The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Degree
The BAJ is a liberal arts degree with a journalism major and concentrated study in one other subject.
The BAJ is a liberal arts degree with a journalism major and concentrated study in one other subject.
Students new to IU in Fall 2012 may download a course checklist in PDF format to help plan your classes. Also, the school suggests a course sequence for new students planning to pursue the B.A.J. degree.
If you matriculated before summer 2012, you'll need to consult these counseling guides:
If you matriculated before summer 2012, you'll need to consult these counseling guides:
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
One advanced writing course (3 credits):
- J303 Online Journalism
- J315 Feature Writing
- J341 Newspaper Reporting
- J342 Magazine Reporting
- J343 Broadcast News
- J349 Public Relations Writing
- J455 News Analysis and Opinion Writing
- And approved topics of J361, J360, J418 and J460
Two additional advanced skills courses (6 credits) from topics such as:
- J201 Reporting, Writing & Editing II
- J303 Online Journalism
- 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
- J362 Journalism Multimedia Storytelling
- J385 Television News
- J401 Depth Reporting and Editing
- 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
- J488 Agency Practicum (Agency 7)
- And approved topics of J261, J360, J418 and J460.
One research course (3 credits) from:
- J407 Newsgathering and the Law
- J409 Media Management
- J423 Public Opinion
- J428 Public Relations Management
- J438 Problems in Advertising
- J448 Global Journalism: Issues and Research
- J450 History of Journalism
- J462 History of 20th Century Photography
- J470 Broadcast Media Analysis
- And approved topics of J261, J360 and J460.
Plus:
- At least 11 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 percent of our students complete an outside field/second major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
General Education
For general education, we require:
- One English composition course
- One college-level mathematics course
- One statistics course
- Three Arts and Humanities courses
- Three Social and Historical courses
- Three Natural and Mathematical courses
- Two years of college-level foreign language
- Three cultural studies courses
