 | Feature Writing | 4 |
| JOUR 435 | Writing Magazine Non-Fiction | 4 |
| JOUR 440 | Environmental Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 448 | Government and Public Affairs Reporting | 4 |
Plus 6 upper division journalism elective units approved by an advisor | ||
Public Relations Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
| Required courses, Lower division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 201 | History of News in Modern America | 4 |
| JOUR 202 | Newswriting: Print | 3 |
| JOUR 203 | Newswriting: Broadcast | 3 |
| Required courses, Upper division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 350 | Principles of Public Relations | 4 |
| JOUR 351ab | Public Relations Media | 4-4 |
| JOUR 450 | Advanced Public Relations | 4 |
| JOUR 462 | Law of Mass Communication | 4 |
| JOUR 463 | Research and Analysis | 4 |
One course from: | ||
| JOUR 451 | Promotional Public Relations | 4 |
| JOUR 452 | Public Relations in Entertainment | 4 |
| JOUR 455 | Public Relations for Non-Profit Organizations | 4 |
| JOUR 456 | Public Relations for Diverse Audiences | 4 |
| JOUR 458 | Public Relations in Politics and Political Campaigns | 4 |
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 courses | units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 340 | Introduction to Advertising | 4 |
| JOUR 341 | Advertising Copywriting | 4 |
| JOUR 342 | Advertising Media and Analysis | 4 |
| JOUR 343 | Advertising Design and Production | 4 |
| MKT 406 | Practicum in Advertising and Promotion Design | 4 |
select one additional course from the following: | ||
| MKT 405 | Advertising and Promotion Management | 4 |
| MKT 425 | Direct Response Marketing | 4 |
| MKT 470 | Marketing Research | 4 |
| Total units | 24 | |
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 division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 201 | History of News in Modern America | 4 |
| Required courses, Upper division | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 371 | Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace | 4 |
| 16 upper division journalism units | 16 | |
| 24 | ||
Students are urged to choose their 16 upper division units from these classes: | ||
| JOUR 373 | The Ethics of Television Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 375 | The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture | 4 |
| JOUR 460 | Social Responsibility of the News Media | 4 |
| JOUR 466 | People of Color and the News Media | 4 |
| JOUR 467 | Gender and the News Media | 4 |
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.