Program Modification Form
I Summary of Proposed Changes
School of Journalism
Department/program
The school seeks to institute new requirements for majors in the school’s
Summary
pre-professional program. The changes are contingent on the approval of
one new course, JRNL 170 Elements of News Writing, and the
renumbering and naming of an existing course (JRNL 227) to incorporate
introductory video skills now taught in a course we plan to delete, JRNL
251. We also propose to add one existing course (JRNL 105X) to the list of
courses students may choose from to meet other pre-professional program
requirements.
II Endorsements and Approvals
Please obtain the Program Chair/Director’s approval and Dean’s approval.
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Phone:
Program Chair/Director:
Dennis Swibold
#2230
Dennis Swibold
Department Dean
Other affected Programs:
Denise Dowling
Date
(Use additional sheet if
needed)
Are other departments/programs affected by this
Please obtain signature(s) from the
modification because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III Type of Program Modification
(e.g. adding a writing course required of all majors.) Please X check the appropriate box.
Major
Minor
Option
Teaching major/minor
x
Other
Please
describe
IV Catalog Language
If you are proposing a change to an existing program or Please provide the proposed copy as you wish
major, please cut and paste the requirements as they
it to appear in the catalog. 
appear in the current catalog below.
www.umt.edu/catalog 
Special Degree Requirements
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the
catalog. See index.
Pre-Professional Curriculum
The following School of Journalism and General Education
courses must be completed prior to admission to the School
of Journalism professional program. Students who are
unsuccessful in gaining admission to the professional
program should realize that completion of the preprofessional program fulfills a significant portion of the
University General Education Requirements.
Core requirements for all pre-professional students in the
School of Journalism:
Journalism Core courses:
JRNL 100H (JOUR 100H) Media History and Literacy
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously
in the catalog. See index.
Pre-Professional Curriculum
The following School of Journalism and General
Education courses must be completed prior to
admission to the School of Journalism professional
program. Students who are unsuccessful in gaining
admission to the professional program should
realize that completion of the pre-professional
program fulfills a significant portion of the
University General Education Requirements.
Core requirements for all pre-professional students
in the School of Journalism:
Journalism Core courses:
JRNL 251 (R-TV 251) Beginning Video Photography &
Production
JRNL 227 (JOUR 227) Beginning Photojournalism
JRNL 270 (JOUR 270) Reporting
General Education Core for Pre-Journalism and Pre-R-TV
(former course numbers in parentheses)
One math course that fulfills the General Education math
requirement.
A history course from the following: HSTA 101H, 102H,
103H, 104H (HIST 151H, 152H, 154H, 155H).
A course in Gen Ed Group X, Indigenous and Global
Perspectives from the following: ANTY 101H, 141H
(ANTH 101H, 106H); PSCI 230X (PSC 130E); HSTR 146H
or 231H (HIST 106 or 287H); MCLG 100H; GPHY 243X or
245X (GEOG 207S, 213S); NASX 105H or 231X (NAS
100H, 231X); SOCI 212H (SOC 212H).
A Political Science course from among PSCI 210S, 220S or
230X (PSC 100S, 120S, 130E). [If PSCI 230X (PSC 130E)
is taken to fulfill a Group X course, PSCI 210S or 220S
(PSC 100S, 120S) is required.]
An economics course from among ECNS 101S, 201S or
202S (ECON 100S, 111S, or 112S), OR a business course,
BGEN 105S (BADM 100S).
JRNL 100H (JOUR 100H) Media History and
Literacy
JRNL 170 Elements of News Writing
JRNL 257 Beginning Visual Journalism
JRNL 270 (JOUR 270) Reporting
General Education Core for Pre-Journalism and PreR-TV (former course numbers in parentheses)
One math course that fulfills the General Education
math requirement.
A history course from the following: HSTA 101H,
102H, 103H, 104H (HIST 151H, 152H, 154H,
155H).
A course in Gen Ed Group X, Indigenous and
Global Perspectives from the following: ANTY
101H, 141H (ANTH 101H, 106H); PSCI 230X
(PSC 130E); HSTR 146H or 231H (HIST 106 or
287H); JRNL 105 X; MCLG 100H; GPHY 243X or
245X (GEOG 207S, 213S); NASX 105H or 231X
(NAS 100H, 231X); SOCI 212H (SOC 212H).
A Political Science course from among PSCI 210S,
220S or 230X (PSC 100S, 120S, 130E). [If PSCI
230X (PSC 130E) is taken to fulfill a Group X
course, PSCI 210S or 220S (PSC 100S, 120S) is
required.]
An economics or business course from among
ECNS 101S, 201S or 202S (ECON 100S, 111S, or
112S), BGEN 105S (BADM 100S.
Please explain/justify the new proposal or change. 
The proposed course changes support our desire to give all majors more training in news writing and a
broader introduction to the principles of visual journalism, which include both still photography and
videography. Our request to add JRNL 105X Global Current Events to the list of course students may
choose from to meet other pre-professional requirements is based on the belief that a study of global
news and news providers is particularly relevant to our majors.
V Copies and Electronic Submission
Once approved, the original, a paper copy and an electronic file are submitted to the Faculty Senate
Office, UH 221 (camie.foos@mso.umt.edu).
VI Department Summary Required if several proposals are submitted. In a separate document
list program title and proposed change of all proposals.
Revised 11-2009