Journalism

The Communications degree with a concentration in Journalism is designated as a “Pillar of Distinction” at West Liberty University. The program provides our students with the theory and practice for a rewarding career in journalism.

Reporting techniques, interviewing skills, basic and specialized writing, editing and design, visual presentation, and exposure to legal and ethical issues are studied. Our students also write, design and produce The Trumpet student newspaper in our state-of-the-art journalism computer lab.

The Bachelor of Science Communication: Journalism degree consists of 48 general studies credits, a required Communications core of 13 credits (4 courses), Journalism core of 12 credits and restricted electives of 15 credits (5 courses), and a minor to total 120 credits for degree completion.  Many students choose to take additional elective credits beyond the required totals.

JOURNALISM (track)

GENERAL STUDIES                                                                                      48

COMMUNICATIONS CORE                                                                      13

COM 201 Survey of Communications                                                   3

COM 401 Communication Theory                                                         3

COM 410 Communication Law and Ethics                                         4

Choose one from the following: 3
COM 311 Mass Media and Society

COM 323 Introduction to Cinema

COM 324 Documentary Film

JOURNALISM CORE                                                                                     12

COM 231 News Writing & Reporting                                                3

COM 232 Broadcast News Writing                                                    3

COM 413 Public Relations                                                                     3

Choose one of the following:                                                                3

COM 439 Professional Internship

COM 480 Capstone

Journalism Restricted Electives: 15

Choose five of these eight courses:

COM 322 Writing for Radio & TV                                                         3

COM 332 Feature Writing                                                                      3

COM 333 Editorial Writing                                                                    3

COM 334 Editing for Media                                                                   3

COM 337 Sports Reporting                                                                    3

COM 338 Investigative Journalism                                                     3

COM 359 Writing for the Web/Social Media                                     3

COM 434 Desktop Publishing                                                                3

MINOR and NON-COMMUNICATIONS CLASSES TO TOTAL               120

Journalism Program Requirements

1. Journalism majors must complete a minor of at least 18 hours. The minor cannot be in a Communications related field.
2. All students must meet COM requirements of an overall GPA of 2.5 and maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 to take upper level courses.

A minimum of 40 upper-level courses must successfully be completed.