The Bachelor of Arts with a major in journalism and mass communication requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 43 s.h. in journalism and mass communication courses, plus a second major, certificate, or minor. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Students may count a maximum of 52 s.h. earned in School of Journalism and Mass Communication courses toward the 120 s.h. required for the degree.

Students may choose to complete the B.A. with a major in journalism and mass communication without a track or declare one of three optional tracks: multimedia production and design, reporting and writing, or strategic communication. All students must complete the introduction and foundation course requirements. Application and capstone course requirements vary for each optional track.

Each student works with an assigned educational advisor and/or faculty advisor to develop a study plan that meets the major's requirements. Requirements for the major are consistent with the program's accreditation requirements; the school cannot make exceptions.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication may accept transfer credit in journalism earned at institutions accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. A maximum of 9 s.h. of approved transfer credit may be applied to the major in journalism and mass communication. Some journalism coursework taken at other schools may be used to fulfill the GE CLAS Core and/or second area of concentration requirements.

Students who wish to apply transfer credit toward School of Journalism and Mass Communication requirements must discuss the proposed transfer credit with a journalism advisor and must have approval from the head of undergraduate studies.

Listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication, visit the UI General Catalog.

Second Area of Study

Every student majoring in journalism and mass communication must complete a second area of study. The second area of study enables students to acquire a substantial body of knowledge or expertise in a relevant area, learn how another discipline views the world, and/or develop a companion set of skills to those in journalism and mass communication. 

Requirements for the Second Area of Study

Students must complete the requirements for the journalism and mass communication major (at least 43 s.h.) and must satisfy the school's second major or concentration area requirement in one of three ways.

Option 1: Complete a B.A. major in another department.

Option 2: Complete an undergraduate certificate. Students may not double count courses for their journalism and mass communication major and a certificate being used as their second area of study. 

Option 3: Complete an undergraduate minor. Students may not double count courses for their journalism and mass communication major and a minor being used as their second area of study. The minor in media management may not be used as the second area of study.