1997-98 UAF Catalog

Degrees and Programs


Course Description Index


Journalism and Broadcasting

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Journalism and Broadcasting

Degree: B.A.

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 124 credits

The curriculum in Journalism and Broadcasting offers a balance of professional and theory courses for majors and non-majors. Majors are able to take a variety of skills and theory courses while acquiring a strong liberal arts background. Non-majors, including those minoring in Journalism and Broadcasting, may choose from a wide selection of courses to meet their needs.

Besides gaining a solid academic background in the classroom, students get practical experience by working with media on and off campus. On campus, these include public television and public radio stations and a student-owned FM-stereo station. Print journalists work on the campus newspaper. Off campus, students may choose from a variety of radio and television stations. Print journalists work at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Students in the department also have access to the department's state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. These include a computerized newswriting lab, typography lab, audio production lab, video editing lab and two photography labs.

The department is fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Journalism -- B.A. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements and B.A. degree requirements.
  2. Complete the following program (major) requirements:
    1. Complete the following courses in journalism (16 credits):
      JB 101 -- Introduction to Mass Communications (3 credits)
      JB 301 -- News Reporting and Writing (4 credits)
      JB 320 -- Journalism in Perspective (3 credits)
      JB 400 -- Media Practicum (3 credits)
      JB 413 -- Mass Media Law and Regulations (3 credits)
    2. Complete one of the following sequences:
      News-Editorial (18 credits)
      JB 323 -- Publication Editing (3 credits)
      JB 389 -- Internet and Electronic Resources (3 credits)
      JB 444 -- Advanced News Reporting (3 credits)
      Choose three courses from the following: (9 credits)
      JB 203 -- Basic Photography (3 credits)
      JB 240 -- International Communications (3 credits)
      JB 311 -- Magazine Article Writing (3 credits)
      JB 324 -- Typography and Publication Design (3 credits)
      JB/BA 326 -- Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
      JB 340 -- Mass Media and Society (3 credits)
      JB/WMS 380 -- Women, Minorities and the Mass Media (3 credits)
      JB 424 -- Magazine Production (3 credits)
      JB 433 -- Public Relations (3 credits)
      *Broadcast (18 Credits)
      JB 215 -- Audio Production (3 credits)
      JB 451 -- Television Production (3 credits)
      JB 452 -- Radio and Television Newswriting (3 credits)
      Choose three courses from the following: (9 credits)
      JB 203 -- Basic Photography (3 credits)
      JB 240 -- International Communications (3 credits)
      JB/BA 326 -- Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
      JB 340 -- Mass Media and Society (3 credits)
      JB/WMS 380 -- Women, Minorities and the Mass Media (3 credits)
      JB 389 -- Internet and Electronic Resources (3 credits)
      JB 402 -- Advanced Photography (3 credits)
      JB 404 -- Photojournalism (3 credits)
      JB 407 -- Broadcast Programming (3 credits)
      JB 408 -- Broadcast Station Management (3 credits)
      JB 433 -- Public Relations (3 credits)
      JB 444 -- Advanced News Reporting (3 credits)
      JB 453 -- Electronic Newsgathering (3 credits)
      JB 454 -- Advanced TV News Production (3 credits)
      Photography (18 credits)
      JB 203 -- Basic Photography (3 credits)
      JB 402 -- Advanced Photography (3 credits)
      JB 404 -- Photojournalism (3 credits)
      Choose three courses from the following: (9 credits)
      JB 240 -- International Communications (3 credits)
      JB/BA 326 -- Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
      JB/WMS 380 -- Women, Minorities and the Mass Media (3 credits)
      JB 389 -- Internet and Electronic Resources (3 credits)
      JB 403 -- Color Photography (3 credits)
      JB 433 -- Public Relations (3 credits)
      JB 497 -- Independent Study (3 credits)
      Publishing (18 credits)
      JB 323 -- Publication Editing (3 credits)
      JB 324 -- Typography and Publication Design (3 credits)
      JB 389 -- Internet and Electronic Resources (3 credits)
      Choose three courses from the following: (9 credits)
      JB 203 -- Basic Photography (3 credits)
      JB/BA 326 -- Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
      JB 411 -- Advanced Writing for Publication (3 credits)
      JB 424 -- Magazine Production (3 credits)
      JB 433 -- Public Relations (3 credits)
      JB 484 -- Multimedia Theory and Practice (3 credits)
    3. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that every journalism student study another language, both to help gain a better perspective of and to better comprehend the changing world.
    4. To assure the journalist a broad liberal arts education, 90 credits must be outside of Journalism-Broadcasting, 65 of which should be from traditional liberal arts courses, i.e., those courses which fall under the humanities, social sciences, math and natural sciences classifications within the general university requirements which meet general distribution requirements.
  3. Minimum credits required (124 credits)

*Note: The broadcast option is primarily a news and production curriculum and is not intended as a dramatic or performing arts option.

The following courses are also available for elective credit:

  • JB 105 -- History of the Cinema (3 credits)
    JB/ENGL 217 -- Introduction to the Study of Film (3 credits)
    JB 308 -- Film and TV Criticism (3 credits)
    JB 492 -- Seminar (3 credits)
    JB 493 -- Special Topics (3 credits)

MINOR in Journalism and Broadcasting:

Complete at least 16 credits of approved journalism and/or broadcasting courses, including the following:

  • JB 101 -- Introduction to Mass Communications (3 credits)
  • JB 301 -- Basic Newsgathering and Processing (4 credits)