MASS COMMUNICATIONHANDBOOK

2014-15

OVERVIEW

Students interested in media careers will find themselves in the heart of it all at the

School of Journalism & Mass Communication (SJMC). Located in one of the nation’s top

media markets, the SJMC is highly regarded among journalism schools. The School’s

connections to the dynamic Twin Cities media community provide students with

opportunities to learn from professionals in the field and to work in media organizations

during school and beyond. The award-winning and internationally renowned faculty earn

high praise from students for their teaching ability.

WHAT IS MASS COMMUNICATION?

Journalism and mass communication are a vital and seamless part of everyday

life: online news, social media, personalized advertising messages, branded content, and

health information campaigns are just a few examples of this field. Among other things,

mass communicators inform the public, help set agendas and public opinion, provide

information about goods and services and help people develop an understanding of social

problems and make informed decisions. Within the journalism major, there are three

tracks that connect to different types of work:

Strategic communication: crafting messages and campaigns about product, brand,

company, service or information as a public relations or advertising practitioner

Journalism: informing the public through newspapers, television, radio,

magazines, blogs, websites, mobile apps, social media

Mass communication: research the economic, political, legal, and social aspects

of mass communication, including advanced graduate or professional study

Where our grads are working… Mass Communication Track

Company Job Title Location

Angel City Hospice Assistant to the Director of Patient

Care Services

Southern California

Best Buy Computing/ Tablets Channel

Operations Product Specialist

Minneapolis, MN

Capella University Advising Engagement

Representative

Minneapolis, MN

Creative Wingman Copywriting Intern Minneapolis, MN

Dublin Institute of Technology Grad student Dublin, Ireland

FAB: Fashion and Business Founder and President Minneapolis, MN

Fallon Integrated Production Coordinator Minneapolis, MN

First Avenue Booking Assistant Minneapolis, MN

Graco Marketing Communications

Manager

Minneapolis, MN

Joy English School Foreign Language Teacher Taichung City,

Taiwan

Macy's Executive Development Manager Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota Education Corps Reading Corps Member Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota Philanthropy Partners Program Assistant Minneapolis, MN

Science Museum of Minnesota Youth Engagement Coordinator Saint Paul, MN

Tangyou Strategic Planning Intern Beijing, China

UMN Law School Law student Minneapolis, MN

William Mitchell College of Law Law student Saint Paul, MN

WUCW-TV CW Twin Cities on-air talent Saint Paul, MN

Visit www.sjmc.umn.edu/career/ to learn more about careers in Professional Journalism.

PROGRAMS & TRACKS

SJMC students earn a B.A. in Journalism in one of three program tracks:

Professional Journalism – Prepares students for careers such as news reporting,

writing, editing, producing and photojournalism in traditional and emerging

media.

Professional Strategic Communication – Prepares students for careers in

advertising, public relations, corporate, government, nonprofit and advocacy

communications.

Mass Communication – Prepares students who wish to study the social, political,

economic, and legal aspects of mass communication.

OTHER SJMC PROGRAMS

BA/MA in Health Communication—Students earn a BA in Journalism—Strategic

Communication track and an MA in Health Communication after a fifth year of

study.

Mass Communication Minor – Study the social, political, economic and legal

aspects of mass communication. For more information, visit

New Media Minor – Study multiple perspectives of how information (content) is

created in new media and the role and impact of those media on human

communication. For more information, visit

Individualized Degree Programs – Students may also include Mass

Communication as a concentration area in an individualized degree program.

APPLYING FOR SJMC MAJOR STATUS

The School of Journalism & Mass Communication is part of the College of Liberal Arts and is

accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

(ACEJMC). Students who wish to major in journalism must apply for admission to the SJMC

after they have been admitted to the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the University of

Minnesota. Students who plan to complete a degree in a college other than CLA may add

journalism as a second major or as a second degree.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications are accepted twice each academic year, at the start of fall and spring semesters.

The Fall 2014 application deadline is Friday, September 12, 2014 at 4 p.m.

The Spring 2015 application deadline is Friday, January 30, 2015 at 4 p.m.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Students are eligible to apply for major status, once they have:

1. Completed or enrolled in JOUR 1001, earning a grade of “C” or higher.

2. Completed or enrolled in 30 letter-graded semester credits (28 letter-graded credits for

students enrolled in CLA 1001/1002), including a minimum of 13 credits at the

University of Minnesota. NOTE: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

credits do not count towards these required credit totals.

3. Attended or viewed a required Premajor Information Session

To be competitive for the major, you should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Freshmen

admitted to the University Honors Program will be directly admitted to the major if they request

admission at the start of their first semester.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS To apply for major status, you must submit the following items to 110 Murphy Hall by the

second Friday of the fall or spring semester:

1. An Application Form

2. A written Statement of Intent

3. A Sample Major Program Plan/Timeline

4. ACT/SAT or English Usage test scores.

In addition, the SJMC Student Services office will pull your student course report, which lists

course taken and grades earned at transfer institutions and at the University of Minnesota – Twin

Cities. Before applying, be sure all your grades have been reported to your UMN-TC academic

record.

To view more detailed information about the application process, including application

deadlines, visit: sjmc.umn.edu/apply.

AUTO ADMITTANCE FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS

Students who meet the required criteria AND submit the requested application materials in steps

1-5 by the application deadline will undergo a streamlined review by the Director of

Undergraduate Studies, who will look at the statement of intent and sample major program plan.

This process will allow students to be admitted to the major as early as the second semester of

their first year. Students are eligible to apply for auto admit major status, if they:

1. Have completed coursework at the University of Minnesota. NOTE: Transfer students

are only eligible for auto admission after their first semester on campus.

2. Have a 3.25 cumulative GPA.

3. Completed JOUR 1001 and earned a “B” or higher.

4. Completed 15 letter-graded UMNTC semester credits (or for university freshmen have

completed 14 letter-graded credits and CLA 1001).

5. Have a 24 or higher on the writing portion of the ACT or a 550 or higher on the writing

portion of the SAT.

6. Attended or viewed a Premajor Information Session.

Auto admitted students must have completed 30 letter-graded credits (28 credits for students

taking CLA 1001/1002) by the end of the semester they are admitted.

To apply, students must submit all application materials listed above.

WHAT IS THE STATEMENT OF INTENT? The Statement of Intent is a 1 ½ to 2-page double-spaced essay that demonstrates your ability to

clearly express your academic and professional goals in writing. You can learn more about the

Statement of Intent at: sjmc.umn.edu/apply.

WHAT IS THE SAMPLE PROGRAM PLAN/TIMELINE? The Sample Program Plan/Timeline is a form you will use to list the professional and context

courses you would like to take for the major. The form includes a grid you will use to schedule

your major courses in appropriate semesters.

WHAT IS THE ENGLISH USAGE TEST? IS IT REQUIRED? The English Usage Test (EUT) is an alternative option for students who either do not have

ACT/SAT scores or prefer not to use them. The EUT is a free, 40-question multiple-choice test

on punctuation, spelling, grammar, word choice and reading comprehension. Students will also

be asked to summarize a newspaper editorial and respond to it in their own words. An ACT,

SAT or EUT score is required for application. SJMC Student Services will administer the EUT

on the week of the application deadline. Students can sign up for a test time in 110 Murphy,

beginning the first day of the semester.

COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SJMC MAJORS

The following requirements apply to all SJMC majors admitted to the major Fall 2012 to

the present.

Preparatory Course – JOUR 1001 (or JOUR 1001H): Introduction to Mass

Communication (3 cr)

Note: All students must earn a grade of “C” or better in JOUR 1001. For all

other major courses, including Supporting Courses, grades of “C-” or higher are

required.

Core Course – JOUR 3004W (or JOUR 3004V): Information for Mass Communication

(3 cr)

10 professional and context courses (30 cr)

Supporting Courses (12 cr). See below.

Senior Project

For SJMC majors, the CLA senior project is satisfied by two required courses on the

Major Program Plan/Timeline.

A minimum of 36 credits (maximum of 48) is required for the major.

A minimum of 72 non-journalism credits is required for the major.

SELECTING YOUR SUPPORTING COURSES

All SJMC majors must develop an area of expertise outside of journalism through a series

of supporting courses that concentrate on a single subject area.

Courses from any university department may be used to meet this requirement if the

courses provide the background useful for future work in the profession. For instance,

you might want to build a core of courses focused on business, politics or design. Note:

Supporting Courses must be 3xxx level or higher, taken A-F, with grades of C- or

higher.

The Supporting Coursework Requirement can be fulfilled by:

Completing a second major in another department

Completing a minor in another department

Developing a series of courses in different departments but with a common

theme, approved by a faculty mentor. More information, including a proposal

form, can be found at sjmc.umn.edu under Major Tracks and Minors.

MASS COMMUNICATION TRACK OVERVIEW

The mass communication track is designed for students who wish to pursue a liberal arts

approach to the study of mass communication institutions, processes, effects, research methods

and analysis. It might serve as preparation for a graduate degree, a law degree, MBA degree or it

might serve as a terminal degree for students who would like to work in communications-related

industries in areas other than professional message production. You may wish to develop a

program emphasis in areas such as history, law, media effects, media economics, international

communications or other aspects of mass communication studies represented in the SJMC. Note:

Prerequisites for journalism courses are enforced at registration.

Requirements for this program track:

JOUR 1001 (or 1001H): Introduction to Mass Communication (3 cr)

(Meets social sciences core requirement and technology and society theme)

JOUR 3004W (or 3004V): Information for Mass Communication (3 cr)

Four required Context Courses (12 cr)

History (choose one):

JOUR 3007

JOUR 3614

JOUR 3/5615

JOUR 5601W

JOUR 5606W

International/Multicultural (choose one):

JOUR 3552

JOUR 3741 JOUR 3745

JOUR 4801

Media Effects (choose one):

JOUR 3005

JOUR 3006

JOUR 4251

JOUR 4272

JOUR 5501

JOUR 5541

Media and Society (choose one):

JOUR 3551

JOUR 3745

JOUR 3771

JOUR 3775

JOUR 3776

JOUR 3796

JOUR 4274W

JOUR 4551

JOUR 4721

JOUR 5552

JOUR 5725

JOUR 5777

Six additional context courses (18 cr): Students may replace up to three context courses (9

credits) with professional (skills) courses, provided prerequisites have been met. Context courses

used to meet the history, international/multicultural, media effects, or media and society

requirement cannot be used again to meet this 18 credit requirement.

Non-journalism Supporting Course Requirement (12 cr): All SJMC majors are required to

develop an area of expertise outside of journalism through a series of non-journalism supporting

courses that concentrate on a single subject area.

Senior Project: At least two context courses must be taken at the 4xxx or 5xxx level to fulfill the

CLA major project requirement.

Up to four optional courses (professional or context) are allowed for a maximum of 48

journalism credits.

CHOOSING YOUR COURSES

Listed below are possible focus areas in the mass communication track and recommended

courses. You are not limited to these options and you are free to develop a program that

suits your own academic and professional interests.

History

JOUR 3007 The Media in American History and Law: Case Studies

JOUR 3614 History of Media Communication

JOUR 3/5615 History of the Documentary

JOUR 5601W History of Journalism

JOUR 5606W Literary Aspects of Journalism

International/Multicultural

JOUR 3552 Internet and Global Society

JOUR 3741 Diversity and Mass Communication

JOUR 3745 Mass Media and Popular Culture

JOUR 4801 Global Communication

Media Effects

JOUR 3005 Mass Media Effects

JOUR 3006 Visual Communication

JOUR 4251 Psychology of Advertising

JOUR 4272 Interactive Advertising

JOUR 5501 Communication and Public Opinion

JOUR 5541 Mass Communication and Public Health

Media and Society

JOUR 3551 Economics of New Media

JOUR 3745 Mass Media and Popular Culture

JOUR 3771 Mass Media Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Case Studies

JOUR 3775 Administrative Law and Regulation for Strategic Communication

JOUR 3776 Mass Communication Law

JOUR 3796 Mass Media and Politics

JOUR 4274W Advertising in Society

JOUR 4551 New Media and Culture

JOUR 4721 Mass Media and U.S. Society

JOUR 5552 Law of Internet Communications

JOUR 5725 Management of Media Organizations

JOUR 5777 Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech and the Press

APPROVED COURSES FOR STUDYING ABORAD

Study Abroad in Rome: Jour 3745 and Jour 4259

Study Abroad in Florence: Jour 4274 and Jour 4259

Study and Internships in London: Jour 3xxx-level context courses

DIS - Copenhagen: Jour 3/4xxx-level context courses, Jour 3275, Jour 4259, Jour 4302,

Jour 4990, Jour 4992

Australearn: Jour 3xxx context courses

University of Wollongong, Australia: Jour 3xxx context courses

Mass Communication Track

Preparatory Course Required:

Jour 1001 Introduction to Mass Communication

Core Course Required:

Jour 3004W/V Information for Mass Communication

Context Courses

Required: 12 credits

History (choose one)

Jour 3007 The Media in American History and Law: Case Studies (once a year)

Jour 3614 History of Media Communication (once a year)

Jour 3/5615 History of the Documentary (fall only)

Jour 5601W History of Journalism (once a year)

Jour 5606W Literary Aspects of Journalism (spring only)

International/Multicultural (choose one)

Jour 3552 Internet and Global Society (once a year)

Jour 3741 Diversity and Mass Communication (fall only)

Jour 3745 Mass Media and Popular Culture

Jour 4801 Global Communication (once a year)

Media Effects (choose one)

Jour 3005 Mass Media Effects

Jour 3006 Visual Communication

Jour 4272 Interactive Advertising (spring only)

Jour 4251 Psychology of Advertising

Jour 5501 Communication, Public Opinion, and Social Media (fall only)

Jour 5541 Mass Communication and Public Health (fall only)

Media and Society (choose one)

Jour 3551 Economics of New Media (once a year)

Jour 3745 Mass Media and Popular Culture

Jour 3771 Mass Media Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Case Studies

Jour 3775 Administrative Law & Regulation for Strategic Communication (spring only)

Jour 3776 Mass Communication Law

Jour 3796 Mass Media and Politics (fall only)

Jour 4274W Advertising in Society

Jour 4551 New Media and Culture

Jour 4721 Mass Media and Society (once a year)

Jour 5552 Law of Internet Communication (once a year)

Jour 5725 Management of Media Organizations (once a year)

Jour 5777 Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech and Press (fall only)

Context or Skills Courses

Required: 18 additional credits, 9 of which may be skills courses

Jour 3005 Mass Media Effects

Jour 3006 Visual Communication

Jour 3007 The Media in American History and Law: Case Studies (once a year)

Jour 3201 Principles of Strategic Communication

Jour 3551 Economics of New Media (once a year)

Jour 3552 Internet and Global Society (once a year)

Jour 3614 History of Media Communication (once a year)

Jour 3/5615 History of the Documentary (fall only)

Jour 3741 Diversity and Mass Communication (fall only)

Jour 3745 Mass Media and Popular Culture

Jour 3771 Mass Media Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Case Studies

Jour 3775 Administrative Law & Regulation for Strategic Communication (spring only)

Jour 3776 Mass Communication Law

Jour 3796 Mass Media and Politics (fall only)

Jour 3/4/5991 Special Topics in Mass Communication: Context

Jour 4251 Psychology of Advertising

Jour 4272 Interactive Advertising (spring only)

Jour 4274W Advertising in Society

Jour 4551 New Media and Culture

Jour 4721 Mass Media and Society (once a year)

Jour 4733H Honors: Thesis Seminar (fall only)

Jour 4801 Global Communication (once a year)

Jour 5501 Communication, Public Opinion, and Social Media (fall only)

Jour 5541 Mass Communication and Public Health (fall only)

Jour 5542 Theory-Based Health Message Design (spring only)

Jour 5552 Law of Internet Communication (once a year)

Jour 5601W History of Journalism (once a year)

Jour 5606W Literary Aspects of Journalism (spring only)

Jour 5725 Management of Media Organizations (once a year)

Jour 5777 Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech and Press (fall only)

Jour 4993H Honors: Projects

Also offered during May and Summer (all courses contingent on enrollment)

May Term:

Jour 3745 (Mass Media & Popular Culture)

Jour 3771 (Mass Media Ethics)

General Summer Session:

Jour 3004W (Information for Mass Comm)

Jour 3201 (Principles of Strategic Communication)

Jour 3321 (Media Design)

Jour 4551 (New Media and Culture)

Professional Journalism Skills

Course Prerequisite(s)

Jour 3101 News Reporting and Writing 3004 or concurrent

Jour 3102 Multimedia Production and Storytelling 3004 or concurrent, [3101 or concurrent or 3279W

or concurrent or 3241 or concurrent]

Jour 3103 Interactive and Data Journalism (fall

only)

3004, [3101 or JOUR 3279W]

Jour 3121 Intermediate News Reporting 3004, 3101

Jour 3155 Editing for Print and Digital Audiences

(spring only)

3004, 3101

Jour 3173W Magazine Writing 3004, [3101 or 3279W]

Jour 3321 Media Design 3004 or concurrent

Jour 3451 TV, Radio, and Digital News Reporting 3004, [3101 or 3279W]

Jour 3/4/5990 Special Topics in Mass Comm:

Professional

Jour major

Jour 4171 Covering the Arts (spring only) 3004, 3101

Jour 4193 Brovald-Sim Community Newspaper

Practicum: Murphy News Service

3004, 3101

Jour 4302 Electronic Photojournalism 3004, 3102

Jour 4303 Documentary Photojournalism (spring

only)

3004, 4302

Jour 4451 Advanced TV, Radio, and Digital News

Reporting (fall only)

3004, 3451, 3121 or concurrent

Jour 4452 Electronic Newscast Producing (spring

only)

3004, 3451, 3121 or concurrent

Jour 4992 Field Based Practicum Jour major; by application

Jour 5131 In-depth Reporting (fall only) 3004, 3121

Jour 5155 Database Reporting

(spring only)

3004, 3103, [3121 or concurrent]

Jour 5174 Magazine Editing and Production 3004, [3155 or 3173 or 3321 or 4302]

Professional Strategic Communication Skills Courses

Planning (6 credits minimum) Prerequisite(s)

Jour 3251 Evaluative Research in Strategic

Communication

3004W/V, 3201

Jour 3253 Account Planning 3004W/V, 3201

Jour 3261 Media Planning 3004W/V, 3201

Jour 4259 Strategic Communication Case

Analysis

3004W/V, [3241 or 3251 or 3253 or 3261 or 3275 or

3279W]

Jour 4262 Management for Strategic

Communication

3004W/V, [3241 or 3251 or 3253 or 3261 or 3275 or

3279W]

Execution (6 credits minimum) Prerequisite(s)

Jour 3241 Advertising Strategy and Creative

Development

3004W/V, 3201

Jour 3279W Professional Writing for Strategic

Communication

3004W/V, 3201

Jour 3275 Digital Media in Strategic

Communication

3004W/V, [3241 or 3279W or concurrent]

Jour 3321 Media Design 3004W/V or concurrent

Jour 4242 Advertising Portfolio Development 3004W/V, 3241

Jour 3102 Multimedia Production & Storytelling 3004W/V, [3241 or concurrent, or 3279W or

concurrent]

Jour 3103 Interactive and Data Journalism 3004W/V, [3279W or 3101]

Jour 3173W Magazine Writing 3004W/V, [3279W or 3101]

Jour 3451 TV, Radio, and Digital Reporting 3004W/V, [3279W or 3101]

Jour 4263 Strategic Communication Campaigns 3004W/V, [4242 or 4259 or 4262 concurrent]

TIPS FOR SCHEDULING YOUR COURSES

A minimum of four semesters will be required to include all major courses you have taken or

plan to take on your timeline (including the semester you take 1001).

Start with the semester you enrolled in JOUR 1001 and take JOUR 3004W in the next

semester.

Now schedule the context courses you will take to complete each of the following

requirements: History, International/Multicultural, Media Effects, Media and Society.

Next, add the six additional context courses (18 credits) required to complete the mass

communication track. At least two 4/5XXX context courses must be included on your

plan. Up to three context courses (9 credits) may be replaced with professional (skills)

courses provided prerequisites have been met. Check carefully to make certain you are

scheduling your courses in semesters when they are usually offered.

Select the supporting course option on your Major Program Plan/Timeline you plan to

complete: minor, second major, semester abroad or the thematic option. If you have not

yet decided how you will complete the supporting course requirement, these courses can

be added later. However, you must consult with a faculty mentor to have your

supporting courses approved and entered in APAS before your senior year.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Try not to schedule more than two professional courses or a total of three journalism

courses in any one semester.

If you are planning to study abroad, indicate this on your timeline by writing “Study

Abroad” in the semester you think you will be going. Even if you do not know which

semester, you plan to study abroad, indicate one. The timeline can be adjusted later.

Very few major courses are offered during summer session. Be sure to check the course

availability list before scheduling a major course in summer session. Also, keep in mind

that summer courses may be cancelled if they are under enrolled.

You do not have to include or take any optional courses for the major. If you do plan to

take optional courses, indicate which course(s) you will take and enter them on your

timeline.

SAMPLE Mass Communication Track

Name: _____________________________________

Email: _____________________________________

Student ID: _______________ Date: ____________

Major requirements

A minimum of 36 (maximum of 48) journalism credits is required.

A minimum of 72 non-journalism credits is required.

12 credits of non-journalism supporting coursework is required.

Instructions

1) Review Course Profiles (http://sjmc.umn.edu/profiles) and prerequisites for professional courses. 2) Complete the Major Program Plan section below indicating the courses you will take to complete the major. 3) Next, use the Major Program Timeline below to indicate the term you will take each course on your plan. 4) There should be a minimum of 12 courses in your sample plan. 5) List only Journalism courses in the sample plan.

Fall _____ Spring_____ Summer _____

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Fall _____ Spring_____ Summer _____

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Fall _____ Spring_____ Summer _____

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Fall _____ Spring_____ Summer _____

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Preparatory Course (3 credits)

Jour 1001

SJMC Core Course (3 credits)

Jour 3004W or 3004V

Mass Communication Core

Courses

(12 credits)

History

__________________

International/Multicultural

__________________

Media Effects

__________________

Media and Society

__________________

Two 4/5xxx level context

courses must be included to

complete the CLA Senior Project

Requirement.

Context Courses

(18 credits)

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

One to three professional

(skills) courses are permitted,

but not required.

Honors Students must include Jour 4733H in Context Area.

Supporting Program

3/4/5xxx non-journalism

(12 credits, A-F)

Minor in:

_________________

Second major in:

_________________

Thematic program

(faculty approval required)

Optional Journalism Courses

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

Sample Program Plan

Major Program Plan Major Program Timeline

You’ve Been Admitted! Now What?

After you have applied to the Journalism major and have been admitted to the program, you will

be required to attend a New Major Planning Session.

Prepare for the New Major Planning Session by doing the following:

Familiarize yourself with the requirements for your major track

Think about courses you might want to take by reviewing courses for different interest

areas and the lists of professional and context courses

For those courses of interest to you, read the Course Profiles which can be found on the

SJMC website. Course Profiles contain considerable information about prerequisites,

course objectives, competencies you will develop in the course and the types of

assignments and exams typically included in the course. Reading a variety of Course

Profiles will help you to understand how the courses fit together in the school’s

curriculum.

Next Steps to Declare Your Major

At the New Major Planning Session, talk with the a faculty mentor about your interests

and your goals for your time in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication and

finalize your plan with them.

Obtain a faculty mentor signature on your plan.

Consider signing up for a one-on-one appointment with a SJMC faculty mentor the week

following the New Major Planning Session to address any lingering questions you have.

After the New Major Planning Session, drop your plan off in room 110 Murphy. Rebecca

Rassier will contact you if any corrections are needed.

A copy of your final program plan will be emailed to your UMN account. Additional

copies will not be available in 110 Murphy.

Sign up to receive the Murphy Weekly on the SJMC website. To sign up, email

listserv@lists.umn.edu with “sub jour-majors First Name Last Name” in the body of the

e-mail.

After your plan is approved

Save your approved Program Plan/Timeline for future reference.

Enter your course timeline in Graduation Planner, so you also have access to your

planned courses: plan.umn.edu.

Check your APAS report here frequently to review your progress toward the major

Take time to familiarize yourself with the official SJMC policies

GENERAL SJMC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

You are responsible for knowing these policies and procedures. You should contact the

School of Journalism & Mass Communication Student Services Center (110 Murphy Hall)

with any questions.

Accreditation Requirement

A minimum of 72 credits in courses outside journalism and mass communication must be

completed in a 120-credit degree program.

Amendments to your program plan

Remember to request program amendments from your faculty mentor or Rebecca Rassier for any

courses not on your original Major Program Plan/Timeline BEFORE you register for a new

course. An amendment is not required to make changes to your timeline.

Conduct and Academic Integrity

Familiarize yourself with the University of Minnesota policies related to Student Conduct and

Academic Integrity. To review the policies and related FAQs, visit the Office for Student

Conduct and Academic Integrity at umn.edu/oscai. SJMC faculty take issues of academic

conduct and academic integrity very seriously.

Course Prerequisites

Check the online class schedule for journalism class prerequisites. If you register for a course

and you do not have the prerequisites, you will be required to drop the class. Most prerequisites

are enforced at registration.

Grades

You must take all major courses, including supporting courses, on an A-F grading basis. A grade

of C- or higher is required in all major and supporting courses. A grade of C or higher is required

in JOUR 1001. A minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 are

required for graduation.

First Day of Class

You must attend the first day of class. Students who are absent on the first day of class may lose

their spots to other students unless approval is obtained in advance from the instructor for an

intended absence.

Grievances

Students who wish to appeal non-admission to the major, report discrimination or harassment, or

discuss other grievances should submit a written statement describing the grievance or incident

to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Except under unusual circumstances, the formal appeal

should be preceded by a discussion with the person or persons involved. Appeals should be

timely. You may also wish to contact the Student Conflict Resolution Center. Visit the SCRC

website at www.sos.umn.edu.

Online and Distance Learning (ODL) Courses

ODL courses will apply to the major if they are listed on the approved Major Program

Plan/Timeline and if they are taken for letter grades, earning grades of C- or higher.

SJMC REGISTRATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Here is What We are Asking You To Do:

• Register on time.

• Register only for courses you plan to take.

• Cancel any courses that you decide not to take as soon as you are certain you will not

want the class. This will allow us to admit eligible students from the waitlists while they

still have time to adjust their class schedules if necessary.

• You may not skip class to register.

Who is Teaching Each Section?

• SJMC hires dozens of adjunct instructors each year to teach many of our courses.

• The names of adjuncts assigned to specific sections are entered into the Course Schedule

as soon as possible, but sometimes those personnel decisions haven’t been finalized

before registration begins.

• We cannot answer questions about who is assigned to specific sections before the

information is entered into the Course Schedule.

When a Course is “Closed,”

• you should place yourself on the course waitlist.

• if there are available seats in other sections of the same course, enroll in one of the

sections with open seats or put your name on multiple wait lists.

• do not wait until the first day because you think the section you prefer will open up then.

If you take this risk and the course does not open up, there is very little we can do to help

you once classes have begun.

• any student with a place in a closed course who does not attend the first day of class will

lose his/her seat to a student on the waitlist.

If You are on a Course Waitlist,

• you must attend the first class meeting for that course in order to be eligible for an open

seat if one becomes available.

• your place on the waitlist for a course DOES NOT correspond to your place on the

priority list for admittance to that course.

Authority to Assign Students on the Waitlist to Open Seats

• SJMC Student Services staff members are solely authorized to admit students from

waitlists into courses with available seats. Admittance from the waitlist is based on a

number of criteria that can only be determined by the staff in the SJMC Student Services

Center.

• Individual faculty members teaching courses do not have the authority to admit students

from the waitlist into their course if there are available spaces on the first class day. DO

NOT make a direct appeal for a seat in a closed course to the faculty member teaching

the course.

• Faculty members are instructed to submit the names of the enrolled students who

attended the course and any students from the waitlist who attended and are eligible for

the course to the staff in the SJMC Student Services Center in 110 Murphy.

• SJMC will not accept petitions to be admitted to a closed course.

• Repeated attempts to appeal to a faculty member, the SJMC Student Services Center staff

or other SJMC, College or University personnel about admittance to a course, or attempts

to persuade enrolled students to switch sections with you, or to try to manipulate in any

other way the enrollment process, will not be tolerated.

Requesting Amendments to Update your Program Plan

• Majors should remember to request program amendments for any courses not on your

original plan before you register for a new course.

• Meet with your faculty mentor to request the program amendment and remember to bring

a copy of your SJMC program plan and your APAS report to the meeting.

UM Classroom Scheduling Policy

• Colleges and departments must distribute classes evenly throughout the day and

throughout the week.

• It may not be possible for journalism majors to schedule all their classes on a

Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday meeting pattern in any semester, or to

schedule classes exclusively in the morning or afternoon.

• SJMC will not accept petitions or appeals for admittance to courses based on a preference

for a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday meeting pattern or preference for time of

day.

Getting in to Courses Reserved for Journalism Majors

• Non-majors must attend the first day of class to determine if space is available.

• If space is available on the first day and the instructor believes you have appropriate

academic or professional background for the class, the SJMC Student Services staff in

110 Murphy Hall will be notified later that day.

making themost of your

time at

SJMCBE INFORMED

Subscribe to the Murphy Weekly and READ each week. The Weekly includes important student services information, job and internship postings, and announcements about events and deadlines.

FREELANCE/WORK FOR THE MINNESOTA DAILY

News or business side —or for The Wake, KUOM (Radio K) or other student magazines or literary journals. Having experience in campus media will put you ahead of the competition in the job market.

DEVELOP A PORTFOLIO OF WORKNews clips, newsletters for a student club or church group, posters you have prepared, announcements for events, etc—anything that was prepared for an audience can go into your portfolio.

REGISTER AT YOUR QUEUE TIME

Follow the “Registration in SJMC Professional Courses” guidelines found in the Undergraduate Handbook.

PARTICIPATE IN THE SJMC ALUMNI SOCIETY MENTOR PROGRAM

In the program, a student is matched with a professional in the community who serves as a mentor. Applications are due in the fall and the mentorship takes place throughout the school year. Mentorships are not for credit, but are a great opportunity for seniors to make connections and network as they prepare to graduate.

APPLY FOR SJMC SCHOLARSHIPS

More than $100,000 is distributed every year. Applications are due at the end of January and the application is short. In addition to a strong academic profile, the reviewers are looking for students who are engaged outside the classroom (media experience, internships, student groups, and volunteering).

CHECK YOUR APAS

Check your APAS report after registering for classes to confirm that your registration corresponds with your approved program; if you need to make amendments (changes to your program), check in with Journalism advising (your faculty mentor and/or 110 Murphy Hall). Absolutely check your APAS after you register for your final semester ; if there are areas in red, see the appropriate advistor (Journalism or CLA) BEFORE the start of classes.JOIN STUDENT GROUPS

Society of Professional Journalists, Ad Club, National Student Advertising Competition, Public Relations Student Society of America, Magazine Club, Alliance for Women in Media, Ski U Media or PRISM (a multicultural student club for all tracks). Student groups offer a great way to get involved in the school and community, as well as providing multiple networking opportunities.

START LOOKING FOR INTERNSHIPS

Internships (and jobs) are posted on Goldpass and you can post your resume there as well so employers can find you (CLA Career Services can help you polish your resume).

CREATE A LINKEDIN PROFILE

Create a LinkedIn profile. Create a LinkedIn profile. Create a LinkedIn profile. Create a LinkedIn profile. Create a LinkedIn profile. Create a LinkedIn profile.

INVESTIGATE STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNTIES AND PLAN EARLY

Many programs offer journalism-related courses that may transfer back to meet SJMC requirements. You will need to plan carefully both the courses you take at the SJMC and abroad to maximize your options. For example, many study abroad courses are approved as 3xxx-level context courses, so you want to plan carefully the 3xxx-level context courses you take at the SJMC. Many study abroad programs also incorporate an internship at an ad agency, the BBC, a television station, a newspaper, and so on. Interested students must first attend a Learning Abroad first-step meeting:http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/students.php.

USEFUL LINKS

Boynton Health Services http://www.bhs.umn.edu

Center for Writing http://www.writing.umn.edu

CLA Career Services Office http://www.clacareer.umn.edu

CLA Student Services http://class.umn.edu

College of Liberal Arts (CLA) http://cla.umn.edu

Disability Resource Center http://www.ds.umn.edu

GoldPASS Job Search Site goldpass.umn.edu

International Student and Scholar Services http://www.isss.umn.edu

Learning Abroad http://www.UMabroad.umn.edu

One Stop Student Services onestop.umn.edu

Student Academic Success Services http://www.sass.umn.edu

Student Conflict Resolution Center http://www.sos.umn.edu

University Counseling and Consulting Services http://www.uccs.umn.edu

University Honors Program http://www.honors.umn.edu

University of Minnesota Alumni Association http://www.minnesotaalumni.org

CONNECT WITH US

SJMC on Facebook

facebook.com/umnsjmc

SJMC on Twitter

twitter.com/umn_sjmc

Murphy Weekly

The Murphy Weekly is an email digest and blog for undergraduate and graduate students

in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication. To sign up click here and complete

the online form.

SJMC Student Services Center

Rebecca Rassier, Coordinator of Student Services

110 Murphy Hall

612-625-0120