PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
The primary purpose of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication is to prepare students to enter positions in media fields. The school strives to meet its mission through a three-pronged approach:
In addition to preparing students to assume positions in the media and media-related enterprises, the school provides courses that lead to a better understanding of the role and responsibility of the media in society’s public and private sectors.
ADMISSION
Preprofessional Admission
Students admitted to ASU also may be admitted to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication with preprofessional status. Preprofessional admission to the school does not guarantee admission to the upper-division professional program. All preprofessional students enrolling in courses in the school must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours with at least a 2.50 GPA before they are permitted to enroll in school courses at the 200-level. All preprofessional students who intend to take courses beyond the 100-level must pass an English proficiency examination administered by the school.
Professional Program Admission
Admission to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication professional program, which enrolls students in their junior and senior years, is competitive and based on available resources. Once a student is granted admission, the upper-division professional program requires a minimum of two years to complete.
A separate application procedure is required for entry to the upper-division professional program. To be eligible to apply for admission to the professional program, students must meet the following requirements:
As described above, students must have completed specified lower-division courses. Broadcasting preprofessionals must complete the following courses:
| TCM 200 | Fundamentals of Radio-Television (3) |
| TCM 201 | Radio-Television Writing L1* (3) |
| TCM 235 | Production Techniques* (3) |
| Total: 9 |
| * | TCM 235 may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed to enroll in the professional program courses. |
Journalism preprofessionals must complete the following courses:
| JRN 201 | Journalism Newswriting L1 (3) |
| MCO 110 | Introduction to Communication (3) |
| or MCO 120 Media and Society SB (3) | |
| Total: 6 |
To be considered for admission to the school’s upper-division professional program, students must obtain an application form from the school office in STAUF A231. Precise application procedures and submission deadlines are outlined on the form. Completion of the minimum requirements for eligibility does not guarantee admission to the upper-division professional program. The admissions committee considers a variety of criteria, including cumulative GPA, media experience, writing ability, and commitment to the field.
ADVISING
Students should follow the sequence of courses outlined on school curriculum check sheets and the advice of the school’s academic advisers. All students who enroll as preprofessionals or who seek and ultimately gain professional status should meet regularly with Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication academic advisers. Conscientious, careful planning and early advising are crucial to students who desire to progress through the program in a timely fashion.
DEGREES
The faculty in the school offer programs leading to two undergraduate degrees: the B.A. degree in Broadcasting and the B.A. degree in Journalism. Students select one of two areas of curricular emphasis in the broadcasting program: broadcast journalism or business/management. Students select one of three areas of curricular emphasis in the journalism program: news-editorial, public relations, or visual journalism.
The school offers a program leading to the graduate degree Master of Mass Communication.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students must be admitted formally to ASU and must adhere to the admission procedures to be considered for admission to the professional program in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication.
Students completing their first two years of course work at a community college or four-year institution other than ASU should consult the school’s academic advisors at least three months before they hope to be considered for admission to the school’s professional program. Transfer student admission to ASU does not guarantee admission to the upper-division professional program.
PROGRA. REQUIREMENTS
Because the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, its students are required to take a minimum of 90 semester hours in courses outside the major of broadcasting or journalism, with no fewer than 65 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences. This requirement ensures that students receive a broad academic background.
At least 18 semester hours of major courses required by the school, including one writing course, must be taken at ASU. A student must receive a grade of “C” or higher in all courses taken in the major and in the required related field area. Specific areas that may be used to fulfill the related field requirement are listed on the curriculum check sheets for each major available in the school. Courses elsewhere in the university that duplicate or are closely related to school subject matter may be restricted by the school.
B.A. REQUIREMENTS
All students are required to complete 16 semester hours of courses in a foreign language or the equivalent through the intermediate level.
Broadcasting. The major in Broadcasting consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours in Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication courses. Students must take the following courses:
| MCO 110 | Introduction to Communication (3) |
| or MCO 120 Media and Society SB (3) | |
| MCO 402 | Communications Law L2 (3) |
| TCM 200 | Fundamentals of Radio-Television (3) |
| TCM 201 | Radio-Television Writing L1 (3) |
| TCM 235 | Production Techniques (3) |
| Total: 15 |
The student also must choose one major professional emphasis area from the following: broadcast journalism or business/management.
These courses are in addition to other degree requirements. See“University Graduation Requirements.”
Journalism. The major in Journalism consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours in Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication courses. Students must take the following required school courses:
| JRN 201 | Journalism Newswriting L1 (3) |
| JRN 301 | Reporting L2 (3) |
| JRN 313 | Introduction to Editing (3) |
| MCO 110 | Introduction to Communication (3) |
| or MCO 120 Media and Society SB (3) | |
| MCO 402 | Communications Law L2 (3) |
| MCO 418 | History of Communications SB, H (3) |
| or MCO 421 News Problems (3) | |
| or MCO 430 International Communication G (3) | |
| or MCO 450 Visual Communication HU (3) | |
| Total: 18 |
The student also must choose one major professional emphasis area from the following three: news-editorial, public relations, or visual journalism.
These courses are in addition to other degree requirements. See “University Graduation Requirements.”
Related Field. Each student is required to complete a 12-semester-hour related field to complement the courses taken in the major emphasis areas.
See the curriculum check sheets for each major for the full details and approved related field areas.
SECONDARY EDUCATION—B.A.E.
Journalism. The academic specialization in journalism as a major teaching field consists of 45 semester hours. The following courses are required:
| JRN 201 | Journalism Newswriting L1 (3) |
| JRN 301 | Reporting L2 (3) |
| JRN 313 | Introduction to Editing (3) |
| JRN 351 | Photojournalism I (3) |
| MCO 110 | Introduction to Communication (3) |
| or MCO 120 Media and Society SB (3) | |
| MCO 402 | Communications Law L2 (3) |
| Approved elective (3) | |
| Total: 21 | |
An additional 24 semester hours, including 12 semester hours in school course offerings, must be taken on approval by the advisor in consultation with the student. The remaining courses may be in closely related fields.
The academic specialization in journalism as a minor teaching field consists of 24 semester hours. The following courses are required:
| JRN 201 | Journalism Newswriting L1 (3) |
| JRN 301 | Reporting L2 (3) |
| JRN 313 | Introduction to Editing (3) |
| JRN 351 | Photojournalism I (3) |
| MCO 110 | Introduction to Communication (3) |
| or MCO 120 Media and Society SB (3) | |
| Approved elective (3) | |
| Total: 18 | |
The remaining courses are to be selected in consultation with a journalism advisor.
GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
The students must satisfy the university General Studies requirement found in “General Studies” and the College of Public Programs course requirements as described in “College Degree Requirements.” The school requires the student to accumulate a total of 51 semester hours in General Studies. The student is advised to review carefully the appropriate school curriculum check sheet to be sure courses taken move the student toward graduation with the least amount of delay and difficulty. Note that all three General Studies awareness areas are required. Consult your advisor for an approved list of courses.
General education requirements for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication follow.
Humanities and Fine Arts. Three to six semester hours are required for a total of nine semester hours when combined with university General Studies.
Social and Behavioral Sciences. Six to nine semester hours are required for a total of 15 when combined with university General Studies.
Additional courses may be taken in each of the groups and from the electives listed to complete the total of 51 semester hours required by the school.
Within the program there are specific course requirements. Students are required to take one course in each of the following areas: communication (applied speech), computer science, economics, English composition (beyond the freshman level), English literature, history, mathematics (numeracy requirement), two natural science lab courses, philosophy, political science (either POS 110 or 310), psychology, and statistics.
MINOR IN MASS COMMUNICATION
The faculty in the School of Journalism and Telecommunication offer a minor in Mass Communication consisting of required course MCO 120 Media and Society, and 12 additional semester hours of upper-division Main campus resident credit taken from a list of approved courses. The following courses are included:
| MCO 418 | History of Communications SB, H (3) |
| MCO 430 | International Communication G (3) |
| MCO 450 | Visual Communication HU (3) |
| MCO 456 | Political Communication SB (3) |
| MCO 460 | Race, Gender, and Media C (3) |
| MCO 494 | Special Topics (3) |
The student must be at least a sophomore (25 semester hours) to take upper-division courses, must maintain a minimum 2.00 overall GPA to pursue the minor in Mass Communication, and must obtain a minimum “C” grade in each course in the minor.
GRADUATE PROGRAM
Master of Mass Communication. The curriculum for the M.M.C. degree is designed to help students achieve intellectual and professional growth, to prepare students for positions in the mass media, and to provide a background to enable those currently in the media to advance their careers. Information on the Master of Mass Communication program is detailed in the Graduate Catalog.
Omnibus Courses: See omnibus courses that may be offered.
1998–99 General Catalog Table of Contents
Page Last Updated: