Journalism
We prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s media landscape. Students learn how to write and produce news for print, broadcast, online and mobile media as well as how to shoot, produce and edit video for broadcast and online outlets. Students also are equipped with photography and web page design skills.
The journalism major equips today’s students with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing media profession. Not only are students exposed to the theory of newsgathering and mechanics of writing, they learn how to produce stories for print, broadcast, online and mobile media. Students are expected to write stories both inside and outside the classroom, often under a deadline. Besides news writing, journalism students learn how to shoot, produce and edit video for broadcast and online outlets, take photographs and design Web pages. The program strives to turn out versatile journalists who can work on a variety of news platforms or start their own news outlet.
Students majoring in journalism may earn a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students need a minimum of 120 semester hours, another major or minor and completion of the University studies requirement for the appropriate degree. ACEJMC requires that students take 72 hours outside the department and no more than six hours of credit for internships/co-ops within the major.
Students are encouraged to work at The Murray State News, TheNews.org or the NPR-affiliate on campus, WKMS.
View 4 Year Curriculum Plan for Incoming Freshman
View 2 Year Curriculum Plan for KCTCS Transfer Students
Curriculum
Required courses (32 hours):
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JMC 100T Transitions
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JMC 168 Contemporary Mass Media
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JMC 194 Newswriting
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JMC 270 Basic Audio/Video Production
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JMC 304 Advanced Newswriting
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JMC 305 Copywriting
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JMC 330 Mass Media Effects
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JMC 397 Reporting for Print Media
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JMC 398 Reporting for Broadcast and Online Media
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JMC 499 Senior Seminar
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JMC 590 Mass Communication Law
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JMC 597 Advanced Reporting
Co-Requirements (6 hours):
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CSC 125 Internet and Web Design
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CSC 153 Electronic Imaging
Required Limited Electives (3 hours from the following):
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GCM 250 Fundamentals of Visual Literacy
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JMC 322 Mass Media Study Abroad
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JMC 336 Script Writing
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JMC 384 Sports Media
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JMC 385 Directed Individual Study
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JMC 396 Publication Design
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JMC 400 International Mass Communication
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JMC 445 Community Journalism
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JMC 466 Advanced Electronic News Reporting and Production
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JMC 492 Feature Writing
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JMC 586 Special Topics
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JMC 593 Opinion Writing
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JMC 596 Internship
Required Minor (21-24 hours)
Unrestricted Electives (11-20 hours)
Total Curriculum Requirements (120 hours)
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JMC 194 Newswriting
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JMC 270 Basic Audio/Video Production
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JMC 304 Advanced Newswriting
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JMC 305 Copyediting
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JMC 397 Reporting for Print Media
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JMC 398 Reporting for Broadcast and Online Media
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JMC 590 Mass Communications Law
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JMC 597 Advanced Reporting
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Co-Requisites:
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CSC 125 Internet and Web Page Design
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GCM 153 Electronic Imaging
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Advertising, Public Relations and Television Production majors may substitute GCM 250 for JMC 270 and any upper-level JMC course for JMC 590. Public Relations majors may substitute JMC 336 for JMC 194.
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JMC 168 Contemporary Mass Media
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JMC 194 Newswriting
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JMC 330 Mass Media Effects
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JMC 590 Mass Communications Law
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and 12 hours of approved JMC electives
Six hours must be upper-level courses completed in residence at Murray State University.
Students cannot minor in journalism and mass communications if they have a major in the department. They can, however, minor in advertising.