The School of Journalism requires its students to maintain at least a 2.7 (B-) grade point average in all journalism classes, in order to remain in good academic standing within the school. Students are required to complete each journalism class with at least a grade of C. Students who fall below a 2.7 grade point average in journalism classes will be placed on probation and must improve according to established terms if they are to remain in the school. Students who have below an overall 2.7 grade point average in journalism classes will not be allowed to graduate with the B.A. in journalism.

General Education Requirements

As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.. In addition, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must meet the foreign language requirements described here.

All students who 1) enter the School of Journalism as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later, or 2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later or 3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.

Print Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower division		Units
JOUR 201	History of News in Modern America	4
JOUR 205	Newswriting	4
Required courses, Upper division		Units
JOUR 307	News Editing	4
JOUR 310	Investigative Reporting	4
JOUR 462	Law of Mass Communication	4
one course from:
JOUR 400	Interpretive Writing	4
JOUR 435	Writing Magazine Non-Fiction	4
one course from:
JOUR 440	Specialized Reporting	4
JOUR 441	Sports Reporting	4
JOUR 443	Business Reporting	4
JOUR 447	Arts Reporting	4
JOUR 448	Governmental Reporting	4
JOUR 449	Reporting Los Angeles	4
JOUR 474	Interviewing and Profile Writing	4
Plus three upper division journalism electives approved by an advisor		4

Public Relations Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower division		Units
JOUR 201	History of News in Modern America	4
JOUR 205	Newswriting	4
Required courses, Upper division		Units
JOUR 350	Principles of Public Relations	4
JOUR 351a	Public Relations Media	4
JOUR 351b	Public Relations Media	4
JOUR 450	Advanced Public Relations	4
JOUR 463	Research and Analysis	4
Plus three upper division journalism electives approved by an advisor		12

Majors wishing to emphasize advertising may choose their electives from JOUR 340, 341, 342 and 343.

Broadcast Journalism Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

Required courses, Lower division		Units
JOUR 201	History of News in Modern America	4
JOUR 205	Newswriting	4
Required courses, Upper division		Units
JOUR 300L	Principles of Television Production	4
JOUR 310	Investigative Reporting	4
JOUR 320	Broadcast Newswriting	4
JOUR 405	Non-Fiction Television	4
JOUR 462	Law of Mass Communication	4
One course from:
JOUR 402	Broadcast Reporting	4
JOUR 403	Television News Production	4
Plus two upper division journalism electives approved by an advisor		8

Journalism/East Asian Area Studies Combined Major

Students admitted to the School of Journalism may elect to follow a combined Journalism/East Asian Area Studies major. The major consists of six journalism classes, six East Asian classes and four semesters of an East Asian language. Students must complete the 48 units required in Journalism and East Asian Area Studies courses with at least a B- (2.7) grade point average and no grade lower than a C (2.0) to be awarded the B.A. degree in Journalism/East Asian Area Studies.

Required journalism courses		Units
JOUR 201	History of News in Modern America	4
JOUR 205	Newswriting	4
JOUR 307	News Editing	4
JOUR 462	Law of Mass Communication	4
one course chosen from among:
JOUR 400	Interpretive Writing	4
JOUR 435	Writing Magazine Non-Fiction	4
JOUR 440	Specialized Reporting	4
JOUR 441	Sports Reporting	4
JOUR 443	Business Reporting	4
JOUR 447	Arts Reporting	4
JOUR 448	Governmental Reporting	4
JOUR 474	Interviewing and Profile Writing	4
Plus one upper division journalism elective approved by an advisor		4

The East Asian requirements are a choice of either EASC 150 or EALC 110; five upper division classes from the East Asian Area Studies list (one of which must be from the history department); a fourth semester of an East Asian language; and fulfillment of general education requirements. Students meeting the School of Journalism graduation requirements will be awarded a B.A. degree in Journalism/East Asian Area Studies.

Journalism-Russian Combined Major

Students admitted to the School of Journalism may elect to follow a combined Journalism/Russian major. The major consists of six journalism classes; four classes in literature and culture from the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures; two electives from a selected list of history, international relations, political science, Slavic literature and culture, and sociology courses; and four semesters of Russian. To be awarded the B.A. degree in Journalism/Russian, students must complete the 48 units required in Journalism and Slavic Languages and Literatures courses with at least a B- (2.7) grade point average and no grade lower than a C (2.0).

Required journalism courses		Units
JOUR 201	History of News in Modern America	4
JOUR 205	Newswriting	4
JOUR 307	News Editing	4
JOUR 350	Principles of Public Relations	4
JOUR 462	Law of Mass Communication	4
one course chosen from among:
JOUR 300L	Principles of Television Production	4
JOUR 351a	Public Relations Media	4
JOUR 400	Interpretive Writing	4
JOUR 435	Writing Magazine Non-Fiction	4
JOUR 440	Specialized Reporting	4
JOUR 441	Sports Reporting	4
JOUR 443	Business Reporting	4
JOUR 447	Arts Reporting	4
JOUR 448	Governmental Reporting	4
JOUR 474	Interviewing and Profile Writing	4

The Slavic Languages and Literatures requirements are SLL 330; four semesters of Russian (SLL 120, 150, 220 and 250); plus three classes chosen from among SLL 200, 210, 300, 302, 303, 344, 345, 348, 378, and 400; plus two classes chosen from among History 320, 324, 328, 415, 416, 424; International Relations 370, 445, 483; Political Science 464; SLL 301, 321; or Sociology 462.

Students meeting the School of Journalism graduation requirements will be awarded a B.A. degree in Journalism/Russian.

Admission, Advisement and Financial Aid

Admission is competitive; the average GPA of an entering student is 3.6, and the average recentered SAT score is 1210, with 630 on the verbal portion. Journalism experience and the quality of the admissions essays are heavily weighted. Transfer students must submit high school transcripts and SAT scores. Transfer work in journalism, broadcasting and public relations is accepted by waiver examination only. A maximum of two classes for the major can be waived. For students applying to USC, the journalism application deadline is January 31 - freshmen and March 1 - transfers for fall and November 1 for spring.

Upon admission to the school, students must contact the Student Services Office in ASC GL07, 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 Student Services Office. For current USC students, the application deadline is April 15 for fall and November 15 for spring.

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 responsible for 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.

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