Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement

Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
   Or
2. Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of COMD 4920  and COMD 4780 , and by passing an exit interview.
   Or
3. Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent).
   Or
4. Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

1. Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students.
   Or
2. TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Course Requirements

Journalism majors must complete a minimum of 30 credits and a maximum of 36 credits (38 for Broadcast/Electronic Media emphasis) in Journalism and Communication courses, while pursuing one of the three course sequences outlined below. Of the 120 semester credits required for graduation from Utah State University, Journalism majors must complete at least 65 credits in other departments within the college containing the humanities and social sciences. In addition, majors must complete a minor/cognate area outside of the Journalism and Communication Department, selected with the approval of an advisor.

Therefore, the basic Journalism course of study is as follows: Journalism and Communication courses, 30-36 credits; General Education requirements, 27-31 credits; Depth Education requirements, 15 credits; courses in the minor/cognate area, 12-21 credits;  electives from outside the Journalism and Communication Department, 17-33 credits; Total Credits, 120.

Journalism Major

Major Status

Students may apply for major status upon completion of a minimum of 60 semester credits, including the Journalism Premajor Core requirements, while maintaining a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students may declare themselves as Journalism Premajors at any time after their admission to the University. Majors must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, both overall and in the major. Students whose GPA drops below 2.5 will be placed on probation and may be dropped from the major if grades do not improve within one semester. All courses in the major must be taken for a grade (not Pass-Fail). Courses must be taken in sequence.

Students transferring from other institutions may be accepted into the major if they fulfill these requirements. Up to 9 transferred semester credits may count toward the major, if approved by an advisor.

The Department of Journalism and Communication allows students to take a class a maximum of two times. Failure to achieve the Journalism and Communication Department’s minimum grade of C+ in two attempts in any of the three premajor core classes, or a minimum grade of C in any other JCOM course required for the major, will result in the student being dropped from the Journalism major.

Students must complete the premajor core with a C+ or better before continuing in the Journalism major. Students lacking the minimum grades in the premajor core will be blocked from taking courses in the Broadcast/Electronic Media, Print Journalism, and Public Relations/Corporate Communications emphases.

Minimum University Requirements