Requirements for the Major
Admission to the Journalism Degree Program
Graduation Requirements
Tracks within the Major
Honors in the Major
Distinction in the Major for Non-Honors Students
Thesis of Distinction
Practical Experience: Organizations
Internships
Job Information Service
Courses
5115 Vilas Communication Hall, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-3691; www.journalism.wisc.edu
Professors Baughman (director), Blum, Drechsel, Dunwoody, Fair, Friedland, McLeod, Mitchell, Scheufele, D. Shah, H. Shah, Vaughn; Associate Professor Downey; Assistant Professors Brossard, Riddle, Robinson
Undergraduate advisors in the major: Heather Lee Schroeder, 5134 Vilas Hall, 608-263-4858, hschroeder@wisc.edu; Robert Schwoch, 5060 Vilas Hall, 608-263-7669, schwoch@wisc.edu
Faculty diversity liaison: Hemant Shah, 5142 Vilas Hall, 608-263-2928, hgshah@wisc.edu
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication, founded in 1905, offers professional education within the context of the liberal arts degree of the College of Letters and Science. The student earns the journalism bachelor of arts or journalism bachelor of science degree upon completion of the journalism program. Students are required to complete at least one of the two tracks described below.
The school seeks to provide students with both a broad cultural base for future careers and the competence to do professional work immediately after graduation. Of the 120 credits required for graduation, at least 21 must be in the social sciences/humanities—for example, economics, history, psychology, political science, sociology. In addition to skills courses, students are required to take courses in conceptual subjects such as law and history of mass communication, public opinion, international communication and communication theory. The student approaches mass communication as science, art, and service while relating it to many facets of society.
Students are eligible to apply for admission to the journalism degree program when they have completed (or will complete within the semester) a minimum of 40 credits (excluding AP and retroactive language credits) and Journalism 201. Final admission decisions are based on a comprehensive application packet including transcripts, a resume, personal statement, and work samples.
Students earning the journalism degree must satisfy all degree and track requirements. They must have a minimum 2.0 journalism GPA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA, complete the introductory and upper-level social science/humanities course requirements specified in this catalog, complete one of the school's two tracks (Journalism or Strategic Communication—a blend of advertising and public relations principles), and take three courses in theories and topics. Both tracks have specific course requirements, and students should pay close attention to requirements listed in this catalog.
All students are required to fulfill the L&S requirement of 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed in residence. All Journalism courses numbered 300 and above (except 335, 345, 515, and 697) count toward this requirement.
*Please check with a journalism undergraduate advisor regarding current requirements and prerequisites for the major.
Students who wish to declare themselves as degree candidates in journalism should submit a formal application to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Generally, first-semester sophomores are eligible to apply for admission. Prospective degree candidates must present to the school an academic record and writing ability that indicate a probability of success in some field of communication.
In order to apply for admission to the school, students must have met the following requirements:
Transfer students must be enrolled for at least one semester at UW-Madison before applying for admission to the school (their first semester may be in progress at the time they submit their application). Students transferring journalism course credit from other colleges and universities should check their record of transferred credit with a journalism advisor.
The school admits students to the program in the fall and spring semesters. The number of students to be admitted is subject to change based on the school's capacity to adequately provide access to required courses. Admissions decisions are based on the entire application, with particular emphasis on cumulative grade point average and writing ability. Specific guidelines for submitting the application portfolio are available through the undergraduate advisors.
After admission to the school, the student's classification will automatically be changed to JBA or JBS to reflect this change in status.
All students must complete either the Journalism or Strategic Communication track within the major. Both tracks are designed to provide breadth and depth of study as well as technical training to prepare students for careers after they graduate. The Journalism track addresses such elements as writing, reporting, editing and design for print, broadcast and new media, while strategic communication focuses on the principles behind advertising, public relations, and integrated communications.
Journalism: Journ 335; at least one among 401, 404, 405, 411*, 415, 417*, 419.
Strategic Communication: Journ 345; at least one among 411*, 417*, 419, 445, 447, 449.
*Journ 417 is available only in the fall semester; Journ 411 is available only in the spring semester.
Students planning to complete both tracks should consult with an undergraduate advisor about course availability and planning.
The following requirements for Honors in Journalism have been established to provide greater rigor in course work leading to research- and theory-oriented graduate study. Honors in Journalism students must:
Distinction in the Major is awarded to the student who has a 3.5 grade point average in journalism and who completes a senior thesis (Journ 691 and Journ 692).
The award "Thesis of Distinction" is granted for an exceptionally good or original thesis, without consideration of the student's record in other work. The director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will appoint a faculty member other than the advisor to read the thesis and then, upon the recommendation of the two readers, recommend to the dean that the "Thesis of Distinction" award be granted.
The school encourages students to gain practical experience through part-time jobs and internships. Campus publications include, but are not limited to, the Badger Yearbook, The Daily Cardinal, and the Badger Herald. Students in broadcast news courses can assist in the preparation of programs for WSUM radio. Professionals from the media and related fields appear often in classes and meet with students in professional student organizations.
Students planning careers as media professionals are encouraged to hold one or more internships in the area of their academic specialization(s). Declared journalism majors may earn course credit for internships that relate to their professional tracks. As part of their degree programs, students may earn a maximum of 3 credits of Journ 697 Internship during their undergraduate careers. Students may only earn one credit of Journ 697 per semester, but may repeat the credit up to three times. Students who want to earn degree credit for their internships should consult with Erica Salkin, the school's internship coordinator (5134 Vilas Hall), before they accept an internship. Students must enroll in Journ 697 at the time they hold the internship.
Journ 697 does not count as part of the 30 minimum journalism credits required for graduation. Students who wish to enroll in Journ 697 should see Erica Salkin for authorization to enroll.
The school provides a career information service for graduates seeking positions in the communications media, and for juniors and seniors seeking internships. Students may consult Erica Salkin, 5134 Vilas Hall, for specific information.