Degree Requirements and Course Descriptions
Journalism majors will take a variety of courses including Carolina Core, SJMC core courses, major specific courses and courses to fulfill minor or cognate requirements. See the current year Undergraduate Studies Bulletin for the complete outline of all the journalism degree course requirements and regulations. It also contains course descriptions, as well as learning outcomes for the major. Archived Bulletins are also online.
In order to stay on track towards graduation, the university offers an online program "DegreeWorks." DegreeWorks, which is accessible in Self Service Carolina, is kind of like your personal automated advisor because it displays the coursework you have already taken and shows how and where it applies to your major and/or minor requirements. It also allows you to hypothetically change majors or minors to see how changes would impact your expected graduation date.
Please note:
DegreeWorks is only available for students who enrolled in Fall 2014 or later.
If you started at USC before Fall 2014, please see your assigned academic advisor for specifics regarding your degree plan.
Capstone Experience
The capstone experience for a journalism major is called Senior Semester in which you will work in our converged newsroom on both short and long form stories for Carolina Reporter. Senior Semester requires a minimum daily 8-hour commitment from our students. This means you are unable to have other commitments (classes, jobs, internships) during this immersive experience.
Your Senior Semester includes the following courses:
JOUR 580 - Advanced Reporting Topics
JOUR 587 - Capstone I - Advanced Reporting - Multimedia Journalism
JOUR 589 - Capstone II - Advanced Multimedia Journalism Production
JOUR 590 - Capstone III - Digital Journalism
There are two courses that prepare you for your Senior Semester. The prerequisite courses include:
JOUR 361 - Introductory Reporting and Writing
JOUR 471 - Intermediate Reporting and Production
Upper Division Progression
You may declare journalism as a major at any time; however in order to progress, you must formally apply to the Upper Division the semester before you intend to enroll in JOUR 361 – Introductory Reporting and Writing. Entrance into the Journalism Upper Division is competitive and is not guaranteed.
In preparation for Upper Division, you must take
- JOUR 101 - Media and Society
- JOUR 291 - Writing for Mass Communications
Once you have been admitted to Upper Division you will take the following courses in preparation for your senior semester:
- JOUR 361 - Introductory Reporting and Writing
- JOUR 471 - Intermediate Reporting and Production
- Two directed electives (see academic advisor for specifics)
- One directed skills elective (see academic advisor for specifics)
Admission to the Upper Division is based upon:
- Strength of the student’s letter of interest
- USC GPA
- Completion of JOUR 101 and JOUR 291 with grades of “C” or higher.
- Additionally, you may be asked to interview with a selection committee.
Do not hesitate to contact your assigned academic advisor if you have any questions regarding this process.
Senior Semester Application
Deadline to apply: March 15.
Sequence Head
Nina Brook is the head of the journalism sequence and helps make decisions about journalism course scheduling and content.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this major or your sequence progression, please contact your assigned academic advisor.
Want to change your major to journalism?
Visit the university advising center for information about changing your major.