UNT Undergraduate Catalog
Department of Journalism

Main Departmental Office
General Academic Building, 102
P.O. Box 305280
Denton, TX 76203-5280
(940) 565-2205
Fax: (940) 565-2370

Richard H. Wells, Chair

Faculty

Professors Wells, Westmoreland. Associate Professors Albright, Busby, Kim, Land. Assistant Professors Broyles, Carstarphen, Kiker, Owens, Reichert, Zavoina. Lecturers Lambiase, Spencer. Journalist in Residence Shelton.

Introduction

Journalism concentrations prepare students to work in the fields of reporting, editing, design and photography on newspapers; reporting and editing news for radio and television stations; staff and freelance writing for magazines; advertising in agencies, profit and nonprofit organizations, and media; public relations in agencies, and profit and nonprofit organizations; business journalism; teaching in secondary schools; and desktop publishing.

Programs also are designed to educate students broadly; to develop their abilities to analyze, evaluate and inform; and to consider the ethical implications of mass communication and its impact in today's world.

All journalism concentrations except advertising require completion of two courses of work as beat reporters on The North Texas Daily, the campus newspaper. Students in the broadcast news concentration take one course in broadcast news writing and have the opportunity to work at KNTU, the campus radio station, and in the campus television studio. Students in the advertising concentration must complete one course of reporting and one of advanced advertising copywriting.

Practicums and internships provide additional experience in mass media, advertising and public relations agencies, and corporate offices and media sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and elsewhere in the state and nation.

Keyboard Ability Requirement

Upon enrollment in JOUR 2310, Newspaper Reporting and Writing, a student must submit evidence of proficiency in keyboard ability. This may be in the form of a certificate of completion of a typing test indicating at least 35 wpm from an accredited public school or college or from a journalism department typing examination to be scheduled once each fall and spring semester, and summer term.

Programs of Study

The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:

Bachelor of Arts,
Bachelor of Science, and
Master of Arts, all with a major in journalism;
Master of Journalism ; and
concentrations at the undergraduate level in advertising, broadcast news, business journalism, news writing-editorial, photojournalism and public relations.

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science

A student majoring in journalism may earn either the BA or BS degree, each requiring a minimum of 128 semester hours. General requirements for the BA are given in the College of Arts and Sciences section and under "University Core Curriculum Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog. General requirements for the BS are the same, including the arts and sciences core; however, some alternative courses are available for some of the core requirements.

For the BS degree, a concentration in a field outside journalism may be fulfilled in one of two ways: (1) two 18-hour concentrations, each including at least 6 advanced hours; or (2) one 30-hour concentration, including at least 18 advanced hours, with courses approved in advance by the Department of Journalism. All BS students must take MATH 1680 rather than MATH 1600 or 1650.

The University Core Curriculum competence requirement in oral communication is met by the 33-hour major in journalism.

Major in Journalism

The major in journalism requires at least 33 hours in journalism, including JOUR 1210 and 2310. No more than 38 hours of journalism or radio/television/film courses may be included in the major or counted toward the 128-hour degree. Because JOUR 1210, Survey of Mass Communication, may be used to fulfill a requirement in the University Core Curriculum, it is not counted in the 38-hour limit.

A grade of C or higher is required for all journalism courses to be applied toward these degree requirements.

No more than 12 semester hours of journalism credit will be accepted from a transfer student who is entering as a first-semester junior. For students transferring with 75 semester hours of credit or more, a maximum of 18 transfer journalism hours will be accepted for credit toward the bachelor's degree. Transfer students who minor in journalism must complete a minimum of 6 advanced hours at UNT; courses must be approved by a journalism adviser. A grade of C or higher is required for all journalism courses being transferred for degree credit, and all journalism transfer courses must be approved by the department.

JOUR 1210 normally is taken in the freshman year as a general background course. Students do not begin practical training in reporting until the sophomore year, following completion of freshman-level English.

Students must complete 12 hours of basic journalism courses as specified for their concentration with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 before enrolling in any other journalism courses. An advisory sheet for a degree plan cannot be prepared until at least 6 hours of the basic journalism course requirements have been completed. Enrollment in courses beyond the basic 12 hours will not be permitted until a degree plan is filed. Since JOUR 2310 is required of all journalism majors, it is the responsibility of each student to take this course as soon as possible, whether in a long semester or summer session.

The various concentrations each require the following basic journalism courses.

Advertising: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2020 and 2310
Broadcast News: JOUR 1210, 2310 and 2320, and RTVF 2200
Business Journalism: JOUR 1210, 2310 and 2320, and one course from 2010, 2700 and 3320
News Writing Editorial: JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320 and 2700
Photojournalism: JOUR 1210, 2310, 2320 and 2700
Public Relations: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2310 and 2320
Teaching: JOUR 1210, 2010, 2310 and 2320

Before the end of the sophomore year, students should select one of the concentrations offered and complete a degree advisory sheet in the journalism department office. Courses in the minor field for the Bachelor of Arts degree and for the fields of concentration for the Bachelor of Science degree must be approved in advance by the student's journalism adviser and the department chair. The advisory sheet is used by the College of Arts and Sciences office to prepare the student's official degree plan.

To graduate, seniors must successfully complete the seminar titled Conducting the Career Search. This seminar must be completed during the semester preceding the semester in which the student plans to graduate.

In addition to the general degree requirements given in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog, students majoring in journalism must fulfill the requirements of one of the following concentrations.