Advising
Looking and Planning Ahead
Course Requirements
These are the courses that you'll want to start planning your schedule around.
Media Technology Electives
During your second year, you'll want to choose two of the following media technology electives: 303, 338, 350, 378, 390, 403 and 410. Here's a brief description of each one.
JOUR 303 (Web Audio and Video): Concepts and technologies associated with bringing video, still images and audio online. Process of web-based audio and video creation, production and publication, from inception to publishing. Tip: Take this class if you want to learn more about producing and publishing audio and video-based content using a variety of web-enabled storytelling techniques.
JOUR 338 (Podcasting): Acquire and apply the skills to write, produce, edit, distribute, market and monetize a podcast. Lab experience includes writing and producing a podcast pilot and episodes.
JOUR 350 (Data Visualization): Introduction to the techniques of finding stories in data sets and presenting them visually via interactive online displays. Emphasis on adapting emerging tools for digital storytelling. Tip: Take this class if you want to learn more about transforming data into an interactive chart, graph, map etc. -- bringing important stories to light.
JOUR 378 (Sportscasting): Develop advanced skills in sports reporting and writing for broadcast, web and social media. Play-by-play. Job search in sports journalism. Field trip may be required. Course offered in hybrid format with classroom-based and online learning.
JOUR 390 (Visual Communication for the Mass Media): Theory and application of visual communication in today's media. Visual communication's power to inform, educate and persuade. Production of visual media across digital, broadcast and print platforms. Tip: Take this class if you want to learn more about Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and WordPress.
JOUR 403 (Multimedia Production for Public Relations and Advertising): Development of fundamentals pertaining to the technical and aesthetic proficiencies used in video communication for public service, public relations, marketing and advertising. All aspects of pitching, planning, production, editing and post-production in addition to historical and regulatory aspects of communication policy and mandates. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
JOUR 410 (Advanced Digital Journalism): Apply the theories and applications of digital journalism to the development and publication of innovative digital content. Tip: Take this class if you want to learn more about HTML, CSS and Javascript.
Jour 444 media internship
An internship is required of journalism majors and is designed to give the student practical experience in the field.
Applicable forms and information on internships can be found on our Internship Information page. Be sure to read the FAQ for students and providers. After reading these, students typically have all their questions answered.
Prerequisites: At least one quarter of JOUR 352, JOUR 353 or JOUR 413
Requires department internship coordinator approval
Senior Project: JOUR 415 or JOUR 462
All students are required to take either JOUR 415 or JOUR 462 to complete their degree. You'll need to take one quarter of either.
JOUR 462 - Senior Project: Media Practicum
Capstone experience that applies principles and tools of print, broadcast and digital journalism to tell engaging stories across multiple platforms. Emphasis on integrating text, video, audio, graphics, search engine optimization and social networking to produce content for digital publication. Here are some examples of student work produced in JOUR 462.
JOUR 415 - Senior Project: PR Practicum
Capstone experience that applies public relations principles and strategies in the context of the student-run agency, Central Coast PRspectives. Emphasis on proposing, creating, managing, and implementing public relations campaigns.
jour 352 and JOUR 353
Students not in the public relations track must enroll in two quarters of either J352 (Advanced Newspaper Reporting Practicum) or JOUR 353 (Advanced Broadcast Journalism Practicum), or one quarter of each. Both of these courses are offered every quarter, but please note that they have prerequisites you'll need to complete before enrolling.
JOUR 352 and/or JOUR 353 cannot be taken during the same quarter as JOUR 462.
STUDY ABROAD
Start by browsing Cal Poly International Center to find out more info, then attend a mandatory workshop where you will get info on applying for a study abroad program. It's more difficult to get major classes to count, so plan on taking GE classes while abroad.
With good planning and advising, it is entirely possible to obtain both a major and a minor while studying abroad for one year WITHOUT affecting your four-year graduation plan.
JOURNALISM SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
• These are programs that we have partnerships with (it will be easier to get credit for journalism classes here)
• CIEE Global Institutes in London, Rome, Berlin, Paris
• SIT programs in South Africa, Morocco, Nicaragua, Serbia and Bosnia
MEDIA LEADERSHIP/MUSTANG MEDIA GROUP
Any student can apply for a leadership position in Mustang Media. The top leaders of Mustang News, MNTV, CCPR and KCPR are selected by the media board each year. Applications are open now for other staff positions (news, arts and sports editors, assistant managers, etc.)
JOUR 455 Media Management
This is a one-unit-per-quarter class that's required for anyone selected for a leadership position.
and finally...
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
- Be sure to meet with a CLA adviser to review your progress at least four quarters before your planned graduation date.
- Remember that you'll need at least 180 units to graduate, 60 of which must be upper division.
- Completion of the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- Overall and Major GPA – 2.0 or better
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES