Media Studies
The media studies sequence prepares students for careers as analysts, evaluators and producers of media messages and policies in government and private industry and for graduate education in the social sciences, humanities and law. The curriculum covers courses in media, history, law, policy, institutions, industries and culture. Students may gain practical experience by taking media practice courses and at campus media such as KVCU-AM, the CU Sports Magazine weekly television broadcast and as well as through internships. In recent years, Media Studies majors have interned at the Discovery Channel, Bravo, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Financial Times, Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, Kenney Marketing and Advertising, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Aspen Magazine, Boulder County AIDS Project and KCNC-TV Community Affairs.
Course Requirements for Media Studies
For Students admitted prior to Spring 2012:
- A total of 120 credit hours with a minimum of 28 hours in journalism and 80 non-journalism hours are required for graduation.
- 65 of the 80 non-journalism hours must be in arts and sciences course work.
- 40 of the 120 credit hours must be upper-division.
- Within the 80 credit hours of non-journalism course work, 12 credit hours must be upper-division hours concentrated in a single area of study or a certified minor.
- The last 30 hours toward the degree must be taken after admission to the program.
For Students admitted Spring 2012 and later:
- A total of 120 credit hours with a minimum of 28 hours in journalism and 80 non-journalism hours are required for graduation.
- 65 of the 80 non-journalism hours must be in arts and sciences course work.
- 45 of the 120 credit hours must be upper-division.
- Within the 80 credit hours of non-journalism course work, an additional field of study is required. (The AFS is 30-33 hours, similar to a major.) The last 30 hours toward the degree must be taken after admission to the program.
Read the undergraduate application requirements.
If you are a senior you must consult your academic adviser before registration.
Journalism Course Descriptions
Journalism Core Requirements (12 hours)
JOUR 1001 Contemporary Media Analysis (Restricted to pre-journalism students)
JOUR 2601 Principles of Journalism and Networked Communication OR JOUR 2403 Principles of Advertising and Consumer Culture
After admission to JMC
One upper-division journalism conceptual–Journalism conceptual courses
JOUR 4651 Media Law (May be limited to seniors)
Media Studies Core Requirements (6 hours)
JOUR 4301 Media Ethics
JOUR 4321 Media Institutions and Economics
Media Theory Requirements (6-9 hours)
JOUR 3771 Media and Communication History
JOUR 4201 Media, Culture and Globalization
JOUR 4272 Principles of Public Relations
JOUR 4331 Gender, Race, Class and Sexuality in Popular Culture
JOUR 4351 Reporting Wars, Disasters and Peace
JOUR 4361 TV and the Family in American Culture & Society
JOUR 4711 Mass Communication and Culture
JOUR 4791 Media and the Public
JOUR 4871 Special Topics (conceptual only)
Additional courses may be approved. Please see your advisor.
Media Practice (0-3 hours; students are strongly encouraged to take ONE of the following)
JOUR 3102 Photojournalism I
JOUR 3614 Principles of Audio Production
JOUR 4102 Photojournalism Portfolio (JOUR 3102 prerequisite)
JOUR 4562 Digital Journalism
JOUR 4874 Multi-media Journalism for non-majors
Additional courses may be approved. Please see your advisor.
Journalism Electives and Internships (1-13 hours)
Any JOUR course, including those listed above under Media Theory and Media Practice will fulfill the elective category. Media Studies majors who wish to gain practical experience are also strongly encouraged to do an Internship (JOUR 4931, 1-3 hours) and/or to work for a semester or more for one of the campus media: CU Independent; KVCU radio; CU Sports Mag; Cultural Currents. For internships offered through news editorial, broadcast or advertising, students will need to take additional prerequisites (see major sheet for each sequence’s requirements).