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What is the major? A Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications

The Department of Journalism and Public Communication prepares students to engage in the role that free expression and communication play in a global society. Every semester our students create professional quality (and often published and broadcast) projects in print, audio, and video mediums. They create websites, magazines, documentary films, and strategic communication campaigns. This Department not only prepares students for careers after graduation, our students are often already engaged in careers through internships and hands on experience during the academic year.

Admission Requirements

Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Submit a Declared Major Form for department approval. Students are accepted into a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism and Public Communications (JPC) with two concentrations: journalism and digital media or strategic communications.

Graduation Requirements

Satisfy the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
At least 72 credits must be completed outside the major.
Complete the major requirements below.

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses
JPC A201	Reporting and Writing News	3
JPC A202	First Amendment and Media Ethics	3
JPC A203	Writing and Producing Media	3
JPC A204	Media Literacy	3
Electives
Complete one of the following 200-level JPC courses:		3
JPC A211	Visual Literacy
JPC A212	Editing in a Multimedia World
JPC A213	Digital Imaging
Complete any 300-level JPC course.		3
Complete any 400-level JPC course.		1-6
Integrative Capstone		3
JPC A403	Communications and Media Research
JPC A492	JPC Capstone Seminar
Concentration Area
Complete one of two concentrations: journalism and digital media or strategic communications.		18

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Journalism and Digital Media Concentration		18
JPC A343	Radio News Reporting
JPC A344	Television News Reporting
JPC A345	Web Design
JPC A382	Digital Audio Production
JPC A383	TV Studio Production
JPC A384	Digital Video Production
JPC A385	Scriptwriting for Film and Television
JPC A442	Multimedia Journalism
JPC A443	Public Service Reporting
JPC A445	Magazines
JPC A482	TV Post-Production
JPC A483	Motion Graphics and Animation
JPC A484	Digital Film Production I
JPC A486	Digital Film Production II
JPC A490	Selected Topics in Journalism and Public Communications
JPC A495	JPC Practica and Internships ^*
JPC A497	Independent Study

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Strategic Communications Concentration		18
JPC A345	Web Design
JPC A362	Principles of Strategic Communications
JPC A363	Research Methods for Strategic Communications
JPC A366	Planning and Writing for Strategic Communications
JPC A368	Commercial Photography
JPC A462	Corporate Communications
JPC A463	Crisis Communications
JPC A464	Development Communications
JPC A465	Strategic Communications Campaigns
JPC A490	Selected Topics in Journalism and Public Communications
JPC A495	JPC Practica and Internships ^*
JPC A497	Independent Study

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Interdisciplinary electives		3
Complete one course from the following:
AKNS A201	Alaska Native Perspectives
CEL A292	Introduction to Civic Engagement
BA A286	Entrepreneurship and Innovation
BA A381	Consumer Behavior and Relationship Management
BA A480	Marketing Media Analytics
ECON A201	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON A202	Principles of Microeconomics
WS A200	Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
PHIL A301	Ethics
HIST A131	History of the United States I
HIST A390	Themes in World History
JUST A330	Justice and Society
PHIL A305	Professional Ethics
PS A301	Comparative Political Economy
PS A324	Model United Nations
PSY A375	Social Psychology

Only JPC juniors and seniors with a 3.00 GPA may enroll in JPC A495. JPC practica require an approved academic plan and the approval of the appropriate JPC media advisor or UAA-based workplace supervisor. JPC internships require the approval of the director of JPC internships.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 42 credits must be upper-division.

Honors in Journalism and Public Communications

Students majoring in journalism and public communications are eligible to graduate with departmental honors if they satisfy all of the following requirements:

Meet the requirements for a BA in Journalism and Public Communications.
Maintain a grade point average of 3.50 in JPC courses.
Complete JPC A403 or JPC A492 with a grade of A or B.