The state-of-the-art accredited journalism program at Stony Brook University is designed to prepare students for careers in today’s fast-paced, highly competitive media landscape. The streamlined curriculum requires 42 credits of JRN courses and offers an easy-to-navigate pathway to graduation.
The program focuses on digital journalism but holds fast to traditional journalistic values and skills that imbue an understanding of the role of the press in a democratic society and a passion for the public interest. The curriculum also provides the intellectual underpinnings students need to progress to graduate or professional degree programs.
It is designed to ensure that students build competencies in a sequential fashion. They will hone skills in journalistic storytelling and production, starting with two required digital journalism courses and a writing course. In turn, these prepare students for one of three upper-level digital journalism courses – specializing in text, audio or video, depending on their interests and ambitions. These courses offer advanced opportunities to mix sound, images and words into compelling multimedia packages. Students will also practice using social media as a reportorial tool and a presentation platform. Majors complete their production training in the senior capstone course, JRN 490, which satisfies the university’s experiential learning requirement.
The remaining required coursework provides a rich variety of challenging courses that explore news literacy, media law and ethics, mass communication history, the economics of media, global issues in journalism and data-driven storytelling. Students must also take two upper division three-credit journalism electives.
In addition, an 18-credit interdisciplinary concentration will provide students with an in-depth look at a specific academic area of their choosing. Students have the option of pursuing a minor or double major.
Through these experiences, journalism majors should develop into ethical, well-educated, well-spoken, resourceful, independent critical thinkers who understand the technical, cultural and intellectual challenges facing modern media.
Transfer students
Transfer courses will be evaluated individually for journalism equivalency by the Undergraduate Director.
Requirements for the Major
The major in journalism leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must earn a letter grade of C or higher in all required courses, including courses in the concentration, and Satisfactory or S in JRN internships, independent studies and workshops for these to count toward the major. Students may enroll in multiple internships up to 6 credits each. The total number of credits from all internships combined may not exceed 12. Variable-credit courses such as internships and independent studies must be taken for three credits or multiple courses must add up to three credits to count as a journalism elective. Otherwise, students must take another three-credit elective. Students may apply up to 6 credits from JRN internships and/or independent studies to the major and a total of 12 credits to general graduation requirements. Students who earn final grades of C- or lower twice in the same journalism course, or in three different journalism classes, will be dropped from the major. A finding of academic dishonesty in any journalism or mass communication course will result in a failing grade for that course. It can also result in dismissal from the journalism program or expulsion from the university.
Students may select one of four pre-designed concentrations created to explore broad topics – Public Affairs/Public Policy, Diversity and American Society, Global Issues and Perspectives, and Science and The Environment. Consult the undergraduate director to discuss a multidisciplinary concentration. At least nine credits, or three classes, of the 18 credits required of all concentrations must be at the upper-division level. Check prerequisites. Many of these courses also count toward SBC requirements. For a course to count toward the concentration, it must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
All journalism students should see a departmental advisor to plan their course programs. The following courses are required of all journalism majors; an asterisk denotes an online course:
1. Required Courses (36 credits):
Choose one of the following advanced skills courses, which must be completed before students can move on to JRN 490 : Senior Capstone Project, which requires U3/U4 standing:
After completing JRN 311 , JRN 312 , or JRN 313 , all majors must complete the following 400-level required course:
2. Required Electives (9 credits):
Students must complete two three-credit upper-division electives. Junior or Senior standing is required. Not all electives will be offered every semester. If students opt to take a variable credit course to complete their elective requirement, a minimum of 3 credits must be selected - or multiple courses must add up to three credits. Otherwise, students must take another three-credit elective. Students should consult their major advisor before enrollment for the semester begins.
Students can choose two courses from the following electives:
3. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Successful completion of JRN 490 , the Senior Capstone Project, will satisfy the SBC WRTD requirement as well as the Journalism major upper-division writing requirement.
4. Concentration in Outside Area
Students must declare a second major, a minor, or multidisciplinary concentration.
Students may select one of four pre-designed concentrations created to explore broad topics – Public Affairs/Public Policy, Diversity and American Society, Global Issues and Perspectives, and Science and The Environment. Students may design an 18-credit interdisciplinary concentration in an academic subject of their choosing. Consult the undergraduate director to discuss a customized multidisciplinary concentration. At least nine credits, or three classes, of the 18 credits required of all concentrations must be at the upper-division level. Check prerequisites. Many of these courses also count toward SBC requirements. With the permission of the undergraduate director, students may select courses other than the pre-approved courses listed below. For a course to count toward the concentration, it must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
The pre-designed multidisciplinary concentrations are as follows (complete 6 courses in any one area).
Science and the Environment
Students study trends, acquire foundational knowledge, and get multiple perspectives on science and environmental issues that will help them report insightfully in the future. See Bulletin course descriptions for details and prerequisites.
Diversity and American Society
Students study trends and acquire knowledge, insights, historical context, and multiple perspectives on important societal issues that will help them report insightfully in the future. See Bulletin course descriptions for details and prerequisites.
Public Affairs/Public Policy
Students study trends, acquire knowledge and historical context, and gain multiple perspectives on public policy issues that will help them report insightfully in the future. See Bulletin course descriptions for details and prerequisites.
Global Issues and Perspectives
Students study trends, acquire knowledge and historical context, and gain multiple perspectives on global issues that will help them report insightfully in the future. See Bulletin course descriptions for details and prerequisites.
Requirements for the Minor
Completion of the minor in Journalism requires 21 credits. Students must earn a letter grade of C or higher in all journalism courses and Satisfactory or S in JRN internships, independent studies and workshops for these to count toward the minor.
1. The following courses (12 credits) are required of minors:
2. Three journalism electives (9 credits) at or above the 300 level are required. Please check the above list under the “Requirements for the Major” for options. Electives require U3/U4 standing to enroll.
Minors are welcome to take additional journalism courses, but should consult with the Undergraduate Director.
| FRESHMAN |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 101 | 1 |
| WRT 102 | 3 |
|
JRN 101
|
3 |
| SBC | 3 |
|
SBC |
3 |
|
SBC
|
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 102 | 1 |
| COM 106 | 3 |
| JRN 116 | 3 |
|
POL 102 |
3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SOPHOMORE |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| COM 208 | 3 |
| JRN 216 | 3 |
| Multidisciplinary concentration** | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| JRN 217 | 3 |
| Miltidisciplinary concentration** | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| JUNIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| JRN 301 | 3 |
| COM 305* | 3 |
| JRN 311 OR 312 OR 312 | 3 |
|
Multidisciplinary concentration** |
3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| JRN 303 | 3 |
| Multidisciplinary concentration** | 3 |
| Upper-division JRN elective | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SENIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| COM 415 | 3 |
|
Multidisciplinary concentration** |
3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| JRN 490 | 3 |
|
Multidisciplinary
concentration** |
3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
NOTE: The sample course sequence is meant to be used as a example. Please consult a Journalism advisor to help plan a course schedule.
*Denotes an online course.
**Denotes courses for the required concentration or courses that count toward a minor or second major. Concentrations require 18 credits or six courses. Some minors and most second majors may require more credits. Please see an advisor.
Major and Minor in Journalism
School of Communication and Journalism
Dean: Dr. Laura Lindenfeld
Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Studies: Irene Virag
Office: Melville Library N-4004
Phone: (631) 632-7403
Website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/journalism
Email: socjadvising@stonybrook.edu
Advising: Visit SoCJ Undergraduate Advising for program resources and ways to connect with an advisor.