Philip Merrill College of Journalism | University of Maryland

Degree Requirements

Note: Students who matriculated at any university prior to September 1999 should see the former undergraduate degree requirements.

For these requirements, consult the CORE program in the current Undergraduate Catalog. Students are required to earn a minimum of 122 credits. Due to the liberal-arts focus of journalism, accredited journalism programs require majors to complete successfully approximately two-thirds of their coursework in areas other than journalism and communication. The Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland adheres to this nationwide policy In practical terms, this means that of the 122 minimum credits required for graduation, a journalism student must take 38 credits in journalism (numbered 100 or above. Of the remaining 84 credits, a minimum of 65 must be earned in liberal-arts designated courses).

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism stipulates that 58 of the total credits must be taken in upper-level courses (courses numbered 300-499).

Required courses for all journalism majors regardless of whether journalism is a student's primary or secondary major:

I. Journalism requirements outside the College

Students must complete the following liberal arts coursework complementing the University's general education requirements. For the University's general education (CORE) requirements, consult the CORE program in the current Undergraduate Catalog.

Abstract thinking skills requirement (nine credits)
1. One three-credit statistics course from the following list:
  BIOM 301, BMGT 230, CCJS 200, ECON 321, EDMS 451, GEOG 305, GVPT 227, PSYC 200, SOCY 201, or a more advanced statistics course.
2. A minimum of six credits through one or a combination of the following options. Should a student choose to combine the options, at least one language course must be at the intermediate level:
  - Language: up to two courses with at least one course at the intermediate level and no more than one course at the introductory level. (High school equivalency does not satisfy this requirement.)
  - Math/Statistics/Computer Science: up to two courses
    - Any mathematics (MATH) course numbered 111 or higher.
    - Any computer science (CMSC) course.
Public Speaking: one course from COMM 100, 107, 200, or 230.
History: one course from HIST 156 or 157.
Behavioral or Social Science: one course from ANTH 260; PSYC 100 or 221; SOCY 100, or 105.
Economics: one course from ECON 200 or 201.
Government and Politics: one course from GVPT 100 or 170
Supporting Area: Four upper-level (numbered 300 or higher) courses for a minimum of 12 credits in a supporting field (cannot be in Communication).

II. Journalism course requirements:

JOUR 100-Professional Orientation (one credit)
JOUR 200-History, Roles and Structures (three credits)
JOUR 201-News Writing and Reporting (three credits)
JOUR 202/262-News Editing (three credits)
JOUR 300-Ethics (three credits)
One of News Writing and Reporting II (three credits):
- JOUR 320-Print or
- JOUR 360-Broadcast
Advanced Skills: Any nine JOUR credits numbered 321-389
JOUR 350-Graphics or JOUR 352-Online Journalism (three credits)
JOUR 396/399-Supervised Internship (one credit)
JOUR 400-Law of Mass Communication (three credits)
Journalism and Society: Any three JOUR credits numbered 410-469
Research: Any three JOUR credits numbered 470-479

III. Specific Journalism Requirements

Completion of JOUR 20l: Students must complete JOUR 20l with a "C" or as a prerequisite for most journalism skills courses, including JOUR 202 and all beginning sequence courses. Consult the Schedule of Classes or the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of prerequisites and restrictions for journalism courses.
"C" Requirement: Students must earn a "C" or better in JOUR 201 and JOUR 202 prior to taking any courses for which they serve as a prerequisite.