GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
All majors seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising, Journalism or Public Relations must meet the following requirements:
  • Complete 124 semester units which include all University and School of Journalism degree requirements. 
  • At least eighty-four (84) of the 124 units must be taken outside the School areas of Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations, or Mass Communications, whether completed at San Jose State University or at another college or university. National accreditation requirements call for 90 units outside the School, but also allow students to count six units from Mcom 72 (Media & Society), Mcom 101 (Law & Ethics) OR Mcom 106 (Global Communications) as part of this 90 units because they are considered general subjects.
  • Sixty-five (65) of the 90 units must be taken in the liberal arts and sciences. Courses in this area are defined as those offered in the Schools of Humanities and Arts, Social Science and Science or by equivalent disciplines at other institutions, and courses listed as general education courses in the SJSU schedule of classes (except no 100W course is accepted.) 
  • Courses offering practical instruction in fields closely related to mass communications may not be applied to the liberal arts and sciences requirement, regardless of where offered. Specifically excluded are laboratory production and skills courses in English, and internships, activity or independent study courses offered by other departments. If you aren't sure, ask your advisor. 
  • Must complete a 12-unit academic focus in a single discipline or department outside the fields taught within the School of Journalism. At least six (6) of these units must be upper division, and the GPA must be at least 2.0.  The minimum requirement is a 12-unit academic focus, but students may also choose a minor if they desire.  The academic focus, as well as a minor, must be approved by your advisor. 
  • Complete an approved internship for academic credit before the final semester of the senior year. This may be waived for students who can document substantial professional experience prior to their senior year. 

'C' GRADE IN INTRO WRITING COURSES
Majors in the Journalism and Public Relations degree programs, in order to advance to higher level writing courses, must earn at least a "C" grade in Journalism 61A, 61B or 61C.  Students receiving less than a "C" grade must re-take the course.  This policy is in effect starting with Spring Semester 2001.

GRADUATION APPLICATION
Students must complete a major form, available on this Web site or from the department office (DBH 105), and also list all courses they have taken outside the School of Journalism.  These forms must be signed by your advisor.  Transfer students are required to provide the School with a copy of their transcripts from other institutions as soon as possible. Major forms will not be approved unless such records are on file.  Students must also file an application for graduation at the University level no later than the first semester of the senior year. 

TRANSFER OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE CREDIT
A maximum of 12 units of California Community college course work may be applied to department majors. Courses that are accepted include: (1) Those equivalent to department lower division offerings as required for a given program or sequence; (2) other community college courses in mass communications subjects (a maximum of three units from this category may be applied to general elective requirements in the major). 

ACADEMIC FOCUS
An approved academic focus in a specific discipline/department for 12 units is a requirement for all majors in the School.  At least six (6) of these units must be upper division (100-level).  An academic focus in traditional liberal arts and social science disciplines offers the advantage of insuring that the student will meet School requirements for 65 units of general study within the framework of 90 units outside the School.  Students who select an academic focus in Business, Technical Writing, Radio-TV-Film, Art Photography, or other professionally oriented disciplines will need to plan their programs carefully in order to complete all graduation requirements for the 124-unit degree.  Students are required to have their academic focus approved by their academic advisor.  Note: A student may also choose a minor instead of an academic focus, but "official" minors in most departments typically require 15 to 18 units. 

INTERNSHIPS
There is a 240-hour internship required of all majors in the School.  This equals six weeks of full-time work or a minimum of 20 hours per week for 12 weeks.  All internships must be approved by your academic advisor and the School internship supervisor.  Students must work in an off-campus organization and have a qualified professional (in the student's major) supervise their work.  Internships require weekly activity reports, a final letter from the employer, and completion of a questionnaire about the internship. 

The internship is normally done during the summer between the junior and senior years and must be completed before the last semester of the senior year. Students may not intern before completing specified prerequisites, gaining approval from their major adviser, and having on file with the School an approved agreement with the host agency. The internship requirement may be waived for students who can document comparable professional experience prior to the senior year.  Students who intern without formal enrollment in Mcom 111 (Internship) will not be permitted to register in a subsequent semester for retroactive credit.

To J&MC Home Page
To San José State University Home Page
To College of Applied Sciences and Arts Home Page
Send comments and suggestions about this site to JMCwebmaster@casa.sjsu.edu