Nov 21, 2024

OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25

Journalism Major (B.S.) [offered through Honors Tutorial College]

Major Code BS1972*

Honors Tutorial College
35 Park Place
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.2723
honors.college@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/honors/tutorial-college

Victoria LaPoe, director of studies/contact person
lapoe@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The HTC program in Journalism offers exceptional students the opportunity to study the many aspects of journalism and mass communication in small groups and one-on-one relationships with our school’s faculty members. Maximum opportunities will be afforded for the student to progress well beyond the material found in conventional courses. The primary purpose of the tutorial program is to prepare students for a professional career while at the same time serving as preparation for graduate study. Students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree from the Honors Tutorial College. The HTC Journalism program satisfies the accreditation standards of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Students in the HTC Journalism program typically follow one of the two main tracks in journalism, the news and information track or the strategic communication track.

Eight tutorials in Journalism are required, including two thesis tutorials. To allow maximum flexibility, tutorials can vary between 1 and 15 hours per semester, though non-thesis tutorials are usually taken for a minimum of 3 hours and thesis tutorials for a minimum of 5 hours. Students must also complete regular journalism courses, liberal arts requirements, and a specialization. Honors Tutorial students are required to enroll in a minimum of 15 hours per semester.

Students in the HTC Journalism program will be prepared to 1. achieve a sophisticated understanding of their discipline and profession via conceptual and skills classes, labs, and tutorials, 2. pursue original, independent research and journalistic creative activity by completing pertinent assignments, participating in applicable projects, and working on the honors thesis, and 3. develop a professional work ethic and responsibility through ethics training, tutorials, group work, and the honors thesis. These goals are assessed continuously throughout the program.

*This program was previously BJ1923 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS1972 and will award the Bachelor of Science effective the 2024-25 catalog year.

Honors Thesis

Students are required to complete an honors thesis, investigating a problem of concern to both scholars and practitioners. Due to the professional orientation of journalism, the thesis can either be a scholarly piece or a professional project. As a rule, the thesis should be somewhere between 50 and 80 pages long or an adequate, agreed-upon length for the professional project (including a 25-page-long scholarly essay). The thesis committee is usually composed of the thesis adviser and the director of studies, who will monitor the thesis work. Its acceptance, dependent upon an appropriate mixture of research and analysis, relies upon the judgment of the thesis adviser and the director of studies. Additionally, it must be approved by the dean of the Honors Tutorial College.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

Students are selected by the director of studies of the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior academic ability and the potential for self-motivated study and research. Applicants typically are required to submit additional essays, and an interview with the director of studies is required for admission. More information, including materials and deadlines, is available at www.ohio.edu/honors/tutorial-college/apply. Recommendations from two high school teachers are optional but highly recommended. Portfolios with writing samples and/or broadcast or multimedia productions are strongly encouraged (showcasing students’ writing abilities and experience with journalism and mass media).

Change of Program Policy

First-year students at Ohio University may apply to transfer in to the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen.

External Transfer Admission

First-year students at another institution may also apply to transfer in to the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Most students graduating from the program will work in the field of journalism, mass communication, PR, or advertising, and related fields. Journalism graduates are often hired into other jobs, as well, due to their general abilities (critical thinking, writing skills, analytical facilities, computer literacy, etc.). The Bachelor degree in journalism is also a great preparation for graduate school. Students may apply for graduate school in journalism or related fields, including law school, business school, and political science. HTC Journalism and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism have an outstanding record of post-graduation job placement.

Requirements

Major Hours Requirement

Ohio University requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for conferral of a bachelor’s degree. However, the Journalism major offered through the Honors Tutorial College requires a minimum of 126 semester hours.

HTC Grade Requirements

Earn at least 120 semester hours and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher overall.

University English Composition Requirement

Complete one Written Communication course (ENG 1510 ) and one Advanced Writing course (FAW).

Quantitative Skills Requirement

Complete the University’s Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. More information can be found by viewing the OHIO BRICKS page (see Quantitative Reasoning heading within “Foundations Requirements”).

HTC Seminar

First-year students must complete the following course:

HC 2500 - Honors Seminar Credit Hours: 3

Transfer students

Transfer students may substitute an HC special topics seminar for their HC 2500 requirement.

Journalism HTC Tutorials

Core Tutorials

Complete two core tutorials: One tutorial on communication law and one on media ethics.

JOUR 2970T - Journalism Tutorial (Core Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15
JOUR 2971T - Journalism Tutorial (Core Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15

Advanced Tutorials

Complete two advanced tutorials: One tutorial on skills/specialized journalism issues and one tutorial on topics, concepts, and theories in journalism.

JOUR 2980T - Journalism Tutorial (Core Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15
JOUR 2981T - Journalism Tutorial Credit Hours: 1 - 15

Research Tutorial

Complete two research tutorials to prepare for the thesis project: One tutorial on theories, methods, or history in journalism and one group tutorial to prepare your prospectus.

JOUR 3970T - Journalism Tutorial (Advanced Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15
JOUR 3980T - Journalism Tutorial (Research) Credit Hours: 1 - 15

Thesis Tutorials

Complete two thesis tutorials during the final year of study focused on the development and completion of an advisor- and director of studies-approved thesis or professional project:

JOUR 4970T - Journalism Tutorial (Thesis Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15
JOUR 4980T - Journalism Tutorial (Thesis Tutorial) Credit Hours: 1 - 15

HTC Journalism Thesis Requirement

Complete an advisor or director of studies approved thesis or professional project.

A scholarly thesis may focus on theoretical/conceptual research, investigate empirical issues, or combine the two; it may also include qualitative and/or quantitative research. It should be a product of sustained research on a specific subject and reflect the academic and professional expectations and standards of our discipline. It should also include some conceptual and ethical reflections on the process, showing how concepts and methods were applied and used in the work, and discussing the challenges, obstacles, and benefits of the process.

A professional project should be a substantial piece of journalistic work in the news and information track or in the strategic communication track, such as a series of in-depth magazine articles, a TV/radio documentary, a PR kit, an ad campaign, or marketing plan. It must include a scholarly essay of 25 pages minimum on theories, methods, concepts, developments, experiences and open questions etc., pertaining to the project. The essay must also addresses ethical questions and specific challenges of the project, such as conflict of interest, journalistic ethics, etc.

Journalism Core Courses

Complete one core course from each option:

(Option 1)
JOUR 1010 - The Future of Media Credit Hours: 3
or
JOUR 1050 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credit Hours: 3
or, if approved by the director of studies, one of the following conceptual journalism courses:
JOUR 4130 - Gender, Race, and Class in Journalism and Mass Media Credit Hours: 3
JOUR 4230 - International and Cross-Cultural Advertising Credit Hours: 3
JOUR 4630 - Media and Conflicts Credit Hours: 3
JOUR 4660 - International Mass Media Credit Hours: 3
(Option 2)
JOUR 2311 - Introduction to Multiplatform Reporting and Writing Credit Hours: 3

Journalism Professional and Conceptural Courses

You are also expected to take the independent study JOUR 4930 (at least 1 hour) as introduction in the fall of your first year and an appropriate number of advisor-approved electives in journalism, at a minimum of three journalism courses, typically in your track (news and information track or strategic communication track).

General Education/Liberal Arts Requirement

Complete a total of 48 hours (16 courses) with at least four courses (12 hours) taken at the 3000-level or higher.

Complete one course in each of the following areas:

African-American Studies or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; 3 hours)
Economics or business (ECON, MKT, BUSL, MGT, FIN, MIS; 3 hours)
Logic/argumentation (typically PHIL 1200 ; 3 hours)
Statistics (COMS 3520 , ECON 3810 , MATH 2500 , PSY 1110 , or SOC 3500 ; 3 hours)

Complete two courses in the following area:

Foreign or Sign Language (6 hours in same language; may be fulfilled if student demonstrates proficiency at the 3000-level or higher)

Complete ten elective courses in Liberal Arts:

Take ten courses (at least 30 hours) from at least three different departments (except JOUR, MDIA, and VICO) as advised by the DOS.

Area of Specialization

Students must declare a Minor or Certificate Program, or create an advisor approved, minimum 15-hour, group of related courses.

Internship

Complete an advisor-approved journalism internship (minimum of 200 hours).