Program Overview

BS in Journalism Program Overview

The undergraduate program in Journalism at Boston University offers a comprehensive selection of courses and training in reporting, writing, editing, production, design, and civic responsibility. This program is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to become successful professionals in the industry, including meeting deadlines, conducting interviews and research, and innovating in the field. In conjunction with the Boston University Hub, the program ensures students receive a strong liberal arts education.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, students will be able to:

• Apply basic principles such as accuracy, fairness, and public service, and communicate clearly in analog and digital journalism platforms.
• Conduct research using a variety of sources and evaluate the accuracy of such information, with the goal of furthering a society built on the foundation of free speech.
• Understand and discuss the historical, legal, and ethical underpinnings of American media.
• Design and execute an effective job search in journalism.

Curriculum

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Journalism will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy all BU Hub requirements in Communication, as well as some in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation; Scientific and Social Inquiry; and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

College of Communication Requirements

• COM CO 101 The Human Storyteller (coreq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent) (must be taken with a C or higher to continue in COM) (can be taken by first-year students)
• COM CO 575 COM Practicum (0 units) (can be taken by first-year students)

Departmental Requirements

• COM CO 201 Introduction to Communication Writing (prereq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent) (can be taken by first-year students)
• COM JO 150 History and Principles of Journalism (can be taken by first-year students)
• COM JO 200 Newswriting (prereq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent and COM CO 201)
• COM JO 205 Visual Storytelling
• COM JO 210 Reporting in Depth (prereq: COM JO 200 and JO 205)
• COM JO 350 Law and Ethics of Journalism

Professional Core Requirement

Choose one of the following:

• COM JO 400 Newsroom (prereq: COM JO 150, JO 200, JO 205, and JO 210) (please note that this is a repeatable class) (4 units)
• COM JO 455 Professional Project (prereq: approval of faculty committee) (4 units)
• COM JO 546 Journalism Statehouse Program (prereq: consent of Statehouse Program instructor) (8 units)

Journalism Program Courses

Must complete 16 units of the following, any 300-level JO course can count:

• COM JO 300 Media and Democracy (prereq: COM JO 150)
• COM JO 309 Feature Writing (prereq: COM JO 200, JO 205, and JO 210)
• COM JO 312 Photojournalism I (prereq: COM JO 205)
• COM JO 322 Smart-Phone Reporting (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 351 Reporting with Audio and Video (prereq: COM JO 200 and JO 205)
• COM JO 400 Newsroom (prereq: COM JO 150, COM JO 200, COM JO 205, and COM JO 210) (can only count as a program course if not counting for the Professional Core Requirement)
• COM JO 403 Magazine Writing and Editing (prereq COM JO 200 and JO 210)
• COM JO 404 Radio Station Management (prereq: instructor consent)
• COM JO 411 or 412 COM Internship (2–4 units) (prereq: COM JO 200 and JO 205, junior standing, good academic standing)
• COM JO 427 Narrative Nonfiction Journalism (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 431 Enterprise Reporting (prereq: COM JO 351)
• COM JO 435 Radio Newsroom (prereq: COM JO 200, JO 205, and JO 351)
• COM JO 455 Professional Project (prereq: approval of faculty committee) (can only count as a program course if not counting for the Professional Core Requirement)
• COM JO 490 Directed Study (variable units) (prereq: instructor and departmental consent)
• COM JO 500 Media Criticism (prereq: sophomore standing)
• COM JO 502 Special Topics (prereqs may vary)
• COM JO 503 Journalism Research (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 504 Arts Criticism (prereq: sophomore standing)
• COM JO 505 Race and Gender in Media (prereq: sophomore standing)
• COM JO 508 Multiplatform Story Editing (prereq: COM JO 200 and COM JO 205)
• COM JO 511 Covering Politics (prereq: consent of Statehouse Program instructor)
• COM JO 512 Editorial Design (prereq: COM JO 205)
• COM JO 513 Photojournalism II (prereq: COM JO 205 and JO 312)
• COM JO 514 Sports Journalism (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 519 Narrative Radio (prereq: COM JO 200, JO 205, JO 351, and JO 435)
• COM JO 521 Data Journalism (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 522 Filmmaking for Journalists (prereq: COM JO 205)
• COM JO 524 Sports Reporting and Production (prereq: COM JO 200, JO 205, and JO 351)
• COM JO 531 Disinformation and the Press
• COM JO 532 Sports Seminar (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 535 Investigative Reporting (prereq: COM JO 200, JO 210)
• COM JO 537 Advanced Visual Storytelling (prereq: COM JO 205)
• COM JO 539 Global Health Storytelling (meets with SPH GH 701)
• COM JO 542 Literature of Journalism (prereq: COM JO 150)
• COM JO 543 Rescuing Lost Stories (prereq: COM JO 150 and JO 200)
• COM JO 544 Trauma Journalism (prereq: COM JO 150)
• COM JO 546 Statehouse Program (prereq: consent of Statehouse Program instructor) (8 units) (can only count as a program course if not counting for the Professional Core Requirement)
• COM JO 547 Sports Storytelling (prereq: COM JO 200)
• COM JO 548 Podcasting
• COM JO 550 Multimedia Storytelling (prereq: COM JO 304)

Accreditation

Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).