Journalism majors are required to take core courses in media writing, media tools and applications, media law and ethics, data and design and beat reporting. You’ll choose from a variety of 1-hour skills courses like podcast producing or video editing, and select two journalism electives from courses including photojournalism, video reporting and investigative reporting. By combining required courses and electives, you can specialize in a specific medium or design your own unique course of study.
All students must complete a capstone course in which they work in teams to produce multimedia stories and packages for a public audience. All coursework is done in the College’s modern facilities, giving students access to the latest digital technology and hands-on tools.
Journalism Major Requirements
Journalism majors earn a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) degree upon successful completion of the program.
To graduate, all College of Media majors must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. Journalism students complete:
- A media-focused first year seminar course
- General Education Foundations (GEF) courses like English, math and science
- Additional courses outside of the major including statistics, economics and sociology
- Core media courses including writing and ethics
- Foundation courses in Journalism
- Journalism skills courses
- Journalism electives based on your interests
- Elective courses of your choosing
Tailor this major to your interests by taking one of these courses as you pursue your degree:
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JRL 220:
Introduction to Photojournalism
Learn basic techniques of journalistic photography, digital imaging and editing. Students must have access to a film or digital camera.
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JRL 318:
Beat Reporting
Master the essentials of developing and covering a news beat. Students generate stories, cultivate sources, and discover their community.
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JRL 319:
Editing and Curation
Students develop the skills necessary to edit and design content for online and print media outlets.
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JRL 321:
Media Design
An introduction to the design of newspapers, magazines and internet publications.
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MDIA 328:
Media Ethics and Law
An in-depth exploration of the complex ethical and legal media landscape, with an emphasis on key historical precedents, new cases and challenges related to emerging technology, digital disinformation, artificial intelligence, new problems in social media and other current issues in journalism, public relations and advertising.
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JRL 335:
Video and Audio News Writing
Gathering, researching, and evaluating facts; reporting and writing news for radio and television; editorial decision making and responsibility; broadcast news ethics.
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JRL 487:
Advanced Video Reporting and Producing
This course is run as an actual newsroom to teach students how to produce, gather and report news. Students are assigned “beats,” and work individually and in teams to produce news for local broadcast. Students serve as the talent and/or technical crew during newscast tapings and learn how to promote their work and engage audiences via professional social media use.
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JRL 440:
Visual Storytelling for the Media
Develop practical and analytical skills in documentary production, including research, story development, scripting and editing.
Take advantage of special options related to this major:
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3+3 Program
This major is eligible for the 3+3 Law Degree Program that allows qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree and law degree in six years instead of seven
years.
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Accelerated Program
Journalism offers the option to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in an accelerated time frame.
Accelerated Program Details
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Honors
Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first-
and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.
Explore Honors
