Understanding How Mass Media Can Be Used in Your Career

Journalism skills can complement almost any career, increasing your value in the workplace. The journalism minor can provide you with essential skills to help you express yourself logically and clearly and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences.

Explore the history, practice, theory and ethics of the journalism field. Secure specialized knowledge regarding media and society, the fundamentals of journalism, news reporting, journalistic ethics, media technology and media law.

Gaining media literacy can give you an advantage in the commercial or nonprofit workplace because courses provide knowledge about the processes that bring news and persuasive messages to print, broadcast and digital outlets. Students also develop skills that produce effective communication systems necessary for customer service and support.

 

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By combining journalism with business and communications coursework, students can prepare themselves for related careers, including:

  • Marketing and media relations
  • Event promotion
  • Civil service and diversity

Flexibility to Fit Your Life

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All students must complete the Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP) requirement as a prerequisite or co-requisite to JOUR 10303.

This requirement can be met by:

  • Option 1 - passing the JOUR 10003 Journalistic Writing Skills course with a C or better, or
  • Option 2 - passing JOUR 11000 GSP with a Satisfactory (S) grade by scoring 75% or better on the GSP test administered through the class.

Once you officially declare a journalism minor, you will obtain access to the GSP Blackboard course for Option 2. GSP test times are limited. Schedule test times well in advance, at least two weeks before the test is taken.

Most courses in the journalism minor can be applied toward the on-campus bachelor’s degree program in journalism, which was established in 1931 and is offered by the School of Journalism and Strategic Media in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The bachelor’s degree is recommended for those who want to become working journalists. The bachelor’s program is fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

 

Required Courses

Select one of the following courses:

Select two of the following courses with at least one course numbered 3000-level or higher:

 

For students in the online BA in Interdisciplinary Studies degree program or U of A degree-seeking students:

In order to add this minor, students must consult their advisers for their academic majors.