The Major

The Journalism major has a distinguished, award-winning faculty including winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Freedom Forum Journalism Teacher of the Year Award. It draws a diverse group of students who graduate to jobs in newspapers, magazines, television, online journalism, and other fields requiring skills in reporting and writing. The major emphasizes both the theory and practice of journalism. Students receive a thorough grounding in the ethics and traditions of journalism as well as the nuts and bolts of reporting and writing. Although graduates of the program end up in a variety of fields including law, government, public relations, and teaching, the major is geared for students who want to work in journalism: daily or weekly newspapers, magazines, online publications, and broadcast media. Alumni work at the New York Times, the Boston Globe, National Public Radio, Dateline NBC, The Associated Press, and dozens of top media outlets around the world.

Requirements

These requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts Amherst in fall 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guides to Undergraduate Programs.

  1. Journal 191: Journalism Success (1 cr.)
  2. Journal 201: Intro to Journalism (4 cr.)
  3. Journal 300: Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr.)
  4. Journal 460: Journalism Ethics (3 cr.) (pre-req. Journal 300)
  5. One advanced writing/reporting course (4 cr.) (pre-req. Journal 300):
    • Journal 332: Sports Journalism
    • Journal 391J: Food Writing
    • Journal 392P: Writing for Public Relations
    • Journal 392S: Opinion Writing: Columns
    • Journal 393N: Reporting for Radio & Podcast
    • Journal 395L: Science Journalism
    • Journal 397G: Multimedia Journalism (pre-req: Journal 301)
    • Journal 397TG: Investigative Journalism and the Web
    • Journal 410: Social Justice Journalism
    • Journal 433: Photojournalism (pre-req. Journal 333)
    • Journal 492M: Magazine Writing
    • Journal 497B: Diaries, Memoirs & Journals
    • Journal 497M: Longform Narrative
    • Journal 497N: Columns, Essays and Reviews
  6. Two multimedia/visual courses from the following menu (3 or 4 cr.):
    • Journal 301: Intro to Multimedia Journalism (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 333: Intro to Visual Storytelling (sophomores and up)
    • Journal 339: Broadcast Performance (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 341: Images in Sports
    • Journal 390SD: Short-Form Documentary (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 391SB: Sports Talk Live
    • Journal 397G: Multimedia Journalism (pre-reqs. Journal 300 & 301, or instructor permission)
    • Journal 397DJ: Data-Driven Storytelling (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 435: Web Design for Journalists (pre-reqs. Journal 301 or 397G or instructor permission)
    • Journal 495BP: Broadcast Performance (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 495N: Broadcast News Reporting II (pre-req. Journal 300 & 395N)
  7. One concepts and critical thinking course from the following menu (3 or 4 cr.):
    • Journal 320: History of American Journalism
    • Journal 345: Media Criticism
    • Journal 392T: Issues in Sports
    • Journal 395M: The African American Freedom Struggle and the Mass Media
    • Journal 445: Journalism & Law
    • Journal 494MI: Media, Technology and Culture
  8. One international course from the following menu (3 or 4 cr.):
    • Journalism 310: International Journalism
    • Journalism 225: Readings in Journalism (international focus)
    • One course, departmentally and IPO approved, taken during study abroad
    • One foreign language course at any level
    • One course from the SBS International/Intercultural Topical Courses Master List[JC2]
  9. Two Journalism electives (6 to 8 cr.)
  10. Another area of study of at least 15 credits– a major, minor, or certificate.

Sports Journalism Concentration

The Journalism major offers a special Sports Journalism Concentration. Students enroll in the Sports Journalism Concentration by indicating their interest on the online application.

These requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts Amherst in fall 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guides to Undergraduate Programs.

  1. Journal 191: Journalism Success (1 cr.)
  2. Journal 201: Intro to Journalism (4 cr.)
  3. Journal 300: Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr.)
  4. Journalism 460: Journalism Ethics (3 cr.) (pre-req. Journal 300)
  5. Journalism 332: Sports Journalism (4 cr.) (pre-req. Journal 300)
  6. One multimedia/visual course from the following: Journal 341: Images in Sports, Journal 391SB: Sports Talk Live or Journal 390S: Short Form Documentary
  7. One multimedia/visual course from the following menu (3 or 4 cr.):
    • Journal 301: Intro to Multimedia Journalism (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 333: Intro to Visual Storytelling (sophomores and up)
    • Journal 339: Broadcast News Reporting (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 341: Images in Sports
    • Journal 390SD: Short-Form Documentary (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 391SB: Sports Talk Live
    • Journal 397G: Multimedia Journalism (pre-reqs. Journal 300 & 301, or instructor permission)
    • Journal 397DJ: Data-Driven Storytelling (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 435: Web Design for Journalists (pre-reqs. Journal 301 or 397G or instructor permission)
    • Journal 495BP: Broadcast Performance (pre-req. Journal 300)
    • Journal 495N: Broadcast News Reporting II (pre-req. Journal 300 & 395N)
  8. Journal 392T: Issues in Sports (Concepts and Critical Thinking course)
  9. One international course from the following menu (3 or 4 cr.):
    • Journalism 310: International Journalism
    • Journalism 225: Readings in Journalism (international focus)
    • One course, departmentally and IPO approved, taken during study abroad
    • One foreign language course at any level
    • One course from the SBS International/Intercultural Topical Courses Master List international-focused master class list
  10. Take either Journal 425: The Politics of Sport OR Journal 428: Sports in Film, Journalism and Literature
  11. One Journalism elective (3-4 cr.)
  12. Internship (at least 1 credit with 120 hours of work)
  13. Another area of study of at least 15 credits– a major, minor, or certificate.