Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
The B.A.J. is a liberal arts degree with a journalism major and concentrated study in one other subject.
Students new to IU in Fall 2007 may download a course checklist in Microsoft Word format to help plan your classes. Also, the school suggests a course sequence for new students planning to pursue the B.A.J. degree.
Recently, the school changed some degree requirements. Students who entered IU before Fall 2007 are required to complete 31 credits in journalism. Students who entered IU in Fall 2007 or afterward complete 39 credits in journalism. Progress toward the degree should be monitored through OneStart.
- If you entered IU before Fall 2007, click this link to view the requirements for the journalism major.
- If you entered IU in Fall 2007 or afterward, here are the courses and course requirements to complete this degree:
Required journalism courses (16 credits) for the journalism major:
- J110 Foundations of Journalism and Mass Communication
- J155 Research Techniques for Journalists
- J200 Reporting, Writing & Editing I
- J210 Visual Communication
- J300 Communications Law
- J410 The Media as Social Institutions
Two advanced skills course (6 credits) from topics such as:
- J201 Reporting, Writing & Editing II
- J315 Feature Writing
- J341 Newspaper Reporting
- J342 Magazine Reporting
- J343 Broadcast News
- J344 Photojournalism Reporting
- J349 Public Relations Writing
- J351 Newspaper Editing
- J352 Magazine Editing
- J353 Advanced Broadcast News
- J354 Photojournalism Editing
- J385 Television News
- J401 Depth Reporting and Editing
- J413 Magazine Article Writing
- J420 Advertising as Communication
- J429 Public Relations Campaigns
- J444 Advanced Photojournalism
- J455 News Analysis and Opinion Writing
- J463 Graphic Design I
- J464 Infographics
- J465 Graphic Design II
One research course (3 credits) from:
- J407 Newsgathering and the Law
- J409 Media Management
- J414 International News Gathering Systems
- J423 Public Opinion
- J428 Public Relations Management
- J438 Problems in Advertising
- J450 History of Journalism
- J462 History of 20th Century Photography
- J470 Broadcast Media Analysis
Plus:
- At least 14 credits in journalism electives of your choice.
Second Concentration
We also require a second concentration, in-depth study in another area that isn’t mass communication. Twenty-four credit hours, about eight courses, are required for this part of the degree. About 20% of our students complete a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
General Education
For general education, we require:
- Two composition courses
- One college-level mathematics course
- Two years of college-level foreign language
- Three cultural studies courses
- Six courses total in Arts & Humanities, and Natural & Mathematical Sciences:
- One statistics course
- One economics course
- One course in U.S. History and American Political Science
- One Literature or Fine Arts History/Appreciation course
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