Working copy

 

 

Catalog Options

Download Current Catalog

Purchase Print Catalog

Catalog Archive

Page PDF

Communication - Journalism and Media Studies Emphasis, B.A.

  • Requirements
  • Graduation Plan
  • Department
  • Faculty
  • Careers

Requirements

Students choosing a Communication degree with an emphasis in Journalism will have the opportunity to work with award-winning faculty and gain substantial amounts of hands-on experience. The program encourages students to get involved with The UVU Review, the student-produced campus news organization. The Review is an excellent way to build skills in print, broadcast, and web journalism. Course options for Journalism students range from introductory writing and reporting classes to advanced magazine writing, news editing, broadcast news, and long format video journalism. Students interested in a degree in Communication with an emphasis in Journalism should look at degree requirements and start planning for future semesters. Journalism students are encouraged to look into elective credits in the Digital Media Department, as a way to broaden their skills in modern storytelling. 

Total Credits: 120

General Education Requirements: 36 Credits
  ENGL 1010 Introduction to Academic Writing         3
or ENGH 1005 Literacies and Composition Across Contexts (5.0)          
  ENGL 2010 Intermediate Writing/Academic Writing and Research  3
  STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics 3
or STAT 1045 Introduction to Statistics with Algebra (5.0)  
Complete one of the following: 3
  HIST 1700 American Civilization (3.0)  
  HIST 2700 US History to 1877 (3.0)  
and HIST 2710 US History since 1877 (3.0)  
  HIST 1740 US Economic History (3.0)  
  POLS 1000 American Heritage (3.0)  
  POLS 1100 American National Government (3.0)  
Complete the following:  
  PHIL 2050 Ethics and Values 3
  HLTH 1100 Personal Health and Wellness (2.0)  
or PES 1097 Fitness for Life 2
Distribution Courses:  
  Biology 3
  Physical Science 3
  Additional Biology or Physical Science 3
  Humanities (Any Foreign Language 202G/2020 course) 4
  Fine Arts 3
  COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communication (fulfills Social/Behavioral Science) 3
Discipline Core Requirements: 19 Credits
  COMM 1500 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
  COMM 2300 Public Relations 3
  COMM 3020 Communication Research Methods 3
  COMM 3050 Theories of Communication and Culture 3
  COMM 4930 Communication Capstone 3
  COMM 431R Communication Executive Lecture Series 1
Choose one of the following two courses: 3
  COMM 3000 Media Ethics (3.0)  
  COMM 3700 Free Expression in a Democratic Society (3.0)  
Elective Requirements: 12 Credits
  Complete 12 credits from one foreign language to include the 1010, 1020, and 2010 levels. 12
Emphasis Requirements: 30 Credits
  COMM 1130 Writing for the Mass Media 3
  COMM 1610 Reporting for the Mass Media 3
  COMM 3100  Propaganda and Persuasion 3
  COMM 481R Internship (1.0) 3
  COMM 3790 Case Studies in Journalism 3
  COMM 3000 Media Ethics (3.0) 3
 or COMM 3700 Free Expression in a Democratic Society (3.0)  
Complete 6 credits from the following Media and Practice courses: 6
  COMM 2790 Magazine Writing (3.0)  
  COMM 2100 The News Editing Process (3.0)  
  COMM 2560 Radio Production (3.0)  
  COMM 2250 Principles of Advertising (3.0)  
  COMM 2510 Visual Strategies for Communication Majors (3.0)  
Complete 6 credits from the following Applied Theory and Research courses: 6
  COMM 3150  Film Theory (3.0)  
  COMM 362G International Communication (3.0)  
  COMM 3660 Investigative Reporting (3.0)  
  COMM 3780 Mormon Cultural Studies (3.0)  
Emphasis Elective Requirements: 23 Credits
Complete 6 credits from the following: 6
  COMM 3130 The Culture of Nature and Technology (3.0)  
  COMM 3150 Film Theory (3.0)  
  COMM 319G Intercultural Communication Encounters (3.0)  
  COMM 332G Cross-Cultural Communications for International Business (3.0)  
  COMM 350R Special Topics in Communication (3.0)  
  COMM 3520 Public Relations Case Studies (3.0)  
  COMM 3530 Public Relations Writing (3.0)  
  COMM 3660 Investigative Reporting (3.0)  
  COMM 3680 Advertising Media Planning (3.0)  
  COMM 3780 Mormon Cultural Studies (3.0)  
   Any courses 1000 or higher (10 credits must be upper division). 17

 Graduation Requirements:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 120 or more semester credits.
  2. Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above (departments may require a higher GPA).
  3. Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
  4. Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
  5. Completion of 16 credit hours of course work from one language to include the 1010, 1020, 2010, and 202G/2020 levels or transferred equivalents.
  6. Completion of COMM courses with a C- or higher.
  7. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track. (Note: This graduation plan has not been updated, please contact the department for the most updated plan.)

Milestone courses (pre-requisites for a course in one of the subsequent semesters) are marked in red and Italicized.

Semester 1 Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 Introduction to Academic Writing or  Literacies and Composition Across Context  3
American Institutions 3
Biology Distribution 3
HLTH 1100 or PE 1097 Personal Health and Wellness or Fitness for Life 2
COMM 1000 Exploring the Communication Major (Must pass with a C- or higher) 3
  Semester total: 14
Notes: American Institutions: HIST 1700, HIST 2700 and 2710, HIST 1740, POL 1000, POLS 1100
Semester 2 Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL 2010 Intermediate Writing Academic Writing and Research 3
STAT 1040 or STAT 1045
 		Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Statistics with Algebra 3
PHIL 2050 Ethics and Values 3
Fine Arts Distribution 3
COMM 1130 Writing for the Mass Media 3
  Semester total: 15
Semester 3 Course Title Credit Hours
Physical Science Distribution 3
Additional Biology or Physical Science Distribution 3
Foreign Language  4
COMM 1500 Intro to Mass Comm 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 3
  Semester total: 16
Notes:
Semester 4 Course Title Credit Hours
Foreign Language 4
COMM 1610 Reporting for the Mass Media 3
COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communication (fulfills Social/Behavioral Science Distribution) 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 3
  Semester total: 16
Notes:  
Semester 5 Course Title Credit Hours
Foreign Language 4
COMM 2300 Public Relations 3
COMM 3000 or 3700 Media Ethics or Free Expression in a Democratic Society 3
COMM 3050 Theories of Communication and Culture 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division 3
  Semester total: 16
Notes: 
Semester 6 Course Title Credit Hours
Foreign Language 202G/2020 course (fulfills Humanities requirement) 4
COMM 3020 Communication Research Methods 3
COMM 350R Special Topics in Communication 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 2
  Semester total: 15
Notes:  
Semester 7 Course Title Credit Hours
Media and Practice Course 3
Applied Theory and Research course 3
Any Elective 1000 or higher (10 of 20 credits must be upper division) 3
COMM 3100 Propaganda and Persuasion 3
COMM 431R Communication Executive Lecture Series 1
  Semester total: 13
Notes: Media and Practice courses: COMM 2790, COMM 2100, COMM 2560, COMM 2250, DGM 2110, DGM 2120; Applied Theory and Research courses: COMM 3150, COMM 362G, COMM 3660, COMM 3780, COMM 3790; Emphasis Elective courses: COMM 3000, COMM 3130, COMM 3150, COMM 319G, COMM 332G, COMM 3410, COMM 350R, COMM 3520, COMM 3530, COMM 3600, COMM 3660, COMM 3680, COMM 3700, COMM 3780. 10 of 21 required Non-Communication Elective credits must be upper division; A MINOR in another discipline is highly recommended).
Semester 8 Course Title Credit Hours
Media and Practice Course 3
Applied Theory and Research course 3
Emphasis Elective course 3
Emphasis Elective course 3
COMM 4930* Communication Capstone 3
  Semester total: 15
Notes: *COMM 4930 has a pre-requisite, please take one of the following: COMM 401G, 4110, 4115, 4120, 4170, or 4180. Media and Practice courses: COMM 2790, COMM 2100, COMM 2560, COMM 2250, DGM 2110, DGM 2120; Applied Theory and Research courses: COMM 3150, COMM 362G, COMM 3660, COMM 3780, COMM 3790; Emphasis Elective courses: COMM 3000, COMM 3130, COMM 3150, COMM 319G, COMM 332G, COMM 3410, COMM 350R, COMM 3520, COMM 3530, COMM 3600, COMM 3660, COMM 3680, COMM 3700, COMM 3780. Graduation Requirements: 1) Completion of a minimum of 120  or more semester credits. 2) Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above. 3) Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours. 4) Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements. 5) Completion of 16 credit hours of course work from one language to include the 1010, 1020, 2010, and 202G/2020 levels or transferred equivalents for BA or 13 credits of 1000 level or higher for a BS. 6) Completion of COMM courses with a C- or higher. 7) Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
  Degree total: 120

Department

 Name:

Communication

 Location:

CB 502A

 Telephone:

 801-863-8452

 Email:

  Kristen.Smith@uvu.edu

 Web Address:

 uvu.edu/comm

 Chair:

 David Morin

 
 

Mission Statement

The Utah Valley University Communication Department is shaping students to become the industry's next top leaders in Journalism and Media Studies, Public Relations and Communication Studies through courses and engaged learning experiences that are theoretically-driven, innovative, and applied.

The department prepares students with the necessary skills to communicate visually, orally and through written documentation within the context demanded by the business, journalism, marketing, and public relations world. Students are also equipped with a solid ethical foundation and an understanding of diversity, interdependence, and cultural perspectives in the global community. 

 
 

Journalism and Media Studies

Notes:

  1. Please contact Cassi Christensen at 801-863-5717 to make an appointment to meet with Gae Robinson.
  2. Students in the Journalism and Media Studies emphasis are required to have laptop computers.
 
 

Public Relations

Notes: Please contact Cassi Christensen at 801-863-5717 to make an appointment to meet with Natalie Shelley.

 
 

Communication Studies

Notes: Please contact Cassi Christensen at 801-863-5717 to make an appointment to meet with Gae Robinson.

 
 

Faculty

Jordan Allen(2018)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Psychology, M.A., Communication Studies, University of Montana, Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Directory Page >>

 

Brent Austin(2018)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



A.A., Liberal Studies, College of the Desert, B.A., Communication Studies, M.A., Communication Studies, California State University, San Bernadino.

Directory Page >>

 

Jessica Ballard(2018)

Professional in Residence

Department: Organizational Leadership
Faculty



B.A., Communication, M.P.C., Professional Communication, Westminster College.

Directory Page >>

 

Maria Blevins(2013)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., Recreation Management, University of Maine at Machias; M.A., Organizational Communications, University of Montana; Ph.D., Speech Communication, University of Utah.

Directory Page >>

 

James Fisher(2014)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., University Studies, University of New Mexico; M.A., Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia; Ph.D. (ABD), Journalism, University of Utah;

Directory Page >>

 

Philip Gordon(1999)

Associate Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Speech Communications, University of Illinois.

Directory Page >>

 

Kimberly Hanson(2016)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



AA, Interpersonal Communication, Ricks College; B.A., Communication & Rhetorical Studies, Idaho State University; M.A., Interpersonal Communication Studies.

Directory Page >>

 

Leandra Hernandez(2019)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Mass Communication, University of St. Thomas, M.A., Mass Communication, University of Houston, PhD, Communication, Texas A&M University,

Directory Page >>

 

Hark Shin Kim(2018)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Jouranlism & Mass Communication, Hanyang University South Korea, M.S., Integrated Marketing Communication, Florida State University, Ph.D., Media & Communication, Texas Tech University.

Directory Page >>

 

Jingdong Liang(2002)

Associate Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., English, People’s University of China; M.A., Journalism, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Ph.D., Communications, University of Utah.

Directory Page >>

 

Meaghan McKasy(2019)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Communication, Boston College, M.Sc., Environmental Humanities Advisor, University of Utah, PhD (ABD), Communication, University of Utah,

Directory Page >>

 

Hank McIntire(2014)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Spanish Translation, B.S., Travel and Tourism, Brigham Young University; M.A., Communication, University of Utah; PhD, Communication, University of Utah.

Directory Page >>

 

David Morin(2013)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Department Chair, Faculty



B.A., Political Science, University of Illinois; M.A., Communication, Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D., Media & Communication, Bowling Green State University.

Directory Page >>

 

Stevie  Munz(2016)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., German Business/Translation, B.A., Organizational Communications, Northern Illinois University; M.A., Communication, Illinois State University; Ph.D., Communication Studies, Ohio University.

Directory Page >>

 

Spencer Patterson(2014)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., University Studies, Brigham Young University; M.A., Organizational Communications, Idaho State University; Ph.D., Health Communication, Ohio University.

Directory Page >>

 

Jessica Pauly(2018)

Assistant Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Communication Studies, Nebraska Wesleyan University, M.A., Communication Studies, University of Kansas, Ph.D., Communication Studies, Purdue University.

Directory Page >>

 

Farah Sanders(2009)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., Integrated Studies, Utah Valley University, M.Ed., Education, Southern Utah University.

Directory Page >>

 

David Scott(2008)

Professor

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., Political Science, B.S., Speech Communication, University of Utah; M.A., Communications, Brigham Young University; Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of Georgia.

Directory Page >>

 

Kim Smith(2018)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.A., Advertising, B.A., Journalism, M.A., Applied Communication, Northern Arizona University.

Directory Page >>

 

Benjamin Wassink(2018)

Lecturer

Department: Communication
Faculty



B.S., Speech Communication, Utah Valley University, M.A., Communication, University of Montana.

Directory Page >>

 

Careers

Careers:  
Virtually every modern field of endeavor has increasing demand for specialists with training in the field of communication. Traditional areas of employment for communication students include: print and electronic journalism; print and electronic entertainment; public relations (public affairs, media relations, customer relations, marketing, etc.); advertising; various sorts of writing, reviewing, and editing; training; sales; project management; and management. Today, new media technologies are expanding the need for communication specialists, as well as their range of skills. Communication also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in the fields of business, education, law, psychology, and of course, communication.

Interested in a Career related to this degree? Learn more about...

  • Occupation Description
  • Employment Projections
  • Occupation Wages
  • Related Occupations
  • Current Job Openings
  • And more

Follow the links below to view current, detailed Utah Department of Workforce Services occupational information for that career.

RELATED CAREERS

RESOURCE LINKS

^ Back to Top