Oct 30, 2024  
Spring 2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Spring 2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Relations, BSJ


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College of Arts and Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in journalism will be expected to:

  • Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society;
  • Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and diversity;
  • Think critically, creatively, and independently;
  • Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
  • Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences, and purposes they serve;
  • Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness;
  • Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
  • Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

A candidate for the degree of bachelor of science in journalism must meet the following requirements in addition to those listed in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

  • Requirements for the degree are in keeping with ACEJMP accreditation standards, which mandate a minimum of 72 hours in courses outside of journalism and mass communications. Students are also required to complete appropriately supervised experience in campus media and professional internships. Courses fulfilling the degree requirements are listed on the Journalism and Public Relations requirements sheet, provided to all incoming first-year and transfer students and available from the main office in 306 Kuhlin Center.

Foreign language requirement
Each student is required to demonstrate a proficiency in a language by one of the options listed below:

  • Graduating from a high school where all instruction was conducted in a language other than English;
  • Passing a proficiency examination in the language on the 2020 course level;
  • Having completed four years of one language in high school (student must have completed the fourth full year, for example, Spanish IV, and received credit for these courses);
  • Having completed one of the program options listed below (12-14 hours minimum in the same language area or fewer by advanced placement)

Note: Foreign language courses numbered 2010, 2020, 2120 apply to Group II, not Group V.

Chinese, German, Japanese, Russian

French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish

A student may transfer at any point from Option I to Option II but not vice versa. Course 2020 is required for admission to 3000-level courses. Credit toward a degree is not granted for foreign language courses which duplicate more than two units of high school study.

Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component

The Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component is grounded in the conviction that acquiring proficiency in multiple modes of thought and communication, referred to as habits of mind, is the defining characteristic of a liberal arts education. This four-course component will enhance students’ ability to see things from multiple perspectives, solve problems both analytically and creatively, and communicate effectively both within and across cultural boundaries.

As a college anchored in the tradition of liberal arts and sciences, we believe that acquiring multiple habits of mind is valuable both in its own right and as a way to promote lifelong learning. As the largest college in a comprehensive regional institution serving the state and nation, we also believe that the intellectual and personal growth that students achieve in a 21st-century arts and sciences degree program is crucial to success in the global ago, regardless of one’s professional growth.

Specifically, courses in the liberal arts and sciences emphasize:

  • Critical contemplation of theoretically-grounded ideas and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.
  • Learning via inquiry, in which students test their assumptions by exploring bases of knowledge, recent research findings, or bodies of creative expression.
  • Advancement of general intellectual capacities, such as verbal, quantitative, and visual literacy, interpretive judgment, and critical self-reflection.
  • Development of broadly applicable competencies, such as precise analysis, evidence-based argumentation, creative problem-solving, and effective communication.
  • Engagement with experiences and perspectives that differ from one’s own.

Students are strongly encouraged to work with their college advisers and faculty mentors to maximize the potential of the Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component. The four courses selected for this component may be closely related to the major, sample the diverse domains of the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, or be interdisciplinary in nature.

  • Each course must have a different prefix,
  • At least two courses must be at the 3000- or 4000-level, and
  • Courses applied to the Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component may not be used to fiulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP or other program requirements.

A list of eligible courses is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook and tracked by the Degree Audit Reporting Systems (DARS).

Other Requirements

  • Choose either Journalism sequence or Public Relations specialization. Journalism is generally associated training for reporting, writing, and editing positions with online media, broadcast media, newspapers, wire services, and magazines. Public relations includes inter-group communications and relating the interests of business, industry, government, and public and private institutions to each other and to society. 
  • Complete 39-42 semester hours of journalism courses, 18 of which are core journalism courses, with the remainder from specific sequence courses and electives. Due to national accrediting policies, no more than 50 semester hours of journalism/mass communication courses may be counted toward a bachelor of science in journalism degree. (Note: Courses taken in departments and programs other than journalism, such as telecommunications, may count as part of the 50 semester hours allowed. Students should not enroll in mass communication courses in programs and departments outside of Journalism and Public Relations without permission from their advisor.
  • Earn a grade of “C” or better in all journalism courses that count toward the 39-42 required hours in the journalism major and maintain a 2.5 grade point average in journalism courses. All journalism/mass communication courses must be taken for a grade. A student is allowed to repeat a journalism/mass communication course only once if a grade of “D” or lower is received.
  • Complete a minor of at least 20 semester hours in a field other than journalism/mass communication/telecommunications or complete an internal program minor of 20 hours that clusters courses in two or more fields other than journalism/mass communication. Twelve of the 20 hours required for a minor must be in 3000- or 4000-level courses. Minors are declared in consultation with the student’s advisor. All courses in the minor must be taken for a letter grade (not “S/U”). A maximum of one course may be counted in both the minor and college group requirements.
  • Earn an overall grade point average of 2.25 in order to graduate.
  • To remain in the Bachelor of Science in Journalism program, students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in all Journalism courses and earn a grade of “C” or better in every journalism course that counts towards the required hours in the degree. An overall GPA of 2.25 must be maintained for graduation. If transferring into the BGS journalism program, students must have a 2.5 grade point average in both journalism and overall coursework if JOUR 2000  transfer credit is approved. The normal requirements for entry into JOUR 2000  apply if a student does not receive transfer credit for JOUR 2000 . No more than 12 semester hours of coursework in journalism will be accepted for transfer from junior colleges. No more than 15 semester hours of coursework in journalism will be accepted for transfer from an ACEJMC accredited journalism program. 

Note: Resources may limit class enrollment in upper-division journalism courses, beginning with JOUR 2000 . Total hours earned, declared sequence, and grade point average determine which journalism students are given preference. Students not majoring in journalism may find it difficult to gain admittance into some upper-division journalism courses, including JOUR 2000 . Although it may limit their admission to other journalism skills courses, non-majors may wish to consider enrolling in JOUR 2010 , Journalism Techniques for Non-majors.

Prerequisites for JOUR 2500:

  • JOUR 2000  with at least a C
  • Overall grade point average of 2.7
  • At least 30 credits

Core Courses in journalism required of all students (18 hours minimum)

Non-journalism electives
After completing the required BG Perspective and required College courses, required journalism courses, and a required minor, most students will have some semester hours remaining to complete the 122 semester hours required for graduation. Students must use these hours as general electives, and are encouraged to select them carefully, in consultation with their journalism advisor. General electives should be chosen with the goal of enhancing the student’s overall education.

BG Perspective (BGP) Requirements


Must complete at least 1 course in each of the following:

   English Composition and Oral Communication
   _____________________________    ________

   Quantitative Literacy
   _____________________________    ________

Must Complete at least 2 courses in each of the following:

   Humanities and the Arts
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________    

   Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                      

   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                        

Complete total required BGP credit hours by selecting courses from any of the above categories:

   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                    

University Requirements

Designated courses in Humanities and the Arts and the Social and Behavioral Sciences domains may be used to fulfill both the BGP requirement and one of the following university requirements:

Cultural Diversity in the US    ____________
International Perspective       ____________

Composition Requirement:
WRIT 1120 - Seminar in Research Writing                                   

Total BGP Credits: Must be at least 36                      

Arts & Sciences Requirements (FL)


Foreign Language (_____ yrs of HS_______)

   ________1010_________________    ________ 
​   ________1020_________________    ________ 

Lab Science  

   _____________________________    ________ 

Multidisciplinary Component

Select from approved offerings, in consultation with an advisor and a faculty mentor. Four courses total, each with a different subject prefix. At least two courses at 3000/4000 level. Courses applied to the Arts & Sciences MDC may not be used to fulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP or other program requirements.   
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________  

Major Requirements (42 JOUR Hrs. required)


Public Relations Specialization Capstone (3 Hrs)


Additional Requirements


COMM 1020  or COMM 2050 THFM 1410  or THFM 2020  
CS/IS
ECON
General Science
Literature ENG
PHIL
POLS
U.S. History

Minor Requirements


Electives and Non-Credit Courses


Notes:


*Only 3 hours of JOUR 4000 count toward graduation.

**Prerequisites for JOUR 2500–30 hours including JOUR 2000. Overall GPA at least 2.7 and minimum grade of C in JOUR 2000.

For Graduation You Will Need:


  1. 122 credit hours minimum.
  2. Minimum GPA 2.00.
  3. At least 30 credit hours of BGSU course work.
  4. 40 credit hours at the 3000/4000 level.
  5. Completion of all degree requirements, including the BG Perspective Core.
  6. A major, and if required, a minor, specialization or emphasis.

Any substitution or waiver of courses required for your major or minor program must originate in the department/school offering the major or minor and must be approved by the College Office.

To ensure a timely graduation, see a College Advisor during the semester prior to your intended graduation.

Remember to complete an Application for Graduation by the end of the second week of classes during the fall semester or spring regular session, or by the end of the first week of the summer semester. For the specific dates, check your DARS. You may log onto MyBGSU to complete the online application. After the deadlines, you will need to complete an application in person in the College Office.

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