Academics
Graduation Requirements
SHSJC prepares students for professional careers or advanced study. Below are the graduation requirements:
- Students must have a 2.5 grade point average in journalism and communications courses
- Complete 120 credit hours, of which 72 are outside of the school, 65 are in the liberal arts and sciences and no more than 48 are in journalism and communications; additionally, majors cannot complete more than six total credit hours in JAC 460 (Independent Study), JAC 465 (Internship), or JAC 467 (Practicum)
- Complete a university-approved minor or an 18-hour area of emphasis outside of the School of Journalism and Communications
- Complete a minimum of 150 hours in a school-approved internship at a media or communication organization in alignment with the student's major
- Complete a portfolio that demonstrates that 1) the student has mastered the basic skills of his or her major and 2) that the student's work reflects a critical and ethical understanding of the profession
JAC Courses
Below are the courses taught in the Scripps Howard School.
JAC 101 Media in a Multicultural Society
This course surveys the mass media. Students are introduced to various forms of mass media, the economics associated with mass media, and the relationship between the media and society. Media ethics, First Amendment rights and the function of the press in society are also examined. The course prepares majors and non-majors to become informed citizens, consumers and producers of media content. This course is required of both majors.
JAC 105 Grammar and AP Style
This course provides students with a fundamentally-sound understanding of grammar usage and sentence structure, enabling them to write with clarity and an appreciation for the guiding principles of media writing indicative of professionals in the field. The lesson concepts are applied through practical, interactive exercises that promote learning and understanding of English grammar, usage, punctuation, and writing mechanics. Students will also receive instruction in using the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, a newspaper industry standard guide for grammar, punctuation, principles and practices of reporting known as journalism’s “Bible.” The AP Stylebook is widely used by print publications, broadcasters, digital media companies and credible public relations firms. This is a requirement for both majors and students who choose journalism as a minor.
JAC 110 Introduction to Media Writing
This course emphasizes proper grammatical structure and introduces writing styles and language skills needed by journalists and communications professionals. In this course students will be introduced to the basic writing formats for various forms of mass communication, including journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising and online media. Students learn methods of gathering information, including research techniques and ways to interview sources. They develop language usage and grammar skills and learn Associated Press style. In this course, emphasis is placed on critical thinking and students are introduced to the importance of writing to meet deadlines. Required of both majors and minors.
JAC 200 Introduction to Visual Media
This course introduces students to the basics of visual design used by media professionals. In this course students will explore the theories of visual communication, including principles of design, symbolism and color theory. The basics of photography, videography, web publishing, and online graphics will also be explored. The course allows majors to develop basic technical and software skills, which will be essential in upper-level courses in all majors. Required of all majors. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 210 Reporting and Newswriting Across Platforms
This is the foundation writing course for all majors. It teaches research methods for gathering information and emphasizes critical thinking to analyze the comparative importance of the information. It builds strong skills in writing and language usage for multiple media platforms. It gives students practice in reporting and writing in basic news story formats and styles that are applicable to other communications professions. It introduces students to the demands of quickly and accurately gathering information, analyzing the information and writing to meet deadlines. Required of all majors. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 220 Principles of Public Relations
This course introduces students to the basic concepts of public relations. It surveys principles, theories, strategies, techniques and practices of the public relations profession. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 230 Principles of Advertising
This course introduces students to the basic principles of advertising and its relationship to different forms of branded media and consumers. It includes theories, strategies, and elements of visual design, copy writing, sales and research. Social media applications will also be explored. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 265 Introduction to Radio/Television Production
This course introduces students to the basic principles of advertising and its relationship to different forms of branded media and consumers. It includes theories, strategies, and elements of visual design, copy writing, sales and research. Social media applications will also be explored. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 301 Web Design and Production
This course introduces students to producing content for the web. It teaches the fundamentals of web site development, hypertext markup language and web design including the use of interactive text, graphics, video and audio for the web. It also stresses sound journalistic news values and judgment for reporting responsibly and ethically using the web, mobile platforms and social media. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 310 Advanced Reporting and Newswriting Across Platforms
This course builds on and strengthens reporting and newswriting skills gained in JAC 210. It teaches basic beat and public affairs reporting and how to cover police, fire, city council and courts. It introduces students to “issues” beats focused on such topics as health, religion, business, multicultural and minority affairs, urban affairs and technology. It requires students to choose a beat, cultivate sources, develop story ideas and write news and feature stories from the beat. Campus reporting and in-depth final reporting projects are published online. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 320 PR, Campaigns & Media Brand Marketing
The course will aid students in understanding and applying the basic principles of building and deploying a public relations campaign/building a brand for purposes of media marketing. Upon completion of the course, students will know how to conceptualize and create a campaign that impacts prospects. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 330 Social and Multimedia Analytics
Examining the ways social media is used in professional settings for marketing, brand awareness and prospect outreach, the course will serve as an introduction into the use of analytics dashboards to understand how to craft engaging content that will serve strategic communication needs. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 340 Broadcast Newswriting
This course refines writing skills for broadcast journalism platforms. Students’ reporting and writing skills are strengthened by working basic beats such as city government, courts, and police. Each student will write and produce stories for radio and television broadcasts, as well as online presentations. Both news and feature stories are produced for the student’s portfolio. Assignments include anchoring radio newscasts and producing television news stories. Documentary style reporting is also explored. Prerequisites: JAC 105, JAC 110.
JAC 403 Media Entrepreneurship
This survey course introduces students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurial concepts and skills through case studies and the development of a media venture. Students will work in teams to develop a comprehensive strategic business plan for the implementation of innovative digital media products and services. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 404 Media Ethics
Students investigate the process of making ethical choices as producers and consumers of media content based on sound professional principles. Ethical dilemmas and case studies including social media will be examined. The ethical codes of professional groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association, The Public Relations Society of America and the American Advertising Federation will also be explored. This course provides the tools necessary to identify and analyze ethical issues that modern-day media organizations face. The course prepares students to apply various decision-making strategies when they face these issues in the workplace. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 405 Media Law
This course examines the various laws that affect journalism and other communications professions. It includes the First Amendment, libel, copyright, privacy telecommunications regulations and obscenity laws. This course is designed to introduce students to legal concepts pertinent to the communications industries. It will investigate the dynamic nature of the First Amendment through the evaluation of precedents and legal proceedings. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 406 Media Management
This course teaches students how to improve their chances of successfully navigating a career in the media industry across all media platforms. Students get a comprehensive view of media management’s role and critical relationships relevant to operation, strategies, regulatory and personnel challenges, opportunities, consequences and rewards. Students are taught critical relationship-building skills they can apply to further maximize their employment opportunities. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 408 Sports Journalism
An introduction to the philosophy, craft and practices of covering athletics in the era of digital communication. The course will expose students to the basic process of covering sports, crafting readable print, video and audio content (long and short form) for print, blogs and social media. Students also will learn the basics of creating an industry-standard podcast that will inform, entertain and engage audiences. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 410 Content Editing
This course teaches the skills and theoretical concepts demanded by 21st century digital news coverage and technology in journalism. It includes copy editing, page layout and design and techniques for coaching and working with writers to develop story ideas. It stresses an editor’s responsibility to assure balanced, thorough and accurate coverage of a global society. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 412 Feature and Editorial Storytelling
Students in this course will learn techniques in reporting and writing feature stories. Students are required to produce and publish substantial magazine-length features for multimedia platforms including online publications and blogs. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110
JAC 414 Business Journalism
This course teaches the basics of business beat reporting. It requires students to cultivate sources, develop story ideas, dig deeper and write stories with an emphasis on following the money. Reporting is eligible to be published online. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 415 Photojournalism
Students will learn visual storytelling concepts and techniques for the digital age. Writing appropriate cutlines, examining issues as well as composition, lighting and ethics will be discussed. Students will utilize contemporary photographic equipment and software to produce images for multiple platforms. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 416 Science Journalism
This course develops the specialized writing and reporting skills needed to cover the environment, weather, health, medicine and other scientific topics for general audiences. Emphasis is placed on understanding terminology, analyzing and using health, medical and science-related research information and data for impactful storytelling.
JAC 420 Media Research
This survey course will examine research methods commonly used by media professionals to gather quantitative and qualitative data for planning, programming and evaluating effective communication programs and strategies. Students will learn to use techniques such as background searches, data collection methods, database information input, retrieval and analyses, writing style guides and copy-testing. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 425 Crisis Communication
This course examines case studies of organizations’ communication needs and dilemmas in emergencies and crises. Students will look at the role of the crisis communication manager in preventing and managing such problems as scandals, natural disasters and bad public image. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 430 Advanced Media Analytics
The course exposes students to the use of analytics in media for the purpose of understanding how users engage with the content that has been created, and how to encourage further engagement with newly created content. The media examined in this class includes current mass media—video, email, etc.—and emerging technologies as they enter popular use. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 440 News Production
This course provides students with practical training in news production. It includes writing, reporting, photographing, editing of stories and electronic news gathering, electronic field production and studio production. Training is emphasized in all aspects of the studio equipment and control room. Students work as a team with various roles such as director, audio operator, tape editor, character generator operator, teleprompter operator and camera operator. Any work produced by the student will be included in the portfolio. Mobile platforms may be addressed. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 450 Special Topics in Journalism and Communications
This is a special course organized by a faculty member to discuss current issues or contemporary topics in journalism or communications. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 451 Specialized Skills in Journalism and Communications
This is a special course organized by a faculty member to help students develop a specific skill in journalism or communications. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 452 International Journalism and Communications
This course is a cross-cultural study of journalism and communications in the “global village.” It compares media practices in democracies and state-run media. It will look at how the news media and communication professionals are affected by the flow of uncensored technology and media information across national borders. It will look at the effects of the “information world-order” on cultures, politics and economics. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 453 Media Innovation, Graphics & Virtual Reality
This course introduces students to the basics of visual design used by media professionals. In this course, students will explore the theories of visual communication, including principles of design, symbolism and color theory. The basics of photography, videography and page layout and design will also be explored. The course allows majors to develop basic technical skills, such as working with augmented and virtual reality, which will be essential in upper-level courses in all majors and minors. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 454 Civil Rights Era and the Media
This course will look at the relationship between the press and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. It will examine the coverage of key moments and people. It will look at the differences between national and local coverage of these events and people and at the role of African American journalists in covering the civil rights struggle. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 460 Independent Study in Journalism and Communications
This course is designed to meet the needs of the journalism and communications student who wishes to conduct independent research, develop a special academic project or fulfill other department requirements outside of the usual class structure. Students cannot apply more than six credit hours in independent study toward graduation requirements. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110.
JAC 465 Internship in Journalism and Communications
This is a part-time placement in a professional setting for students to gain practical experience in their major. Students cannot apply for more than six credit hours in Internship and Practicum (JAC 467) toward graduation. Prerequisites: JAC 105 and JAC 110
JAC 467 Practicum in Journalism and Communications
This course is designed to allow students to get hands-on experience in some aspect of journalism or communication under the close supervision of a member of the school’s faculty. Students cannot apply for more than six credit hours in Internship (JAC 465) and Practicum toward graduation. Prerequisites: JAC 105, JAC 110 and POI to oversee the experience.
JAC 495 Senior Capstone: Journalism
This course is the capstone experience for Journalism majors. It will include a multimedia project appropriate to the journalism profession, such as an in-depth print reporting project, or a video or audio story that meets the standard of professionals working in the field. Students will submit a professional-quality portfolio of their work as a major component for career preparation. Students will be expected to think critically about and defend the contents of their portfolio in terms of professional standards and ethics. Prerequisites: JAC 105, JAC 110 and senior status.
JAC 495 Senior Capstone: Strategic Communication
This course is the capstone experience for Strategic Communication majors. It will include a public relations, marketing or advertising project, such as creating a PR campaign, working with a client to build an advertising campaign, or building an entrepreneurial brand, that meets the standard of professionals working in the field. Students will submit a professional-quality portfolio of their work as a major component for career preparation. Students will be expected to think critically about and defend the contents of their portfolio in terms of professional standards and ethics. Prerequisites: JAC 105, JAC 110 and senior status.
Scholarship Information
In addition to university scholarships, the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications offers a variety of scholarships to qualifying students. Eligibility criteria for scholarships are regularly distributed to students via email. Some SHSJC scholarships may require competitive written essays. Amounts vary from $2,500 to $10,000 with deadlines and eligibility requirements specific to the awarding organization.
Scripps Howard School Non-Endowed Scholarships
- White House Correspondents' Association: Senior journalism students.
- World Wildlife Foundation: Journalism students interested in covering environmental stories.
- Rashida Jones: Juniors and seniors in both majors.
- Sandra Evers Manley: Juniors and senors in both majors.
- RF Binder: Based on merit and need. Available for eligible junior and senior female students in strategic communication.
Endowed Scholarships
- W.R. Hearst: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in both majors.
- Scripps Howard Journalism: Merit and financial need; freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
- Robert P. Scripps: Financial need for both majors.
- Joseph K. Bose: Male, junior majoring in journalism.
- Burdick-Bennet: Journalism senior.
- Jean and Charles Shultz: Journalism Majors.