Undergraduate Journalism Courses

For more details on requirements and courses, see the undergraduate Advising Manual [PDF].

See graduate course listing for graduate courses.

F - Fall Semester
S - Spring Semester
SS - Summer Session


JTC 100 Media in Society - 3 cr., F, S. Role of media in American democracy; impact of media on individuals and society.

JTC 200 Professional Writing - 3 cr., Semesters vary. Prerequisite: CO 150 or HONR 193. Basic elements of writing for professional and specialized audiences.

JTC 210 News writing - 3 cr., F, S, SS. Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance on typing and diagnostic test. Credit not allowed for both JTC 210 and JTC 192. Theory and practice in news writing.

JTC 211 Computer-Mediated Visual Communication - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Theory and techniques for using computer-related technologies for visual presentation of news, specialized, and technical information.

JTC 250 Advertising - 3 cr., F, S. Advertising principles and techniques used to develop effective advertising campaigns.

JTC 300 Professional and Technical Communication - 3 cr., F, S, SS. Prerequisite: CO 150 or HONR 193. Professional writing and presentation skills applied to students’ major fields.

JTC 301 Business Communication - 3 cr., semesters vary. Prerequisite: CO 150 or HONR 193. Principles and practice of effective business communication with emphasis on written professional reports.

JTC 310 Copy Editing - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 100 and JTC 210. Theory of copy preparation and editing.

JTC 311 History of Media - 3 cr., F, SS. Media development, growth, trends within context of political, social, and economic change.

JTC 316/ETST 316 Multiculturalism and the Media - 3 cr., F, S. Credit not allowed for both JTC 316 and ETST 316. Media and multiculturalism with emphasis on race, ethnicity and other protected groups.

JTC 320 Reporting - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Theory, methods, and practice of gathering information and reporting news.

JTC 326 Online Writing and Information - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210 and JTC 211. Web site and message design and creation for media practitioners based on understanding of online attributes and technological context of journalism.

JTC 328 Feature Writing - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Theory, methods and practice of reporting and writing feature stories, including human-interest, travel/adventure, reflective and in-depth articles.

JTC 335 Digital Photojournalism - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 211. Fee: $60. Basic photo journalistic theory and practice using analog and digital cameras, and digital image processing technology. Access to 35mm camera required.

JTC 340 Video Editing - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Special Fee: $85. Theory and technique of editing pictures and sound on analog and digital platforms.

JTC 341 Broadcast News - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Special Fee: $30. Practical application of principles, theory and methods used in broadcast news writing, reporting and producing.

JTC 342 Writing for Specialized Electronic Media - 3 cr., F. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Audience and subject research; script structure and development; narrative techniques; visual story and role of visual media as change agents.

JTC 343 Advanced Television News Production - 3 cr., F. Prerequisite: JTC 341. Special Fee: $60. Advanced theory and practice of reporting and producing television news; basics of broadcast news management.

JTC 345 Electronic Field Production - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 340. Special Fee: $85. Theory, techniques of video field production emphasizing news, current affairs and special interest programs.

JTC 350 Public Relations - 3 cr., F, S. Public relations principles and practices of business, industry, education, and public agencies.

JTC 351 Public Relations Practices - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 211 and JTC 350. Planning, preparation, and application of public relations techniques.

JTC 353 Public Relations Campaigns - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 350. Development of professional public relations programs and campaigns, including analysis and research, strategy, implementation and evaluation.

JTC 361 Writing for Specialized Magazines - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Writing articles for agriculture, business, hobby, technical, trade, and other specialized periodicals whose readers use information to make decisions.

JTC 365 Computer-Mediated Communication Foundations - 3 cr. F. Prerequisite: Junior or senior journalism majors. Issues and research in computer-mediated communication relating to individuals, groups, community, and society.

JTC 371 Publications Design and Production - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 211. Principles of producing publications for print and electronic delivery, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, brochures, and printed ephemera.

JTC 372 Website Design and Management - 3 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 211. Design, development, and management of World Wide Web content.

JTC 373 Digital Promotion Management - 3 cr., semesters vary. Prerequisite: JTC 211. How organizations use digital technologies for advertising, publicity, promotional and informational purposes.

JTC 411 Media Ethics and Issues - 3 cr., F, S. Professional ethics, issues of media performance and of the relation of media systems to the social systems.

JTC 412 International Mass Communication - 3 cr., F, S. Media communications systems, their roles throughout the world; news flow; propaganda in national development; role of foreign correspondents.

JTC 413 New Communication Technology and Society - 3 cr., F, S. Political, economic, social, philosophical, legal and educational impacts of new technologies.

JTC 414 Media Effects - 3 cr., F, S. Perspectives on audience processes and media effects on individuals and society.

JTC 415 Communication Law - 3 cr., F, S. Constitutional, statutory law of political speech, obscenity, advertising, libel, privacy, copyright, information ownership and access.

JTC 420 Advanced Reporting - 4 cr., F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 211; JTC 310; JTC 320. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Advanced techniques for gathering and evaluating information; interpretive reporting of public affairs issues.

JTC 433 Advanced Video Editing - 3 cr. S. Prerequisite: JTC 345. Professional video editing practices, theories, and techniques with practical applications using current hardware and software.

JTC 435 Documentary Video Production - 3 cr. F. Prerequisite: JTC 345. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Writing, directing, and editing of long-form television documentaries.

JTC 440 Advanced Electronic Media Production - 3 cr. F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 341; JTC 345. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Techniques and concepts used in advanced media production for television.

JTC 450 Public Relations Cases - 3 cr. F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 351; JTC 353; JTC 371 or JTC 372 or JTC 373. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Preparation of materials, use of media to achieve objectives with target audiences; work with nonprofit organizations in actual campaigns.

JTC 456 Documentary Film as a Liberal Art - 3 cr. F. Prerequisite: Senior standing Credit not allowed for both JTC 456 and LB 456. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Documentary film and its role in human history, culture, and social interaction.

JTC 460 Media Development - 3 cr. S. (even years). Prerequisite: JTC 211; JTC 310; JTC 371 or JTC 372. Creation, design, production, and management of media.

JTC 461 Writing About Science, Health, and Environment - 3 cr. F. Prerequisite: JTC 210. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Writing about science, health, and the environment for lay audiences from a journalistic perspective.

JTC 464 Technical Writing - 3 cr. F, S. Prerequisite: JTC 310; JTC 361. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Writing technical information for a variety of media.

JTC 465 Specialized and Technical Editing - 3 cr. S. Prerequisite: JTC 211; JTC 310; JTC 361; JTC 371 or JTC 372; JTC 461 or JTC 464. Must register for lecture and laboratory. Editorial purpose, techniques, and evaluation of specialized and technical print and online information.

JTC 468 Convergence and Hypermedia - 3 cr. S. Prerequisite: JTC 310; JTC 365; 9 credits selected from JTC 326, JTC 372, JTC 373, or JTC 487. Applications of theories of convergence, hypermedia, and social practices in computer-mediated communication. Development of a professional portfolio.

JTC 471 Communication Research Methods - 3 cr. F. Prerequisite: One statistics course. Credit not allowed for both JTC 471 and JTC 500. Quantitative, qualitative methods of analyzing process and effect of mass and interpersonal communication.

JTC 484 Supervised College Teaching - 1-3 cr. F, S.

JTC 487 Internship - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS. Prerequisite: Written consent of department.

JTC 490 Workshop - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495A Independent Study-Electronic Reporting - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495B Independent Study-Editing - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495C Independent Study-Photojournalism - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495D Independent Study-Public Relations - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495E Independent Study-Readings - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495F Independent Study-Reporting - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 495G Independent Study-Technical Communication - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

JTC 496 Group Study - 1-3 cr. F, S, SS.

See graduate course listing for graduate courses (500 - 700 levels).