School of Journalism & Broadcasting 216 Mass Media & Technology Hall
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11070
Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-1070
Our Focus is your Future www.wku.edu/journalism
270 745-4144
News/Editorial Journalism (reference #716) (catalog year fall 2009 and thereafter)
Specific objectives are to:
1. Prepare students for professional careers in the media.
2. Instill in students a high degree of professionalism, which consists principally of practical
competence and ethical understanding.
3. Enhance students' understanding of the role of the news media in a democratic society.
Rev. 5/2013
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Prospective majors may take no more than 18 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the
following requirements before they can be admitted:
1) Completion of 48 hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree with a minimum
overall grade point average of 2.5.
2) Required courses include COMM 145 or COMM 161 (preferably COMM 161), HIST 119 or 120, the
University math requirement and at least a “C” in ENG 100.
3) Completion of the following courses with at least a “C”: JOUR 201, 202, 232
CURRICULUM: The major in news/editorial journalism (reference number 716) requires 42 semester hours
and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. One-half of the hours in the major must be at the 300- or 400level. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward the major or fulfill prerequisite course
requirements for any major in the School. Effective fall 2013, students must take a minimum of 72 semester
hours in courses outside of the School of Journalism & Broadcasting unit including the University’s general
education requirements. In addition to meeting institutional requirements for graduation, the news/editorial
major must have a minor or second major outside of the School of Journalism & Broadcasting and Film
Studies that is approved by the major faculty advisor. Students may not select a minor in film studies, or
those offered within the School, unless taken as a second minor. Refer to the University catalog for
additional information.
REQUIRED COURSES 39 hours (prerequisite courses in italics)
JOUR 131
JOUR 201
JOUR 202
JOUR 232
JOUR 261
BCOM 264
BCOM 265
JOUR 301
JOUR 302
JOUR 323
JOUR 325
JOUR 348
JOUR 426
Introduction to Digital Photography
Media and Society
Introduction to Media Writing
Electronic Technologies for Journalism
Introduction to Multimedia (JOUR 131 or 231)
Digital Video Production
Basic Broadcast News (BCOM 185 or BCOM 201 or JOUR 201)
Press Law & Ethics (JOUR 201, 202 and junior standing, or permission of instructor)
Intermediate Reporting (JOUR 201, 202)
News Editing (JOUR 202)
Feature Writing (JOUR 302, 323, or permission of instructor)
Introduction to Interactive Media
Advanced Reporting (JOUR 325) (capstone)
Restricted Electives 3 hours, upper division course, select from list below
JOUR 336
Picture Editing [JOUR 131, 232 (News-Editorial majors); or permission of the instructor]
JOUR 341
Principles of Advertising (JOUR 201, 202)
JOUR 343
Print Design (JOUR 201,202,232 or successful completion of final exam in JOUR 232)
JOUR 355
Fundamentals of Public Relations (JOUR 201,202)
JOUR 421
American Press History
JOUR 422
Current Issues in Mass Communication (18 hours in the major)
JOUR 481
Problems in Mass Communication
JOUR 491
Internship/Practicum (18 hours in the major & permission of sequence head)
JOUR 495
Collaborative Journalism (JOUR 325 news/ed majors)
BCOM 368
News Videography & Editing (JOUR 261 for news/ed majors)
Required Courses Outside the Major
ECON 203
PS 110
PS 304
HIST 349
Macroeconomics
(General Education Category C)
American National Government
(General Education Category C)
State Government (PS 110) (spring only) (General Elective)
The U. S. Since 1945 (spring only)
(General Elective)
One of the following two courses
GEOG 110
GEOG 360
World Regional Geography
Geography of North America
(General Education Category E)
(General Elective or Category C)
Major in News/Editorial Journalism
4-year plan
Rev. 5/2013
The following four-year plan will help you implement your program in the news/editorial major in
consultation with your major faculty advisor. Every student will finish with a unique plan of his/her
own depending on the minor area of study, electives selected, etc. Refer to the University
undergraduate catalog for additional information.
Note, effective fall 2013: To meet ACEJMC* accreditation standards, students must take a minimum
of 72 semester hours in courses outside of the School of Journalism & Broadcasting unit including
the University’s general education requirements.
Major in News/Editorial Journalism - 4-year plan
120 hours with a 21 hour minor outside of the SJ&B
fall
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
spring
JOUR 201
JOUR 131
ENG 100 or COMM 161
MATH 109 or 116
Foreign language (Gen. Ed. Category A)
UC 175 (2hr) (optional)
(17 hours)
JOUR 232
BCOM 264 or JOUR 261
HIST 119/120 (Gen. Ed. Cat. C)
Category B general education
Category D general education
PE 101 (1 hr) (Category F)
(16 hours)
JOUR 301
BCOM 265
ENG 300
Minor course
GEOG 110 (Gen. Ed. Category E)
(15 hours)
JOUR 202
BCOM 264 or JOUR 261
ENG 100 or COMM 161
Category B general education
PS 110 (Gen. Ed. Category C)
PE 101 (1hr) (Gen. Ed. Category F)
(16 hours)
JOUR 323
ECON 203 (Gen. Ed. Category C)
ENG Lit. (Gen. Ed. Category B)
Category D general education
Minor course
(15 hours)
JOUR 325
JOUR/BCOM 300/400 level elective
Minor course
Minor course
General Elective
(15 hours)
JOUR 348
JOUR 426
Minor course
Minor course
JOUR 302
HIST 349 (Required General Elective)
PS 304 (General Elective)
Minor course
General Elective (2hr)
(14 hours)
(12 hours)
Suggested minors for major in News/Editorial Journalism
Any natural science
Any foreign language
Sociology
Psychology
Religious Studies
Folk Studies
Political Science
Business Administration
Geographic Information Systems
Economics
Philosophy
English (writing)
English
History
For others, see advisor
*Accrediting Council on Education for Journalism and Mass Communication
ref. #366