Journalism, Minor

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion	18

Purpose Statement

The Journalism Program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to tell compelling nonfiction stories across a variety of media platforms. We’ve built a strong foundation in the history, philosophy, and ethics of journalism, while emphasizing how these disciplines serve varied communities and facilitate the free flow of information essential in a democratic society. Our new curriculum will prepare students to cover breaking news and tell the types of stories that inform and resonate with local and global communities alike. These abilities equip students for careers in journalism, multimedia content creation, podcasting, radio, television, and public relations.

Students produce and publish journalism for real audiences through classwork and in our state-of-the-art Media Innovation Center, which integrates a digital newsroom, TV studio, and FM radio station. Internships and independent study projects allow students to report in-depth on subjects important to Flagstaff and the entire Northern Arizona region. This real-world experience promotes career success.

Our updated program was created with a goal to directly align with NAU’s emphasis on the success of underserved students, transfer students, and non-traditional students, regardless of ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or religion. We have streamlined the JLS program, eliminated the required minor, and established partnerships with community colleges to create a value proposition that promotes success for all of our students.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Conceptual
  • Appreciate and explain the role of journalism in society.
  • Synthesize foundational theories and journalism ethics to evaluate the newsworthiness of information used to create journalistic stories.
  • Demonstrate a strong foundation in the history, philosophy, laws, and ethics of journalism, and use this knowledge to appropriately evaluate what material should be included in their reporting work.
  • Through the practice of journalism, students will learn to analyze and evaluate potential ethical issues in real-world newsroom lab environments, and through internships.
  • Integrate and apply diversity principles by utilizing information and sources that reflect an understanding of cultural differences in storytelling and the effects of cultural, political, historical, religious, ideological, and economic forces on the dissemination of information.
• Practical
  • Demonstrate proficiency by preparing journalistic material that conforms to industry standards in style, design, and display.
  • Utilize and apply the fundamentals of storytelling and nonfiction narrative to a variety of traditional and innovative media platforms.
  • Produce complete news stories from concept to finished product under tight deadlines while choosing the appropriate media platform to tell the best story.
  • Identify and apply research and reporting techniques to assemble stories on local governments, police, courts, schools, and other public or citizen entities using the Freedom of Information Act and other tools.
  • Create and maintain their personal brand and use social media to promote their work.

Minor Requirements

• Take the following 18 units: 

  • JLS 105, JLS 131, JLS 205, JLS 231, JLS 232 (15 units)
  • Select from the following (3 units):
    • JLS 328W, JLS 335W

Additional Information

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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