2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
Journalism (JRNL)
Department of Journalism
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit designation below each title is expressed in (c) class hours per week, (l) lab or (d) discussion section hours per week, and (cr) credits per semester.
| JRNL 466 Community Journalism | |
JRNL 102 Basic Journalistic Skills
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: ENGL 101
Required for journalism majors and minors. Emphasizes grammar, punctuation, spelling, AP Stylebook, copyediting, headlines, and accuracy.
JRNL 105 Journalism and the Mass Media
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: ENGL 101
A critical examination of roles-goals of newspapers, magazines, radio, books, movies, and television as they affect American society socially, politically, and economically.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: ENGL 101, nonmajors/minors
Emphasizes intelligent use of writing ability in a journalistic style and understanding of the why of journalism and mass media. Practices and improves writing skills.
JRNL 220 Writing for the Print Media
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 102 (grade of C or better), majors only
A course in journalistic style intended for students who plan to become professional writers. Teaches the basic journalistic formats and strategies used in print media such as the summary lead, the delayed lead, and the conventional news-story format. Throughout, emphasizes economy, clarity, and the development of voice for a given medium.
JRNL 243 History of the American Press
3c-0l-3cr
Traces the development of the American press from its Colonial roots. Emphasizes the role of the press in political and social development.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: ENGL 101, sophomore standing
Explores the role of women in American journalism. Includes study of lives/careers of women journalists and their specific contributions to the profession. Emphasizes evolution of equal opportunity for women and other minorities in the American Press. Attention to the changing definition of news as influenced by the inclusion of women and minorities in editorial roles.
var-1-3cr
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
Offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 281 are offered primarily for lower-level undergraduate students.
3c-0l-3cr
For the student who might work in journalism or who might wish to write on a part-time or free-lance basis.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 102, 120 or 220
Introduces the principles, practices, programs, and possibilities in the various areas of public relations.
JRNL 327 Layout, Design, and Production
2c-3l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 105
Provides basic techniques and theories of layout, design, and production, including typography, copyfitting, photo/art cropping and scaling, and steps in design process. Includes traditional paste-up and desktop publishing in the design of ads, newspapers, newsletters, brochures, and magazines.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 102, 105, 220, majors only
Includes instruction in writing the news story, preparing copy, interviewing, covering special events, and similar reporting activities.
3c-0l-3cr
Stresses basic practices such as copyediting and headline writing while also focusing on guidelines for improving accuracy, clarity, transition, spelling, and punctuation of copy. Students use wire service stylebook extensively.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 102, 120 or 220
Examines critical case histories of ethical and professional situations and circumstances in the mass communication industry in a lecture and discussion format.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 220
Emphasizes skills for covering, writing, and editing of sports and introduces specific practices in newspaper, radio-TV, and sports information work.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 328, junior/senior standing
Open to nonmajors by instructor permission. A survey of the major Supreme Court and state court rulings governing the mass media, especially the news media. Areas include libel, antitrust, free press/fair trial, privacy. Approach is nontechnical.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing
Emphasizes the writing of vigorous but thoughtful and fair editorials. Study of contemporary practice and policy on letters to the editor, columnists, cartoons, the op-ed page.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Deals with international news events and analysis of international news coverage in sources from around the world. Emphasizes analyzing comparative coverage of events in different sources. Students study not only current international news but also how it is reported. The goal of the course is fostering a critical attitude toward news.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing
Teaches advanced principles of document design and gives the opportunity to apply techniques of rhetorical/stylistic analysis, general problem solving, and holistic information display to a wide variety of writing formats used in business, industry, and government news.
JRNL 423 Management in Mass Communications
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 493 or field experience
Attention given to the process of advancement to management positions in the advertising, journalism, and public relations industries.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 327 or instructor permission
Provides advanced techniques and theories of publications design, including the legibility principles of typography, the psychological impact of color and paper, and designing on-line publications, such as newspapers, newsletters, and magazines. Also teaches principles and concepts of publications management, including coping with deadline pressures and the creative disposition, and the marketing of publications. The class produces a total publication.
JRNL 430 Public Opinion and the News Media
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: Junior standing
Deals with understanding and measuring public opinion. Emphasizes critically analyzing the historical origins and the dynamics of public opinion in the policymaking process as well as the role of the news media in public opinion. Students then measure people’s thinking on any given issue or issues.
JRNL 446 Research Methods in Journalism
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 328 or instructor permission
Explores theoretical and practical issues in information gathering, with emphasis on data analysis and computer-assisted reporting for public affairs journalism. Students apply scientific methods in news reporting and analyze the effects of precision journalism on society.
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 220, instructor permission
A basic course in the preparation of advertising copy and continuity for all media. A combination of lecture and laboratory course. Enrollment is limited to upperclass majors.
JRNL 455 High School Journalism
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission
Aimed at equipping students with basic skills in teaching and student media advising at the high school level. Offers a package of skills ranging from basic elements of news, news writing, editing, newspaper layout and design, to student publications advising as well as legal and ethical issues in high school journalism. Open to nonmajors.
JRNL 466 Community Journalism
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisites: Junior standing, permission
Emphasizes practical knowledge and skills in identifying, covering, and writing professionally about community issues and events, including local government, public affairs, the courts, and breaking news. Students will also learn how to interview community leaders and use a variety of sources to access relevant information.
var-1-3cr
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
These courses vary from semester to semester, covering a number of journalism specialties. From time to time they are converted to permanent course numbers. Special topics numbered 481 are offered primarily for upper-level undergraduate students.
var-1-6cr
Prerequisite: Prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, dean, and Provost’s Office
Opportunities for independent study that go beyond the usual classroom activities. Approval based on academic appropriateness and availability of resources; enrollment is limited to fifteen upperclass majors per semester.
3c-0l-3cr
A public relations writing class that includes assignments such as releases, features, newsletters, reports, biographies, rewrites, hometown stories, copyediting, interviewing, research, and special projects.
3c-0l-3cr
Gives practice in writing and making oral presentations based on public relations cases and problems. Familiarizes the student with problem-solving and small-group communication skills necessary for those working in the area of public affairs.
JRNL 492 Problem-solving in Public Relations
3c-0l-3cr
Prerequisite: JRNL 328
Introduces techniques for analyzing and tracking information flow in organizations. Introduces creative problem-solving techniques which are standard practice in corporate research groups.
var-6-12cr
Prerequisites: JRNL 102, 105, 220, 328, department approval
On-the-job training opportunities in journalism and related areas. Maximum of 6cr may be applied to 30cr minimum of major.
3c-0l-3cr
Gives students advanced work in preparation of substantial corporate and government documents such as annual reports, lengthy project reports, and research reports, etc. Emphasizes skills in research of public and government documents, data analysis and problem solving, holistic information display, writing, and editing.
Table of Contents |
Catalog Index
| Course Index