• Undergraduate: A major in Multimedia Journalism and Public Relations can lead to the degree(s): Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science.
• Graduate: None

1. Goal(s)

• See the department for a listing of its goal(s).

2. The Major(s)

• The Department offers two majors: 1) Multimedia Journalism, and 2) Public Relations.  Within the Journalism major there is one emphasis: 1) Advertising.

The Minor(s)

• The Department offers four minors: 1) Advertising 2) Public Relations 3) Multimedia Journalism 4) Media Studies

A. Admissions Policy

• Students must meet with a faculty adviser in the Department of Journalism to be signed into most journalism classes. Students must have completed Journalism 141 to be admitted to any 300- or 400-level journalism classes.

B. Grade Point Average Requirements

• A minimum grade point average of 2.5, based on transcripts from all accredited colleges attended, is required. Students transferring to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be evaluated for grade point average on the same basis as University of Wisconsin Oshkosh continuing students. Students must receive at least a “C” in all prerequisite journalism courses. (This refers to Journalism classes only and does not include courses in other departments to be completed by students majoring or minoring in Journalism.)

C. Credit Hour Requirements

• Multimedia Journalism and Public Relations majors must complete 39 credits worth of journalism classes including required courses described in a later section.
• All Journalism minors must complete 24 credits.
• Journalism Professional Internship (Journalism 427) does not count toward meeting the 39 credit and 24 credit minimum.

D. Culminating Experience

• All majors must complete a culminating experience during their anticipated final semester before graduation.

E. General Education Prerequisites

• Students should complete WBIS 188 or its equivalent during their freshman or sophomore years.

F. Continuing Student Status

• Majors may take no more than three journalism courses during any term (excluding interim courses). Minors normally take no more than one upper-level journalism course during a term and no more than two journalism courses during any term. Exceptions may be granted by the chair of the department.

G. Appeals

• All appeals may be initiated through the chair of the Department of Journalism.

H. Non-Journalism Requirements

• The Department of Journalism recognizes the standards of and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), which specifies that journalism majors must earn 72 credits in courses outside of journalism and mass communications. Radio-TV-Film courses will not count toward the 72 credit requirement. English courses will count except for English 317 Technical Writing.
• Students who declare the major will have the accrediting requirement checked on their degree audit. The accreditation check is a graduation requirement for journalism majors.
• In applying the standard, the department will maintain flexibility in order to consider each student’s program and interests. Among courses that will not be considered to be outside the journalism and mass communication area are:
  • All courses offered by the Department of Journalism
  • Courses in other departments that duplicate the content of courses offered by the Department of Journalism.
  • Courses taken at other colleges or universities, which resemble the offerings above and for which transfer students may receive Journalism credits. Each such course will be assessed by the chair of the Department of Journalism as if the course were offered at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

1.  Media Studies Minor

Recommended for students who wish to supplement a major in another discipline.

• Required Credits: 24 minimum
• Required Courses:
  • Journalism: Journalism 141, 221, 251, 324
• Electives: 12 credits from the department’s offerings to meet the 24 credit minimum requirement of the minor. Journalism 412 Media Law is strongly recommended.  An earned grade of C (2.0) or better is required in any course serving as a prerequisite.

Comment: Students minoring in Media Studies should consult an adviser to arrange an appropriate program of electives.

2.  Advertising Minor

• Required Credits: 24 minimum
• Required Courses:
  • Journalism: Journalism 141, 221, 251, 250, 324, 351, 353
• Electives: Three credits from the department’s offerings to meet the 24 credit minimum requirement of the minor. The following courses do not count toward the minor: Journalism 340, 424, 427, 440, 455, 472.  An earned grade of C (2.0) or better is required in any course serving as a prerequisite.

Comment: Students minoring in Advertising should consult an adviser to arrange an appropriate program of electives.

3.  Public Relations Minor

• Required Credits: 24 minimum
• Required Courses:
  • Journalism: Journalism 141, 211, 221, 251, 315, 319, 324
• Electives: Three credits from the department’s offerings to meet the 24 credit minimum requirement of the minor. The following courses do not count toward the minor: Journalism 340, 424, 427, 440, 455, 472.  An earned grade of C (2.0) or better is required in any course serving as a prerequisite.

Comment: Students minoring in Public Relations should consult an adviser to arrange an appropriate program of electives.