Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2018-19 Mass Communication Handbook
2018-19 Mass Communication Handbook
MASS COMMUNICATION
HANDBOOK
OVERVIEW
Students interested in media careers will find themselves in the heart of it all at the Hubbard
School of Journalism & Mass Communication (HSJMC). Located in one of the nation’s top
media markets, the HSJMC is highly regarded among journalism schools. The School’s
connections to the dynamic Twin Cities media community provide students with opportunities to
learn from professionals in the field and to work in media organizations during school and
beyond. The award-winning and internationally renowned faculty earn high praise from students
for their teaching ability.
WHAT IS MASS COMMUNICATION?
Journalism and mass communication are a vital and seamless part of everyday life: online news,
social media, personalized advertising messages, branded content, and health information
campaigns are just a few examples of this field. Among other things, mass communicators
inform the public, help set agendas and public opinion, provide information about goods and
services and help people develop an understanding of social problems and make informed
decisions. Within the journalism major, there are three tracks that connect to different types of
work:
● Mass communication: research the economic, political, legal, and social aspects of mass
communication, including advanced graduate or professional study
The Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication is part of the College of Liberal Arts
and is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass
Communication (ACEJMC). Students who wish to major in journalism must apply for admission
to the HSJMC after they have been admitted to the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the
University of Minnesota. Students who plan to complete a degree in a college other than CLA
may add journalism as a second major or as a second degree.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are accepted twice each academic year, at the start of fall and spring semesters.
● Deadline for Spring 2019 admission to the major: Friday, September 14, 2018 at 4 p.m.
● Deadline for Summer/Fall 2020 admission to the major: Friday, February 1, 2019 at 4 p.m.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Students are eligible to apply for major status, once they have:
The admissions committee is looking for a GPA of 3.0 or higher, but will consider a GPA below
3.0 if other application materials demonstrate the applicant has the potential be successful in the
major.
Freshmen admitted to the University Honors Program will be directly admitted to the major if
they indicate their interest at the start of their first semester in JOUR 1001H.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
To apply for major status, you must submit the following items to 110 Murphy Hall by the
second Friday of the fall or spring semester:
1. An Application Form
2. A written Statement of Intent
3. A Sample Major Program Plan/Timeline
4. ACT/SAT or English Usage test scores.
In addition, the HSJMC Student Services office will pull your student course report, which lists
courses taken and grades earned at transfer institutions and at the University of Minnesota.
Before applying, be sure all your grades have been reported to your UMTC academic record.
To view more detailed information about the application process, including application
deadlines, visit: z.umn.edu/sjmcapply.
Preparatory Course – JOUR 1001 / JOUR 1001H: Media in a Changing World (3 cr)
Note: All students must earn a grade of “C” or better in JOUR 1001. For all other major
courses, including Supporting Courses, grades of “C-” or higher are required.
Core Course – JOUR 3004 / JOUR 3004H: Information for Mass Communication (3 cr)
Senior Project
For HSJMC majors, the CLA senior project is satisfied by two required courses on the Major
Program Plan/Timeline.
The mass communication track is designed for students who wish to pursue a liberal arts approach to the
study of mass communication institutions, processes, effects, research methods and analysis. It might serve
as preparation for a graduate degree, a law degree, MBA degree or it might serve as a terminal degree for
students who would like to work in communications-related industries in areas other than professional
message production. You may wish to develop a program emphasis in areas such as history, law, media
effects, media economics, international communications or other aspects of mass communication studies
represented in the HSJMC. Note: Prerequisites for journalism courses are enforced at registration.
Preparatory Course
Required: Jour 1001 Media in a Changing World
Core Course
Required: Jour 3004/Jour 3004H Information for Mass Communication
Context Courses
Required: 12 credits
History (choose one)
Jour 3007 The Media in American History and Law: Case Studies (once a year)
Jour 3614 History of Media Communication (once a year)
Jour 5601W History of Journalism (once a year)
Jour 5606W Literary Aspects of Journalism (spring only)
Senior Project: At least two context courses must be taken at the 4xxx or 5xxx level to fulfill
the CLA major project requirement.
Writing intensive requirement: at least one course in plan must be writing intensive.
Courses offered during May and Summer (all courses contingent on enrollment)
General Summer Session: Jour 3004, Jour 3201, Jour 3321, Jour 3751
TRANSFER COURSES
Students may transfer up to 12 credits into the major. All transfer courses need to be approved by
the department before they can be used for the major.
TIPS FOR SCHEDULING YOUR COURSES
● A minimum of four semesters will be required to include all major courses you have
taken or plan to take on your timeline (including the semester you take 1001).
● Start with the semester you enrolled in JOUR 1001 and take JOUR 3004 in the next
semester.
● Now schedule the context courses you will take to complete each of the following
requirements: History, International/Multicultural, Media Effects, Media and Society.
● Next, add the six additional context courses (18 credits) required to complete the mass
communication track. At least two 4/5XXX context courses must be included on your
plan and one course must be writing intensive. Up to three context courses (9 credits)
may be replaced with professional (skills) courses provided prerequisites have been met.
Check carefully to make certain you are scheduling your courses in semesters when they
are usually offered.
● Try not to schedule more than two professional courses or a total of three journalism
courses in any one semester.
● If you are planning to study abroad, indicate this on your timeline by writing “Study
Abroad” in the semester you think you will be going. Even if you do not know which
semester you plan to study abroad, indicate one. The timeline can be adjusted later.
● Very few major courses are offered during summer session. Be sure to check the course
availability list before scheduling a major course in summer session. Also, keep in mind
that summer courses may be cancelled if they are under enrolled.
YOU’VE BEEN ADMITTED! NOW WHAT?
After you have applied to the Journalism major and have been admitted to the program, you will
be required to attend a New Major Planning Session.
Prepare for the New Major Planning Session by doing the following:
● Familiarize yourself with the requirements for your major track
● Think about courses you might want to take by reviewing courses for different interest
areas and the lists of professional and context courses
● For those courses of interest to you, read the Course Profiles which can be found on the
HSJMC website. Course Profiles contain considerable information about prerequisites,
course objectives, competencies you will develop in the course and the types of
assignments and exams typically included in the course. Reading a variety of Course
Profiles will help you to understand how the courses fit together in the curriculum.
You are responsible for knowing these policies and procedures. You should contact the
Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication Student Services Center (110
Murphy Hall) with any questions.
Accreditation Requirement
A minimum of 72 credits in courses outside journalism and mass communication must be
completed in a 120-credit degree program.
Course Prerequisites
Check the online class schedule for journalism class prerequisites. If you register for a course
and you do not have the prerequisites, you will be required to drop the class. Most prerequisites
are enforced at registration.
Grades
You must take all major courses, including supporting courses, on an A-F grading basis. A grade
of C- or higher is required in all major courses. A grade of C or higher is required in JOUR 1001.
A minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 are required for graduation.
Grievances
Students who wish to appeal non-admission to the major, report discrimination or harassment, or
discuss other grievances should submit a written statement describing the grievance or incident
to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Except under unusual circumstances, the formal appeal
should be preceded by a discussion with the person or persons involved. Appeals should be
timely. You may also wish to contact the Student Conflict Resolution Center. Visit the SCRC
website at www.sos.umn.edu.
CONNECT WITH US
HSJMC on Facebook
facebook.com/umnhsjmc
HSJMC on Twitter
twitter.com/umn_hsjmc
Murphy Weekly
The Murphy Weekly is a weekly e-newsletter for undergraduate students. The newsletter
highlights internship and postings along with important upcoming HSJMC student events.
Subscribe to the Murphy Weekly here.