Undergraduate Programs
Journalism >> Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate Programs
American University has been turning out high-profile journalists since 1929. Our Journalism Division puts a strong focus on Public Affairs and investigative journalism. Students regularly hit the Hill, the embassies, or K Street, home to DC's many lobbyists, law firms and think tanks.
Upon completion of the two core foundation courses, students put in time reporting and editing The Eagle, AU's student-run newspaper, or publishing in The American Observer, SOC's weekly, online magazine. Juniors and seniors routinely take on internships at such powerhouses as The Washington Post and USA Today, gaining valuable experience and often earning bylines and clips while building impressive portfolios.
Our Journalism Division has former and current correspondents and editors from the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, AOL, Fox News, and U.S News and World Report -- all media organizations where our alumni are working.Broadcast
The School of Communication has offered courses in Broadcast Journalism for over 30 years. What better place to report news than the nation's capitol, where news is made every minute of every day?
Writing for Mass Communication, one of two core foundation courses, challenges students to master writing techniques for different media--print, broadcast and online. After that, the SOC experience takes a turn toward the practical--and sometimes frantic--as students write, shoot, edit and add sound bytes to news stories, all on deadline.
Our Broadcast Division boasts its own media production center, featuring AVID editing systems and the finest in video, audio and film equipment. Students can explore new media, like podcasting, video messaging and RSS feeds.
The School of Communication promotes a strong background in writing, communication theory and professional ethics, which leads to a rich, hands-on experience. Students graduate ready for a career in broadcasting with an impressive portfolio and a finished audition tape.
Journalism Degree Requirements
BA in Communication: Journalism
Major Requirements
Subject to the approval of an adviser, a maximum of 12 credit hours in communication transferred from another university may be substituted for required communication courses. Transfer students majoring in journalism are required to graduate with a total of 84 credit hours outside the field of communication.
Related Course Requirements
Students must complete the following with grades of C or better:
- 3 credit hours in American history (HIST-xxx)
- 3 credit hours in economics (ECON-xxx)
- A minor or second major outside the school of communication
Communication Course Requirement (36 credit hours)
- COMM-333 Fundamentals of TV and VCR (3)
- COMM-385 Broadcast Journalism I (3)
- COMM-401 Legal Aspects of Communication (3)
- COMM-428 Broadcast Journalism II (3)
- COMM-432 Television Field Reporting (3)
- Four courses from the following:
COMM-275/COMM-275G Dissident Media: Voices from the Underground 4:2 (3) or COMM-280/COMM-280G Contemporary Media in a Global Society 3:2 (3)
COMM-391 Internship (3) or COMM-392 Cooperative Educational Field Experience (3) or COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3)
COMM-396 Selected Topics course with permission of the students adviser (3)
COMM-433 Broadcast Delivery (3)
COMM-490 Independent Study Project (3)
COMM-503 Broadcast Operations and Management (3)
COMM-504 Journalism Ethics (3)
COMM-505 History of Broadcast Journalism(3)
COMM-508 The media and Govern ment (3)
COMM-509 Politics and the Media (3)
COMM-510 Women in Journalism (3)
COMM-511 History of Documentary (3) or
COMM-515 Children's Television (3)
COMM-514 Censorship and the media (3)
COMM-516 Special Topics in Visual media and Culture (3)
COMM-546 Foreign Policiy and the Press (3)
COMM-547 Great books in US Journalism (3)
COMM-596 Selected Topics course with permission of the students=s adviser (3)
COMM-599 Media, Technology and Society (3)
Print Journalism Track
- COMM-322 Editorial Policies and Methods (3)
- COMM-401 Legal Aspects of Communication(3)
- COMM-425 Advanced Reporting (3)
- Three courses from the following:
COMM-325 Feature Article Writing (3)
COMM-330 Basic Photography (3)
COMM-391 Internship (3) or
COMM-392 Cooperative Educational Field Experience (3) or
COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3)
COMM-502 In depth Journalism (3)
COMM-521 Opinion writing (3)
COMM-545 Business and Economic Journalism (3)
COMM-596 Selected Topics course with permission of the student=s adviser (3)
- Three courses from the following:
COMM-270/COMM-270G How the news media shaped History 2:2 (3) or COMM-275/COMM-275G Dissident Media: Voices from the Underground 4:2 (3) or COMM-280/COMM-280G Contemporary Media in a Global Society 3:2 (3)
COMM-396 Selected Topics course with permission of the students adviser (3)
COMM-490 Independent Study Project (3)
COMM-504 Journalism Ethics (3)
COMM-505 History of Broadcast Journalism(3)
COMM-508 The media and Govern ment (3)
COMM-509 Politics and the Media (3)
COMM-510 Women in Journalism (3)
COMM-511 History of Documentary (3) or
COMM-515 Children=s Television (3)
COMM-514 Censorship and the media (3)
COMM-516 Special Topics in Visual media and Culture (3)
COMM-546 Foreign Polic y and the Press (3)
COMM-547 Great books in US Journalism (3)
COMM-596 Selected Topics course with permission of the students' adviser (3)
COMM-599 Media, Technology and Society (3)
To view course descriptions for the courses listed above go the Registrar's Website.
