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Department of Journalism
Main Departmental Office
General Academic Building, 102
P.O. Box 5278
Denton, TX 76203-0278
(817) 565-2205
Fax: (817) 565-2370
Richard H. Wells, Chair
Faculty
Professors Westmoreland. Associate Professors Albright, Busby, Kim, Land, Wells. Assistant Professors Carstarphen, Kiker, Owens, Zavoina. Lecturers Spencer. Journalist in Residence Shelton.
Introduction
Journalism concentrations prepare students to work in the fields of reporting, editing, design and photography on newspapers; reporting and editing news for radio and television stations; staff and freelance writing for magazines; advertising in agencies, profit and nonprofit organizations, and media; public relations in agencies, and profit and nonprofit organizations; business journalism; teaching in secondary schools; and desktop publishing.
Programs also are designed to educate students broadly; to develop their abilities to analyze, evaluate and inform; and to consider the ethical implications of mass communication and its impact in today's world.
All journalism concentrations except advertising require completion of two courses of work as beat reporters on The North Texas Daily, the campus newspaper. Students in the broadcast news concentration take one course in broadcast news writing and have the opportunity to work at KNTU, the campus radio station, and in the campus television studio. Students in the advertising concentration must complete one course of reporting and one of advanced advertising copywriting.
Practicums and internships provide additional experience in mass media, advertising and public relations agencies, and corporate offices and media sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and elsewhere in the state and nation.
Typewriting Proficiency Requirement
Upon enrollment in any journalism course other than JOUR 1210, 2010 or 2700, a student must submit evidence of proficiency in typewriting speed and accuracy. This may be in the form of a certificate of completion of a typing test indicating at least 35 wpm from an accredited public school or college or from a journalism department typing examination to be scheduled once each fall and spring semester, and summer term.
Programs of Study
The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
A student majoring in journalism may earn either the BA or BS degree, each requiring a minimum of 128 semester hours. General requirements for the BA are given in the College of Arts and Sciences section and under "University Core Curriculum Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog. General requirements for the BS are the same, including the arts and sciences core; however, some alternative courses are available for some of the core requirements.
For the BS degree, a concentration in a field outside journalism may be fulfilled in one of two ways: (1) two 18-hour concentrations, each including at least 6 advanced hours; or (2) one 30-hour concentration, including at least 18 advanced hours, with courses approved in advance by the Department of Journalism. All BS students must take MATH 1680 rather than MATH 1650.
The University Core Curriculum competence requirement in oral communication is met by the 33-hour major in journalism.
Major in Journalism
The major in journalism requires at least 33 hours in journalism, including JOUR 1210 and 2310. No more than 38 hours of journalism and radio/television/film courses, excluding JOUR 1210, may be included in the major or counted toward the 128-hour degree.
A grade of C or higher is required for all journalism courses to be applied toward these degree requirements.
No more than 12 semester hours of journalism credit will be accepted from a transfer student who is entering as a first-semester junior. For students transferring with 75 semester hours of credit or more, a maximum of 18 transfer journalism hours will be accepted for credit toward the bachelor's degree. Transfer students who minor in journalism must complete a minimum of 6 advanced hours at UNT; courses must be approved by a journalism adviser. A grade of C or higher is required for all journalism courses being transferred for degree credit, and all journalism transfer courses must be approved by the department.
JOUR 1210 normally is taken in the freshman year as a general background course. Students do not begin practical training in reporting until the sophomore year, following completion of freshman-level English.
Students must complete 12 hours of basic journalism courses as specified for their concentration with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 before enrolling in any other journalism courses. An advisory sheet for a degree plan cannot be prepared until at least 6 hours of the basic journalism course requirements have been completed. Enrollment in courses beyond the basic 12 hours will not be permitted until a degree plan is filed. Since JOUR 2310 is required of all journalism majors, it is the responsibility of each student to take this course as soon as possible, whether in a long semester or summer session.
The various concentrations each require the following basic journalism courses.
- · Advertising: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2020 and 2310
- · Broadcast News: JOUR 1210, 2310 and 2320, and RTVF 2200
- · Business Journalism: JOUR 1210, 2310 and 2320, and one course from 2010, 2700 and 3320
- · News Writing - Editorial: JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320 and 2700
- · Photojournalism: JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320 and 2700
- · Public Relations: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2310 and 2320
- · Teaching: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2310 and 2320
Before the end of the sophomore year, students should select one of the concentrations offered and complete a degree advisory sheet in the journalism department office. Courses in the minor field for the Bachelor of Arts degree and for the fields of concentration for the Bachelor of Science degree must be approved in advance by the student's journalism adviser and the department chair. The advisory sheet is used by the College of Arts and Sciences office to prepare the student's official degree plan.
To graduate, seniors must successfully complete the seminar titled Conducting the Career Search. This seminar must be completed during the semester preceding the semester in which the student plans to graduate.
In addition to the general degree requirements given in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog, students majoring in journalism must fulfill the requirements of one of the following concentrations.
Supplemental Information for the Advertising Concentration
1. Required journalism courses are JOUR 1210, 2010, 2020, 2310, 3010, 4040, 4050, 4060 and 4070, and two courses from 2700, 4055, 4090 or 4800, 4200, 4420, 4620 and 4850.
2. Students must take at least 18 hours in the College of Business Administration, including MKTG 3650 and 4120, MGMT 3820, plus 9 hours approved by the Department of Journalism.
Supplemental Information for the Broadcast News Concentration
1. Required courses are JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320, 3320, 4330, 4410, 4620 or RTVF 4320; RTVF 2200, 4420 or 4430, 4410 (News Production Only) or JOUR 4210; and two courses from JOUR 3310, 4210, 4800, 4900-4910; RTVF 3300, 3330 and 3750.
2. Also required are one course from PSCI 3010, 4020 or 4450 (or PADM 4450); and one of the following: PSCI 3100, 3110, 3130, 3200 (or CJUS 3200), 3420 (or PADM 3420), 4100, 4320, 4450 (or PADM 4450).
Supplemental Information for the Business Journalism Concentration
1. Required journalism courses are JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320, 3310, 3320, 4410, 4420, 4510 or 4850 and 4620, plus two courses chosen from 2010, 2700, 4200, 4450 or 4460, 4800 and 4820.
2. Students also must take ECON 1100-1110 and the following business administration courses: ACCT 2020-2030; BCIS 3610; BLAW 3430; FINA 3770; MGMT 3820; MKTG 3650; MSCI 3700; and two courses from MGMT 4450, BLAW 4430, FINA 4500 and REAL 2100.
Supplemental Information for the News Writing - Editorial (News Editorial) Concentration
1. Required journalism courses are JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320, 2700, 3310, 3320, 4410, 4510 and 4620, and two courses from 4200, 4310, 4321, 4330, 4800, 4820 and 4850.
2. Also required are PSCI 3010 or 4020, and one of the following: PSCI 3100, 3110, 3130, 3200, 4100 or 4320. News-editorial students should consider PSCI 3160 as an elective.
3. Juniors should confer with an adviser about possible newspaper internships.
Supplemental Information for the Public Relations Concentration
1. Required journalism courses are JOUR 1210, 2010, 2310, 2320, 3310, 3320, 4200, 4420, 4450 and 4460, and one course from 2700, 4480 or 4800, 4820 and 4850.
2. Students must take MGMT 3860, MKTG 3650, MKTG 4700 or SOCI 4870, MGMT 3820 and MATH 1680.
Minor in Journalism
Students who are not majoring in journalism may minor in journalism. A minor requires 18 hours including 6 advanced hours. The minor program must be chosen in conference with the journalism department.
Students who are majoring in advertising art (School of Visual Arts) and minoring in advertising (Department of Journalism) must take JOUR 2010, 2020 and 3010, and three courses from 4040, 4050, 4055, 4060 and 4070.
Recommended electives for students who are not majoring or minoring in journalism are JOUR 1210, 2010, 2700, 4210, 4310, 4321, 4420, 4620 and 4820.
Teacher Certification
Students who expect to teach journalism in secondary schools must earn a journalism degree and must complete the requirements of the state of Texas for teacher certification as listed by the Department of Teacher Education and Administration in the College of Education section.
The department offers degree programs leading to the Master of Arts and Master of Journalism. For information, consult the Graduate Catalog and confer with the journalism graduate studies director.
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