You are in the official 2003-2004 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of
Mass Communication and Journalism
Department of
Mass Communication and Journalism
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Mass Communication and Journalism Major
Majors must complete 33 semester units of mass communication
and journalism courses with a grade of C or better
in each course. To ensure that students obtain a broad academic
background, no more than 33 units in MCJ courses may apply toward
the 120 semester units required for graduation.
The university's General Education requirement of 51 units, plus
the 33 units in the major, total 84 units. The remaining units
needed to reach the 120-unit graduation requirement must be taken
outside the MCJ department, and the content of these electives
may not be primarily mass communication.
Of these outside electives, 15 units must be in "liberal
arts and sciences" courses approved by the student's faculty
adviser. (Courses in General Education taken beyond the 51-unit
G.E. requirement automatically qualify for the department's liberal
arts and sciences requirement.)
The department's requirements for study outside the major meet
national accreditation standards as well as the communications
industries' preference for graduates with strong grounding in
the liberal arts and sciences.
Degree Summary
General Education requirements (51 units)*
Major requirements (33 units)
Liberal Arts and Sciences block (15 units)
Electives (21 units)
Total (120 units)
Specializing within the major
Each MCJ major must select an option, which is an area of specialization within the major. The options are advertising, broadcast journalism, digital media, electronic media production, photojournalism, print journalism, and public relations. The courses required for each option are listed under Major Requirements.
Advising Notes
In addition to the above requirements, MCJ majors must observe the following:
- Before enrolling in any of the department's writing or editing courses, all students must have passed the Department Qualification Exam (DQE). The DQE is administered by the department and tests fundamentals of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Students are permitted three attempts to pass the DQE. Contact the department office for exam dates.
- MCJ majors are not permitted to enroll for CR/NC grading in MCJ courses applied to the major, except for courses that require such grading.
- MCJ majors are not permitted to apply MCJ 1 to General Education Breadth Area E requirements.
- No General Education Integration or M/I course offered by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for MCJ majors. Consult the Schedule of Courses for a current list of approved General Education courses.
- Each option requires two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179, plus one additional MJC course selected with the approval of a faculty adviser.
- Seniors applying for graduation must obtain adviser approval for completion of the department's liberal arts and sciences requirement. Students will not be cleared for graduation until this approval is obtained, verified by the department chair, and sent to the Evaluations Office.
Major Requirements for the Degree
Major Requirements (33 units)
Select one option
--- Advertising
MCJ 1, 10, 142, 143, 144, 146, 148, 172, or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179. (6)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty
adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Broadcast Journalism
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 124, 128,172, 173 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 108,126, 182, 188, 191 (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a
faculty adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Digital Media
MCJ 1, 10, 104, 106, 115,131, 132, 172 or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179. (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty
adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Electronic Media Production
MCJ 1, 10, 113, 115, 116, 119, 172 or 173 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 17, 112, 118, 178, 182, 188, 191 (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty
adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Photojournalism
MCJ 1, 10, 17, 102W, 132, 134, 138, 172 or 173 (24 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with the approval of a faculty
adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Print Journalism
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 104, 105, 108, 172 (21 units)
One course from MCJ 17, 106, 132, 173, 174. (3 units)
Two MCJ electives numbered between 160 and 179 (6 units)
One additional MCJ course selected with approval of a faculty
adviser (except MCJ 5) (3 units)
--- Public Relations
MCJ 1, 10, 102W, 104, 152, 158, 159, 164, 172 or 173, 191 (30
units)
MCJ elective numbered between 160 and 179 (3 units)
Mass Communication and Journalism Minor
Required (6 units)
MCJ 1, 10
Minimum Electives (12 units)
Any four or more courses selected with the advice and consent
of a member of the departmental faculty
Minimum Total (18 units)
__________
Note: The Mass Communication Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.
Certificate in Marketing
Students majoring in MCJ may earn a certificate in marketing by taking any three or four (12 units) of the following marketing courses:
MKTG 103, 110, 130, 132, 136, 140
To earn a certificate in mass communication and journalism, marketing students may take any four courses (totaling 12 units) from the following:
MCJ 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 158
__________
MCJ students note: Marketing courses cannot be used in
the liberal arts and sciences block, but can be used as electives.
Mass Communication
Graduate Study
The department offers a flexible, professionally oriented program of study leading to the Master of Arts. The program prepares students for positions of leadership and influence in professional and academic careers. It also gives students a broadly-based understanding of mass communication in contemporary society and encourages continuing intellectual growth.
Admission. Admission by the university does not imply acceptance to the master of arts in mass communication program. A department graduate admissions committee reviews all files before admittance. To be considered for admission to the graduate program, the candidate must submit the following materials and meet the following criteria: evidence of a baccalaureate degree in mass communication, journalism, or related area from an accredited institution; official transcripts of all college work with a grade point average of 3.0 or better (last 60 semester units); scores from the GRE (450V or equivalent to the 44th percentile/450Q) as well as the TOEFL for international students (total score 580 paper-based or 237 computer-based; structure/writing section score 55 paper-based or 22 computer-based); a university application; three letters of reference from employers or from faculty at the university most recently attended; and a statement of 500 words or less indicating reasons for pursuing a master's degree. Students lacking in any area with compensating strengths in other areas are encouraged to apply.
Classified standing will be granted to students who
meet all of the admission criteria.
Conditional classified standing may be granted to applicants
with a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA (last 60 semester units) and/or those
required to complete prerequisite coursework. Prerequisite coursework
is not included in the 30-unit master's program. Students must
request classified standing in the program by the semester in
which a minimum of 10 units to be used toward the degree are completed.
Students without a bachelor's degree in mass communication or
significant professional experience may be required to take up
to 18 units of undergraduate courses in the department before
beginning the graduate program.
Master of Arts
Degree Requirements
Students take 30 units of coursework. Two core classes (MCOM 201 and 203) are required, for 6 units. As a culminating experience, candidates must undertake either a thesis for 6 units or a professional project for 3 or 6 units. Students may select the remaining courses to meet their individual goals, including up to 6 units from other departments, depending on a student's area of interest. At least 21 of 30 units required must be in 200-level courses.
Writing Competency. California State University, Fresno requires that students have graduate-level writing ability before being advanced to candidacy for the master's degree. Mass Media Industry and Issues, MCOM 203 , has been designated as the course used to determine students' ability to write clearly, logically, analytically, and knowledgeably. Should the student receive a passing grade in the course but fail to demonstrate adequate writing competence, the student may resubmit a similar writing assignment to the department's graduate committee for successful qualification. Students are allowed a maximum of three attempts to meet the department's graduate writing requirement, and all decisions on writing competency by the department's graduate committee are final.
Required core courses
MCOM 201, 203 (6 units)
Selected courses in major interest area
(may include up to 6 units in other departments) (18-21 units)
Thesis or project (3-6 units)
Total (70% must be graduate level courses or at least 21 of 30 units in 200-series classes) (30 units)
Mass Communication and
Journalism Courses