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The Reed College of Media and College of Creative Arts will merge to form the new WVU College of Creative Arts and Media as of July 1, 2024. Get details.

Journalism

The rapid expansion of the information age has led to an increased demand for college graduates with strong writing and reporting skills with a solid understanding of the ethical standards of the journalism industry. Journalism teaches students how to write, report, and produce content across media platforms, as well as how to engage with modern audiences using the latest digital applications and tools.

A minor in Journalism would complement any major, as it allows a student to obtain a foundational skill set in journalism while still pursuing a specific knowledge base within their chosen industry.

Journalism Minor Requirements

Students in colleges and units outside of the College of Media may earn a minor in Journalism by completing the following courses and meeting the requirements as stated below. The Journalism minor is not available to students in the College of Media unless they are pursuing the College’s Multidisciplinary Media Studies (MDMS) major. The majority of courses for the Journalism minor are offered exclusively online and some may require summer enrollment. Note that additional online course fees apply. Students should also consult the WVU Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions and information.

1) MDIA 101 – Media & Society, 3 hours
Examines the relationship between media, culture and society, with emphasis on the history, structure, and organization of the mass media.

2) MDIA 215 – Media Writing, 3 hours
Introduction to the fundamental reporting and storytelling skills that are the foundation of all media writing: print, radio, television, public relations, advertising and social media.

3) JRL 428 – Media Ethics and Law, 3 hours
How ethics and law work together to help create and maintain the media environment. Examines ethical paradigms within a legal framework, with special emphasis on morality.

TWO of the following: (6 hours)

  • JRL 318 – Beat Reporting, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    Essentials of developing and covering a news beat. Students generate stories, cultivate sources, and discover their community. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course).
  • JRL 319 – Editing & Curation, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    Students develop the skills necessary to edit and design content for online and print media outlets. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course).
  • JRL 321 – Media Design, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    An introduction to the design of newspapers, magazines and internet publications.
  • JRL 335 – Audio & Video News Writing, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    Gathering, researching, and evaluating facts; reporting and writing news for radio and television; editorial decision making and responsibility; broadcast news ethics. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course).
    * Students who register for JRL335 will also need to register for a one-credit lab section of JRL488 – Video Editing
  • JRL 412 – Sport Journalism, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: ADV 201 or ADV 215 or PR 215
    Develops critical thinking skills in reporting and writing stories. Students examine the value of sport journalism, the way sport functions in society, and gain an understanding of ethics in sport journalism.
  • JRL 418 – Advanced Reporting, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    Students write carefully researched stories using writing, reporting, and interviewing skills they have acquired in previous classes while applying techniques of literary journalism. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course).
  • JRL 420 – Feature Writing, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    Developing writing, and editing news features, personality profiles, color pieces, issue-oriented articles and human impact stories for news, public relations and film. (Lab fees will be assessed for this course).
  • JRL 430 – Social Media/Journalism, 3 hours
    Prerequisites: MDIA 215
    This lab course identifies and applies the principles behind social media applications such as blogs and networking sites.

To earn a minor in Journalism, a student must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all courses required for the minor and have 9 distinct credit hours in the minor not shared with other degree requirements. However, College of Media MDMS students must earn a C- in every course in the minor and all 15 credit hours must be distinct to the minor and not shared with other degree requirements.

To register for these courses or to pursue a a double-minor, triple-minor or the College’s Multidisciplinary Media Studies (MDMS) major, contact Aaron Hawley at 304-293-3133 or aaron.hawley@mail.wvu.edu.

Online courses are taught completely via eCampus. Students need to plan on logging into eCampus daily during the week but can do so at the time of their own choosing. Students should budget the same amount of time for an online course as they do for on campus courses.