Communication: Journalism (BA)

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Offered by the School of Communication .

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). Students should declare their major by the end of the sophomore year and no earlier than the end of their first semester.

Students who are unable to achieve a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA and declare a major in communication are not allowed to take courses in the School of Communication after they have completed 60 hours of undergraduate credit.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

42 credit hours with grades of C or better within the School of Communication , including at least 21 credit hours at or above 300-level
- With approval of the student’s advisor, up to 6 credit hours taken abroad may be applied toward the communication major requirements
- With approval of the student’s advisor, a maximum of 12 credit hours in communication transferred from another university may be substituted for required communication courses
Related requirements taken outside the School of Communication with grades of C or better:
Note: These courses are not included in the major GPA.
- Minor or second major outside the School of Communication
- 3 credit hours from ECON coursework
- 3 credit hours from United States history (HIST ) coursework
Minimum of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication
- Transfer students majoring in journalism are required to graduate with a total of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication
Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA

Course Requirements

Core (9 credit hours)

Professional Track (12 credit hours)

Complete one of the following tracks:

Broadcast Journalism

Required (12 credit hours)

Journalism

Required (9 credit hours)

Electives (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Media Studies (12 credit hours)

Required

Electives

Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Communication Electives (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Professional Track or Media Studies Electives:

Capstone (3 credit hours)

COMM-462 Journalism Capstone (3)

Related Requirements

Complete the following with grades of C or better:

Note: These courses are not included in the major GPA.

United States History

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Economics

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Outside Minor or Second Major

Minor or second major outside of the School of Communication

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.