Journalism, BA

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Bachelor of Arts in Journalism · 45 credits

Catalog page

Typical path

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC ×3

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC ×2

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ SBC ×2

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ SBC ×3

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ SBC ×2

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ Upper-division JRN elective

+ SBC ×2

+ Upper-division JRN elective

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ SBC ×3

+ Multidisciplinary concentration

+ SBC ×3

All options

Hide courses not offered in

Required JRN Electives (9 credits)

Pick 3 courses · 29 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

ConcentrationScience and the Environment1 group of options

Pick 6 courses

42 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

None

ConcentrationDiversity and American Society1 group of options

Pick 6 courses

63 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

None

ConcentrationPublic Affairs/Public Policy1 group of options

Pick 6 courses

54 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

None

ConcentrationGlobal Issues and Perspectives1 group of options

Pick 6 courses

61 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

None

Required Courses (36 credits)

JRN 101News Literacy3 cr
COM 106Introduction to Mass Media3 cr
JRN 116Introduction to Digital Journalism3 cr
COM 208Mass Communication3 cr
JRN 216Intermediate Digital Journalism3 cr
JRN 217Journalistic Reporting and Writing3 cr
JRN 301The Changing News Business3 cr
COM 305Mass Communication Law & Ethics3 cr
POL 102Introduction to American Government3 cr
- JRN 303Global Issues in Journalism3 cr
- or
  JRN 339Foreign Reporting3 cr
- JRN 311Advanced Digital Journalism - Text3 cr
- or
  JRN 312Podcasting, Radio, and Storytelling3 cr
- or
  JRN 313Advanced Digital Journalism - Audio-Visual3 cr
JRN 490Journalism Senior Project3 cr

Catalog text

JRN 101 - News Literacy; COM 106 - Introduction to Mass Media *; JRN 116 - Introduction to Digital Journalism; COM 208 - Mass Communication *; JRN 216 - Intermediate Digital Journalism; JRN 217 - Journalistic Reporting and Writing (this course can be taken before, after or in the same semester as JRN 216); JRN 301 - The Changing News Business; COM 305 - Mass Communication Law & Ethics *; POL 102 - Introduction to American Government; Choose one of the following: JRN 303 - Global Issues in Journalism OR JRN 339 - Foreign Reporting; Choose one of the following advanced skills courses, which must be completed before students can move on to JRN 490: JRN 311 - Advanced Digital Journalism - Text; JRN 312 - Podcasting, Radio, and Storytelling; JRN 313 - Advanced Digital Journalism - Audio-Visual; After completing JRN 311, JRN 312, or JRN 313, all majors must complete the following 400-level required course: JRN 490 - Journalism Senior Project

Required JRN Electives (9 credits)

Choose 3 courses

COM 306Modes of Media Criticism3 cr
COM 307Critical Media Theory3 cr
COM 316Mass Communication Research Methods3 cr
COM 317Mass Communication Theory3 cr
JRN 319The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture3 cr
JRN 322Working Newsroom3 cr
JRN 334Science and Health Reporting3 cr
JRN 335Reporting in New York City3 cr
JRN 336Sports Reporting3 cr
JRN 337Introduction to Narrative Journalism3 cr
JRN 340Beat Reporting3 cr
COM 346Race, Class, and Gender in Media3 cr
JRN 363Magazine Writing3 cr
JRN 364Advanced Reporting3 cr
COM 365Talking Science3 cr
JRN 366Press & the Presidency3 cr
JRN 367Opinion Journalism3 cr
JRN 368Broadcast Engineering and Control Room Operation3 cr
JRN 390Special Topics in Journalism3 cr
JRN 413Journalisms of the Global South3 cr
COM 415Data Analysis and Storytelling3 cr
JRN 433Journalistic Book and Serial Narrative Production3 cr
JRN 434Photojournalism3 cr
JRN 435Journalism Without Walls3 cr
COM 436Environmental Communication3 cr
JRN 438Weathercasting & Environmental Reporting3 cr
JRN 487Independent Study0–6 cr
JRN 488Journalism Internship0–6 cr
JRN 489Journalism Specialized Internship0–6 cr

At most 6 credits from JRN 487, JRN 488, JRN 489.

Catalog text

Students must complete three three-credit upper-division electives. Junior or Senior standing is required. Students can choose three courses from the following electives: COM 306; COM 307; COM 316; COM 317; JRN 319; JRN 322; JRN 334; JRN 335; JRN 336; JRN 337; JRN 340; COM 346; JRN 363; JRN 364; COM 365; JRN 366; JRN 367; JRN 368; JRN 390; JRN 413; COM 415; JRN 433; JRN 434; JRN 435; COM 436; JRN 438; JRN 487 (0-6 credits); JRN 488 (0-12 credits); JRN 489 (0-6 credits). Students may apply up to 6 credits from JRN internships and/or independent studies to the major.

Concentration in Outside Area (18 credits)

One concentration

Science and the Environment
Choose 6 courses
ATM 102Weather and Climate3 cr
ATM 237World Climate and Atmosphere3 cr
BIO 103Introduction to Biotechnology3 cr
BIO 113General Ecology3 cr
BIO 115Evolution and Society3 cr
BIO 201Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems3 cr
BIO 353Marine Ecology3 cr
BIO 358Biology and Human Social and Sexual Behavior3 cr
BIO 386Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment3 cr
CHE 115Chemistry, Life, and Environment3 cr
ECO 373Economics of Environment and Natural Resources3 cr
ENS 101Prospects for Planet Earth3 cr
ENS 301Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies3 cr
ENS 311Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment3 cr
ENS 312Population, Technology, and the Environment3 cr
ENS 333Environmental Law3 cr
ENV 115Chemistry, Life, and Environment3 cr
EST 102Weather and Climate3 cr
EST 201Technological Trends in Society3 cr
EST 291Energy, Environment, and People3 cr
EST 330AI and Climate Change: Technologies for a Sustainable Future3 cr
GEO 101Environmental Geology3 cr
GEO 102The Earth3 cr
GEO 103The Earth Through Time3 cr
GEO 107Natural Hazards3 cr
GEO 304Energy, Mineral Resources, and the Environment3 cr
GEO 305Field Geology3 cr
GEO 311Geoscience and Global Concerns3 cr
GEO 313Understanding Water Resources for the 21st Century3 cr
HIS 365Environmental History of North America3 cr
HIS 399Topics in U.S. History3 cr
MAR 101Long Island Sound: Science and Use3 cr
MAR 104Oceanography3 cr
MAR 340Environmental Problems and Solutions3 cr
PHI 366Philosophy of the Environment (III)3 cr
PHY 113Physics of Sports3 cr
PHY 237World Climate and Atmosphere3 cr
POL 333Environmental Law3 cr
SBC 111
SOC 315Sociology of Technology3 cr
SOC 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
SOC 344Environmental Sociology3 cr
WST 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
At least 3 from BIO 353, BIO 358, BIO 386, ECO 373, ENS 301, ENS 311, ENS 312, ENS 333, EST 330, GEO 304, GEO 305, GEO 311, GEO 313, HIS 365, HIS 399, MAR 340, PHI 366, POL 333, SOC 315, SOC 340, SOC 344, WST 340.
Diversity and American Society
Choose 6 courses
AAS 102Eastern Religions3 cr
AAS 250Languages and Cultures of Asian Americans3 cr
AAS 280Islam3 cr
AAS 334English in Asia3 cr
AAS 338Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Diplomacy3 cr
AFH 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
AFS 277The Modern Color Line3 cr
AFS 310American Attitudes Toward Race3 cr
AFS 319The Politics of Race3 cr
AFS 325Civil Rights and Black Power3 cr
AFS 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
AFS 363The Black Experience in Mass Media3 cr
AFS 394Black Nationalism in America3 cr
AMR 102Making American Identities3 cr
AMR 301Ethnicity and Race in American History3 cr
ANT 203Native Americans3 cr
CLT 235American Pluralism in Film and Literature3 cr
EGL 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
EST 330AI and Climate Change: Technologies for a Sustainable Future3 cr
HIS 277The Modern Color Line3 cr
HIS 287Crime and Criminal Justice in the U.S.3 cr
HIS 325Civil Rights and Black Power3 cr
HIS 362Unsettled Decade: The Sixties3 cr
HIS 368Health and Disease in Africa3 cr
HIS 396Topics in U.S. History3 cr
HUI 336Italian Americans and Ethnic Relations3 cr
LIN 101Human Language3 cr
LIN 200Language in the United States3 cr
LIN 250Languages and Cultures of Asian Americans3 cr
PHI 105Politics and Society (II)3 cr
PHI 383
POL 101World Politics3 cr
POL 102Introduction to American Government3 cr
POL 320Constitutional Law and Politics: United States3 cr
POL 330Gender Issues in the Law3 cr
RLS 102Eastern Religions3 cr
RLS 280Islam3 cr
SOC 105Introduction to Sociology3 cr
SOC 204Intimate Relationships3 cr
SOC 243Sociology of Youth3 cr
SOC 247Sociology of Gender3 cr
SOC 248Social Problems in Global Perspective3 cr
SOC 302American Society3 cr
SOC 303Social Inequality3 cr
SOC 304Sociology of the Family3 cr
SOC 310Racism and Ethnic Relations3 cr
SOC 315Sociology of Technology3 cr
SOC 330Media and Society3 cr
SOC 336Social Change3 cr
SOC 337Social Deviance3 cr
SOC 338The Sociology of Crime3 cr
SOC 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
SOC 348Global Sociology3 cr
SOC 378
SOC 380Social Psychology3 cr
SOC 390Special Topics3 cr
WST 102Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies in the Social Sciences3 cr
WST 103Gender, Culture, and Difference3 cr
WST 247Sociology of Gender3 cr
WST 310Contemporary Feminist Issues3 cr
WST 330Gender Issues in the Law3 cr
WST 335
WST 347Women and Politics3 cr
WST 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
WST 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
WST 383
WST 399Topics in Gender and Sexuality3 cr
At least 3 from AAS 334, AAS 338, AFH 382, AFS 310, AFS 319, AFS 325, AFS 350, AFS 363, AFS 394, AMR 301, EGL 382, EST 330, HIS 325, HIS 362, HIS 368, HIS 396, HUI 336, PHI 383, POL 320, POL 330, SOC 302, SOC 303, SOC 304, SOC 310, SOC 315, SOC 330, SOC 336, SOC 337, SOC 338, SOC 340, SOC 348, SOC 378, SOC 380, SOC 390, WST 310, WST 330, WST 335, WST 347, WST 350, WST 382, WST 383, WST 399.
Public Affairs/Public Policy
Choose 6 courses
ATM 102Weather and Climate3 cr
AFS 325Civil Rights and Black Power3 cr
AFS 339Recent African American History3 cr
AMR 102Making American Identities3 cr
ANT 310Environments, Ecosystems and Evolution: Evidence from the Turkana Basin3 cr
BUS 348Principles of Marketing3 cr
ECO 108Introduction to Economics4 cr
ECO 303Intermediate Microeconomic Theory4 cr
ECO 305Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory4 cr
ECO 360Money and Banking3 cr
ENS 333Environmental Law3 cr
EST 102Weather and Climate3 cr
EST 201Technological Trends in Society3 cr
EST 330AI and Climate Change: Technologies for a Sustainable Future3 cr
GEO 105Energy Resources in Transition3 cr
HIS 104United States Since 18773 cr
HIS 325Civil Rights and Black Power3 cr
HIS 339Recent African American History3 cr
HIS 378
HIS 396Topics in U.S. History3 cr
HUI 236The Italian-American Scene3 cr
HUR 249Russia Today3 cr
LIN 200Language in the United States3 cr
MAR 340Environmental Problems and Solutions3 cr
PHI 105Politics and Society (II)3 cr
PHI 113Philosophical Engineering3 cr
POL 101World Politics3 cr
POL 102Introduction to American Government3 cr
POL 103Introduction to Comparative Politics3 cr
POL 309Politics in the European Union3 cr
POL 317American Election Campaigns3 cr
POL 318Voters and Elections3 cr
POL 319Business Law3 cr
POL 320Constitutional Law and Politics: United States3 cr
POL 322The Presidency in the American Political System3 cr
POL 323U.S. Congress3 cr
POL 324American Political Parties and Pressure Groups3 cr
POL 325Civil Liberties and Civil Rights3 cr
POL 327Urban Politics3 cr
POL 332Politics of Criminal Due Process3 cr
POL 333Environmental Law3 cr
POL 336U.S. Foreign Policy3 cr
POL 346Political Psychology3 cr
POL 359Public Policy and Administration3 cr
POL 367Mass Media in American Politics3 cr
SOC 105Introduction to Sociology3 cr
SOC 200Medicine and Society3 cr
SOC 247Sociology of Gender3 cr
SOC 302American Society3 cr
SOC 336Social Change3 cr
SOC 337Social Deviance3 cr
SOC 338The Sociology of Crime3 cr
SOC 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
SOC 378
SOC 386
WST 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
WST 247Sociology of Gender3 cr
At least 3 from AFS 325, AFS 339, ANT 310, BUS 348, ECO 303, ECO 305, ECO 360, ENS 333, EST 330, HIS 325, HIS 339, HIS 378, HIS 396, MAR 340, POL 309, POL 317, POL 318, POL 319, POL 320, POL 322, POL 323, POL 324, POL 325, POL 327, POL 332, POL 333, POL 336, POL 346, POL 359, POL 367, SOC 302, SOC 336, SOC 337, SOC 338, SOC 340, SOC 378, SOC 386, WST 340.
Global Issues and Perspectives
Choose 6 courses
AAS 201Introduction to the Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent3 cr
AAS 216Introduction to Japanese Studies3 cr
AAS 250Languages and Cultures of Asian Americans3 cr
AAS 280Islam3 cr
AAS 372Family, Marriage, and Kinship in China3 cr
AFH 339Arts of the African Diaspora3 cr
AFH 390Topics in Africana Studies3 cr
AFS 221Introduction to Modern African History3 cr
AFS 240Issues in Caribbean Society3 cr
AFS 319The Politics of Race3 cr
AFS 337The Politics of Africa3 cr
AFS 346Political and Social History of Africa3 cr
AFS 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
AFS 365Global Africa3 cr
AFS 375Slavery3 cr
AMR 101Local and Global: National Boundaries and World-Systems3 cr
ANT 250African Cultures Today3 cr
ARH 329Arts of the African Diaspora3 cr
ATM 237World Climate and Atmosphere3 cr
EST 330AI and Climate Change: Technologies for a Sustainable Future3 cr
EUR 101Foundations of European Culture3 cr
GEO 101Environmental Geology3 cr
GEO 311Geoscience and Global Concerns3 cr
HIS 102Modern European History, 18th c. to the Present3 cr
HIS 214Modern Latin America3 cr
HIS 221Introduction to Modern African History3 cr
HIS 227Islamic Civilization & Muslim Societies3 cr
HIS 281Global History and Geography3 cr
HIS 341
HIS 346
HIS 353Postwar Japan3 cr
HIS 378
HIS 393Topics in Modern European History3 cr
HIS 397Topics in History of U.S. Immigration and Ethnicity3 cr
HUF 219Modern France3 cr
HUI 239Transnational Italies3 cr
HUI 336Italian Americans and Ethnic Relations3 cr
HUI 338Images of Italian Americans in Film3 cr
HUR 249Russia Today3 cr
HUS 254Latin America Today3 cr
HUS 255Modern Spain3 cr
LIN 250Languages and Cultures of Asian Americans3 cr
PHY 237World Climate and Atmosphere3 cr
POL 101World Politics3 cr
POL 103Introduction to Comparative Politics3 cr
POL 214Modern Latin America3 cr
POL 309Politics in the European Union3 cr
POL 310Immigration and Refugee Politics3 cr
POL 311Introduction to International Law3 cr
POL 313Problems of International Relations3 cr
POL 336U.S. Foreign Policy3 cr
POL 337The Politics of Africa3 cr
POL 338Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Diplomacy3 cr
POL 350Contemporary European Political Theory3 cr
POL 374Global Issues in the United Nations3 cr
RLS 280Islam3 cr
SOC 105Introduction to Sociology3 cr
SOC 248Social Problems in Global Perspective3 cr
SOC 348Global Sociology3 cr
SOC 364Sociology of Latin America3 cr
SOC 365Global Africa3 cr
SOC 374Global Issues in the United Nations3 cr
SOC 378
SOC 386
WST 301Histories of Feminism3 cr
WST 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
At least 3 from AAS 372, AFH 339, AFH 390, AFS 319, AFS 337, AFS 346, AFS 350, AFS 365, AFS 375, ARH 329, EST 330, GEO 311, HIS 341, HIS 346, HIS 353, HIS 378, HIS 393, HIS 397, HUI 336, HUI 338, POL 309, POL 310, POL 311, POL 313, POL 336, POL 337, POL 338, POL 350, POL 374, SOC 348, SOC 364, SOC 365, SOC 374, SOC 378, SOC 386, WST 301, WST 350.
Second major or minor
All of
Self-designed
All of

Catalog text

Students must declare a second major, a minor, or an interdisciplinary concentration. Students may design an 18-credit interdisciplinary concentration in an academic subject of their choosing. Nine credits, or three classes, of the 18 credits required of all concentrations must be at the upper-division level. Students may also select one of four pre-designed concentrations created to explore broad topics - Public Affairs/Public Policy, Diversity and American Society, Global Issues and Perspectives, and Science and The Environment (complete 6 courses in any one area).

Sample schedule

Year 1 · Fall16 cr

First Year Seminar 1011
WRT 102Intermediate Writing Workshop3
JRN 101News Literacy3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 1 · Spring16 cr

First Year Seminar 1021
COM 106Introduction to Mass Media3
JRN 116Introduction to Digital Journalism3
POL 102Introduction to American Government3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 2 · Fall15 cr

COM 208Mass Communication3
JRN 216Intermediate Digital Journalism3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 2 · Spring15 cr

JRN 217Journalistic Reporting and Writing3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 3 · Fall18 cr

JRN 301The Changing News Business3
COM 305Mass Communication Law & Ethics3
JRN 311 / JRN 312 / JRN 313Advanced Digital Journalism - Text3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 3 · Spring15 cr

JRN 303Global Issues in Journalism3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
Upper-division JRN elective3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 4 · Fall15 cr

Upper-division JRN elective3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 4 · Spring15 cr

JRN 490Journalism Senior Project3
Multidisciplinary concentration3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3

Program rules

Letter grades
Courses in “Required Courses (36 credits)”, “Required JRN Electives (9 credits)”, “Concentration in Outside Area (18 credits)” must be taken for a letter grade.
Minimum grade
C or higher in “Required Courses (36 credits)”, “Required JRN Electives (9 credits)”, “Concentration in Outside Area (18 credits)”.
Minimum grade
C or higher in “Concentration in Outside Area (18 credits)”.

Stony Brook Curriculum

EXP+ satisfied by

JRN 490Journalism Senior Project3 cr

Catalog text

Majors complete their production training in the senior capstone course, JRN 490, which satisfies the university's experiential learning requirement.

WRTD satisfied by

JRN 490Journalism Senior Project3 cr

Catalog text

Successful completion of JRN 490, the Senior Capstone Project, will satisfy the SBC WRTD requirement as well as the Journalism major upper-division writing requirement.

Notes

Advising: All journalism students should see a departmental advisor to plan their course programs. The sample course sequence is an example; consult a Journalism advisor to plan a schedule.
Note: Transfer courses will be evaluated individually for journalism equivalency by the Undergraduate Director.
Note: Journalism majors may not declare a second major or minor in Mass Communication (CMM). They may double major in Communication (COM) but cannot get credit for the same electives. They may minor in Communication and Innovation (CBI).
Grading: JRN internships, independent studies and workshops must be taken for Satisfactory (S) to count toward the major.
Note: A finding of academic dishonesty in any journalism or mass communication course will result in a failing grade for that course and may result in dismissal from the journalism program or expulsion from the university.
SBC: The Upper-Division Writing Requirement is satisfied by completing JRN 490, the Senior Capstone Project, which also satisfies the SBC WRTD requirement. Students should consult the department advisor about General Education requirements.
Note: The program page lists the Journalism major as 45 credits. The sample sequence rows for Junior Fall total more than the 15 credits printed on the page; follow the course list, not the printed totals.
Note: Internship limits: students may enroll in multiple internships of up to 6 credits each, with no more than 12 credits of internships in total. Up to 6 credits from JRN internships and/or independent studies may be applied to the major, and up to 12 credits to general graduation requirements. The 6-credit major cap is enforced on the elective requirement; the 12-credit general cap is not checked.
Grading: Students who earn final grades of C- or lower twice in the same journalism course, or in three different journalism classes, will be dropped from the major.