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Newspaper Journalism
Degree and Sequence Requirements

Undergraduate Program Missouri Journalism Undergraduate Program    [Full Index]

Newspaper Journalism Faculty
Jacqui Banaszynski Jacqui Banaszynski
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
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Greg Bowers Greg Bowers
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Elizabeth Brixey Elizabeth Brixey
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
David Herzog David Herzog
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Ron Jensen Ron Jensen
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Joy Mayer Joy Mayer
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Katherine Reed Katherine Reed
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
John Schneller John Schneller
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Scott Swafford Scott Swafford
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Margaret Walter Margaret Walter
Newspaper Journalism
Faculty
Tom Warhover Tom Warhover
Newspaper Journalism
Chair

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 sequence requirements if they enrolled before FS05. Effective FS05 and later, incoming students will need 40 credits in Journalism.

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

Electives and Course Load
Students may enroll in electives in sequences 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) This will be taught for the first time in WS06.
  • 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) or JOURN 4950 Solving Practical Problems (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4000 Communications Law (3 Credits)
  • The sequence capstone course (3 Credits)

Sequence Requirements


Starting Sequence Course Work
Students generally start their sequence course work in the first semester of their junior year.

Core/Required Newspaper Journalism Courses

  • JOURN 4120 New Media Basics (1 Credit)*
  • JOURN 4400 Editing (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4406 Newspaper Editing (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4450 Reporting (3 Credits)
  • Advanced course. Select one.
    • Reporting and Writing Track: JOURN 4460 Advanced Reporting. (3 Credits)
    • Editing and Design Track: JOURN 4500 Advanced Newspaper Editing and Design. (3 Credits)
    • Online Media Track: JOURN 4700 Online Journalism. (3 Credits)
  • Capstone Course: JOURN 4990 Journalism and Democracy. (3 Credits)
*Effective FS2005: JOURN 4120 New Media Basics is no longer required.

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

  • JOURN 4400 Editing. (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4450 Reporting. (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4950 Solving Practical Problems. (3 Credits) or JOURN 3000 History of American Journalism. (3 Credits) JOURN 3000 satisfies the School's visual literacy requirement.

Semester Two

  • JOURN 4000 Communications Law. (3 Credits)

Semester Three

  • JOURN 4406 Newspaper Editing. (3 Credits)
  • Journalism Electives (6 Credits)

Semester Four

  • Capstone Course: JOURN 4990 Journalism and Democracy (3 Credits)
  • Advanced course. Select track.
    • Reporting and Writing Track: JOURN 4460 Advanced Reporting. (3 Credits)
    • Editing and Design Track: JOURN 4500 Advanced Newspaper Editing and Design. (3 Credits)
    • Online Media Track: JOURN 4700 Online Journalism. (3 Credits)
  • Journalism Electives. (3 Credits)

Suggested Newspaper Journalism Electives

  • JOURN 4416 Science, Health & Environmental Writing. (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4410 Intermediate Writing (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4420 Editorial Writing (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4430 Computer Assisted Reporting (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4436 Investigative Reporting (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4438 Business and Economics Reporting (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4460 Advanced Newspaper Reporting (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4508 Information Graphics (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4706 The Community Newspaper (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4710 Newspaper Management (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4720 Internet Law (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4986 Advanced Writing (3 Credits)

Additional Electives for Students Interested in Editing or Design

  • JOURN 4226 Strategic Design & Visual I (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4408 Magazine Editing (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4500 Advanced Newspaper Editing & Design (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4506 Magazine Design (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4510 Visual Communications (3 Credits)
  • JOURN 4550 Basic Press Photography (3 Credits)

Other Options for Electives

  • You can take courses from other sequences 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
Missouri School of Journalism Undergraduate Handbook
Starting Your Program Freshman/Sophomore
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Updated Sept. 30, 2008

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Revised: 25 January 2008. Copyright © 2008 The Curators of the University of Missouri  |  Contact the J-School