Magazine, News and Digital Journalism Curriculum

Experienced professionals on the faculty offer students practical training in reporting, writing, editing, social media, audience engagement, design, production and more. We bring the real world to you, in the form of internship opportunities built into the curriculum.

Choose the Magazine, News and Digital Journalism Track (37 credits) or the Sports Media and Communications Track (38 credits). Students in both tracks will take the same core journalism classes. Programs differ in electives and in the Capstone Experience.

Summer Session ll – All Students (7 credits):

MND 602 Journalism Ethics & Diversity Key ethical and diversity issues confronting journalists on all media platforms: digital, magazine, news, and social media. Evaluation of journalism standards and practices, especially when interests of audiences and revenue conflict. Case studies and media criticism.	1 credit
MND 605 News Writing and Reporting Learn the fundamentals of news reporting and writing, and polish them through writing a series of stories based in the local community.	3 credits
MND 641 Introduction to Data Journalism A hands-on introduction to data journalism, including data collection, data visualizations, data analysis, how to use data in journalistic stories, and other related skills.	3 credits

Fall Semester – All Students (9 credits):

MND 615 Enterprise Reporting and Writing Learn to find, report, and write enterprise stories using the beat system. Find and develop sources. Practice ethical journalism within the local community.	3 credits
MND 617 Multimedia Storytelling for Journalists Learn the basics of video and audio storytelling for web and mobile devices. Critical and conceptual analysis of how digital story experiences require new approaches, techniques, and strategies.	3 credits
MND 608 Magazine and News Editing Learn and practice the editorial skills required to work in media: editing and rewriting copy, identifying audiences, creating content across platforms, generating ideas, working with writers, story organization, writing display copy, fact checking.	3 credits

Spring Semester – All Students (3 credits):

COM 698 Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity.

3 credits

Magazine, News and Digital Journalism Track (18 credits):

Fall Semester (3 credits):

Elective (choose one)

3 credits

Spring Semester (9 credits):

Elective (choose three)

9 credits

Capstone (First Summer Session) (6 credits):

AJC 631 Capstone Arts Writing Workshop (6 credits) Capstone experience for graduate Arts, Style and Culture Journalism majors. Students will research, write, and revise substantive works of arts and style journalism in workshop environment. OR COM 670 Internship (3 credits) Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the program director, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing. AND COM 690 Independent Study (3 credits) Exploration of a problem, or problems, in depth. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor(s) and the department. Repeatable

6 credits

(Students may fulfill the requirement either by taking 6 credits in MND AJC 631 or by taking COM 670 plus COM 690 with program director approval.)

Sports Media & Communications Track (19 credits):

Summer Session ll (1 credit):

SMC 601 Sports Media & Communications Proseminar This class is an examination of the sports media field. Students will discuss career paths within the industry and the roles sports media professionals play.

1 credit

Spring and Fall Semesters (15 credits):

Sports Media & Communications Electives	15 credits
SMC students may take any combination of 1- and/or 3-credit courses over the fall and spring semesters to reach a total of 15 Sports Media & Communications elective credits. Students will choose their electives under the guidance of the Director of Sports Media & Communications.

First Summer Session (3 credits):

Capstone Experience SMC 675 Sports Media & Communications Practicum Provides students interested in sports media industry careers with a unique opportunity to intern with sports networks, production companies, content creators, and sports event broadcasters. Students will also meet with instructor throughout semester.

3 credits

Total Credits: 37-38