Strategic Communication Degree and Emphasis Area Requirements

Strategic Communication

Strategic Communication Degree and Emphasis Area Requirements

Journalism Degree Requirements

Total Credits
All students who have been admitted to the school will need to complete 39 credits in journalism as specified by their emphasis area requirements if they enrolled before FS05.

Residency Requirement
All journalism courses must be taken on the MU campus.

Electives and Course Load
Students may enroll in electives in emphasis areas other than their own as long as they have completed the necessary requirements. A maximum of 10 credits in Journalism are allowed per semester.

Journalism Degree Requirements

  • 18-19 credits of core courses required of all Journalism students
  • JOURN 1010 Career Explorations in Journalism (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 1100 Principles of American Journalism (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 2000 Cross Cultural Journalism (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 2100 News (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 3000 History of American Journalism (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4000 Communications Law (3 Credits)
  • The emphasis area capstone course (3 Credits)

Emphasis Area Requirements

Starting Emphasis Area Course Work
Students generally start their emphasis area course work in the first semester of their junior year.

Marketing Requirement
Strategic Communication students must complete six credits of upper-division marketing credit with C-level grades. Three of the six must be Marketing 3000 Principles of Marketing or its equivalent in transfer. These credits take the place of six of the nine credits of upper-division non-Journalism electives required of all Journalism students.

Core/Required Strategic Communication Courses

  • JOURN 4200 Principles of Strategic Communication (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4226 Strategic Design and Visuals I (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4952 Strategic Communication Research I (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4206 Strategic Writing I. JOURN 4200, JOURN 4226 and JOURN 4952 are prerequisites.
  • JOURN 4970 Strategic Campaigns/capstone course (3 Credits) All core courses must be completed before a student will be allowed to enroll in the capstone course.

Semester One
This is generally the first semester of the junior year.

  • JOURN 4200 Principles of Strategic Communication
  • JOURN 4226 Strategic Design and Visuals I (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4952 Strategic Communication Research I (3 Credits)

Semester Two

  • JOURN 4206 Strategic Writing I (3 Credits) JOURN 4200, JOURN 4226 and JOURN 4952 are prerequisites.
  • Journalism electives (6 Credits)

Semester Three

  • Journalism elective (3 Credits)

Semester Four

  • JOURN 3000 History of Journalism (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4000 Communications Law (3 Credits)
  • Capstone course: JOURN 4970 Strategic Campaigns (3 Credits)

Suggested Strategic Communication Electives

  • JOURN 4130 Account Services (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 4136 Creative Techniques (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 4138 Public Relations Techniques (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 4140 Interactive Techniques (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 4146 Strategic Communication Techniques (1 Credit)
  • JOURN 4208 Strategic Writing II (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4216 Media Sales (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4218 Mojo Ad Staff (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4220 Creative Portfolio (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4228 Strategic Design and Visuals II (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4236 Psychology in Advertising (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4248 Media Strategy and Planning (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4250 Management of Strategic Communication (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4256 Public Relations (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4258 Global Communications (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4262 Interactive Advertising I (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4263 Interactive Advertising II (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4268 Strategic Communication Practicum (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4270 Public Relations Writing (3 Credits)

Other Options for Electives

  • You can take courses from other emphasis areas if you have satisfied prerequisites for that course.
  • You can set up an individual study course with one of your professors for 1-3 credits.
    • JOURN 4050 Communications Practice, generally project-related, requires a contract available from Journalism Advising, 76 Gannett.
    • JOURN 4350 Problems in Journalism, generally research and paper writing, requires a contract available from Journalism Advising, 76 Gannett.
  • New York Program
  • Study Abroad (Journalism-approved programs only)
  • Washington Program