Undergraduate Program

Here’s what it takes to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Reynolds School of Journalism:
Getting enrolled
“Journalism is not primarily about news and information,” says Reynolds School of Journalism Dean Cole Campbell. “It’s primarily about figuring things out.” At the Reynolds School of Journalism, our programs are designed to get students thinking about journalistic practices in the 21st Century—what methods are working well and what traditional ideas may deserve another look.	At the Reynolds School of Journalism, we value critical thinking and exploration of public media issues. We’re committed to encouraging diversity of ideas, faculty and students—and to creating an environment where excellence in teaching and research is recognized and rewarded. Sound interesting? Welcome to journalism. If you'd like to discuss our undergraduate program with someone, please contact Paul Mitchell (pmitchel@unr.nevada.edu) at 775-784-4563. back to top
Undergraduate majors
In your freshman and sophomore years, you’ll be a journalism pre-major. You’ll be eligible to take Journalism 101, 102 and 203 before being formally admitted to the RSJ journalism program. During these first two years of your university education, you should be working on getting your core curriculum requirements completed—and making sure that you can satisfy the journalism school’s foreign language requirement. After taking Journalism 203, you need to fill out an application and be admitted to the program before taking 204.	To be admitted to the program, you need to have sophomore standing with an overall UNR grade point average of 2.5 or higher and a journalism grade point average of 2.5 or higher. You need to earn grades of a C or better in 101, 102 and 203. Journalism majors must maintain these GPAs to continue taking classes in the program. Journalism majors who fail to meet the GPA requirement for two successive semesters will be suspended from the major and may not take further journalism courses until their grades rise to the standard. (The dean of journalism can grant written permission to proceed on a semester-by-semester basis if good progress is shown.) Best advice: Study hard. Pay attention to deadlines. Hold yourself to high expectations.
Core curriculum
These are the core classes that all students have to take to earn a journalism degree at RSJ. Whether you’d like to pursue a career in advertising, broadcast journalism or newspaper reporting, you’ll have to master the skills taught in these classes first. Journalism 101 Critical Analysis of Mass Media A healthy dose of media literacy to get you cruising down the pop culture-strewn highway toward the land of clear thinking. Journalism 102 News Reporting & Writing In this class, you’ll learn how to gather, organize and report information. Prepare for a challenge. Journalism 203 Writing Across Media Whether you want to create engaging advertisements, to deftly handle corporate communications or to become a watchdog of democracy in newspapers or television, the journey continues here.	Journalism 204 Media Production Learn to use images, video, sound and text to create engaging media products. Journalism 305 Media Ethics Learn to identify, consider and resolve ethical problems in journalism. Journalism 401 The First Amendment & Society Ah, Freedom of the Press—an essential component of American democracy that we hope you’ll come to love as much as we do. Journalism 499 Professional Internship Put classroom ideas into practice in the professional realm by going to work for a newspaper, TV station, ad agency or public relations firm. back to top
Print journalism
After completing core journalism classes, you’ll need 15 more credits that focus on your chosen emphasis and other selected electives. Print emphasis courses Journalism 310 Advanced Reporting Hone your interviewing and writing skills while learning to interpret the oft-perplexing array of events and information confronting your audience.	Journalism 411 News Editing Associated Press style, headlines and grammar—oh my! Journalism 453 Online Reporting & Editing Explore brave new frontiers of journalistic story-telling for a broad Web-based audience. back to top
Broadcast journalism
After completing core journalism classes, you’ll need 15 more credits that focus on your chosen emphasis and other selected electives. Broadcast journalism courses Journalism 323 Radio News & Production Broadcast news writing and production culminating in radio news programs and documentaries.	Journalism 421 Television News & Production I TV news formats, writing, video journalism and TV news editing. Journalism 423 Television News & Production II An extension of 421 including regular TV newscast productions, advanced TV reporting, anchoring and producing. back to top
Public Relations
After completing core journalism classes, you’ll need 15 more credits that focus on your chosen emphasis and other selected electives. Public relations courses Journalism 341 Public Relations Principles for IMC Learn the principles behind public relations efforts in today’s society.	Journalism 441 Public Relations Problems for IMC Get hands-on experience developing a public relations strategy for a local non-profit organization. Journalism 442 Public Relations Case Studies for IMC Learn how corporate communicators have handled specific public relations tasks. back to top
Advertising
After completing core journalism classes, you’ll need 15 more credits that focus on your chosen emphasis and other selected electives. Advertising courses Journalism 331 Introduction to Advertising for IMC You've seen, heard and been targeted by them all of your life. Now start learning how and why ads are created. Understand advertising as one weapon in the integrated marketing communication arsenal. Journalism 430 Advertising Media for IMC The most wonderful ads in the world won't work if they aren't seen or heard by the right people. Discover how to plan and buy media--TV, radio, billboards, online, skywriting and even personal tattoos--to reach the right people.	Journalism 431 Advanced Advertising for IMC If advertising were war, this would be officers' training. Develop strategies and learn how to make them happen. Journalism 432 Advertising Copywriting for IMC Creating ads is about words, pictures, music and whatever appeals to your audience. You'll develop a killer portfolio--or die trying. (Figuratively speaking.) Journalism 433 IMC Competition Join advertising, public relations and marketing students to prepare an integrated marketing communication plan for a real national or international client. Battle other top schools in the American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition. back to top
Journalism electives
Journalism 300 Visual Communication You see a dozen magazines in the grocery store check-out line. One catches your attention and you pick it up. Why? This course examines visual literacy, perception, cognition, aesthetics and design principles. Journalism 303 Media Graphics Study and practice using graphics and typography to create effective visual media products. Journalism 313 Photojournalism Use digital photography and computer technology to create photography that tells a story. Journalism 335 Corporate Communications Explore the media planning, selection, copy writing and graphic design that advance a corporate or non-profit organization’s public relations strategy. Journalism 413 History of Journalism Ben Franklin. William Randolph Hearst. Matt Drudge. A look at the roots of the journalistic craft from colonial press days to the Internet era. Journalism 418 Magazine Writing Emily Dickinson called publication “the auction of the mind of man.” Learn how to get some dough for your mind—that is, your published writing—in this class.	Journalism 434 Visual Persuasion for Advertising and IMC Probe the nature of images as a tool for persuasive media messages, like advertising. Journalism 450 Media Technologies & Society Examine the impact of public communication technologies on social discourse and public perceptions. Journalism 451 Interactive Media Study and produce multimedia products for websites. Journalism 481 Race, Gender & Media Explore the ways that media create and challenge social constructions of gender and race, with emphasis on women and minorities. Journalism 487 Leaders & Issues Visits from leading media professionals—national and local—give you an idea about what it’s like to run a newspaper, ad agency or Web site. Journalism 490 Special Problems Pursue a special interest in journalism. Under this course number, RSJ instructors offer a variety of intriguing courses that vary from semester to semester. Stay tuned for details. back to top

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