Journalism and Digital Media (B.A.)

Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements42
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-9
Major Requirements47
Free Electives28-22
Total Credits120

Major Requirements

Core Requirements
CMST 110Introduction to Communication and Media3
CMST 210Theorizing Communication and Media3
Major Requirements
JOUR 180Multimedia Toolkit4
JOUR 210Introduction to Journalism3
JOUR 249Media Ethics and Law3
JOUR 253News Videography3
JOUR 280Journalism for Television and Radio3
JOUR 341Multimedia Storytelling4
JOUR 480Advanced Journalism Seminar3
STCM 240Social Media Analytics3
Major Electives
Journalism Electives
Complete 6 credits from the Journalism Electives list below.6
Additional Electives
Complete 9 credits from any CMDA, CMST, FMTV, SPTC, or STCM courses in consultation with your advisor. See links to course lists below.9
Total Credits47

Journalism Electives

JOUR 216History of Journalism in America3
JOUR 219The Holocaust and the American Press: Before, During and After3
JOUR 222Podcast Production3
JOUR 232Modern Journalism1-3
JOUR 233Radio Production3
JOUR 245Media Performance Techniques3
JOUR 248Reportando las Noticias3
JOUR 265Brand Storytelling3
JOUR 279Web Design3
JOUR 281Introduction to Photojournalism3
JOUR 282New Jersey Local News3
JOUR 284The Entertainment Beat3
JOUR 288Special Topics in Journalism3
JOUR 290Montclair News Lab3
JOUR 300Issues in the Media3
JOUR 311Advanced News Reporting: Field Experience3
JOUR 313Editing3
JOUR 314Advanced Editing3
JOUR 315Magazine Journalism3
JOUR 316Reporting of Public Affairs3
JOUR 317Feature Writing3
JOUR 321Data-driven Investigative Journalism3
JOUR 341Multimedia Storytelling4
JOUR 351Political Broadcasting3
JOUR 388Experimental Journalism3
JOUR 416Finding Your Media Persona3
JOUR 488Media Entrepreneurship3

Additional Electives

CMDA Courses

CMST Courses

FMTV Courses

SPTC courses

STCM Courses

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
D. Fine and Performing Arts
Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course.3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
H. Mathematics
Complete a 3 credit Mathematics course.3
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Complete a 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course.4
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.1
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives3
3. Social Science Perspectives 3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete EDFD 200 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Complete a 3 credit Interdisciplinary Studies course.3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete SASE 210 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
Total Credits42

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GNED 1991GENERAL EDUCATION (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION (C1) Writing3GENERAL EDUCATION (G) Computer Science3
CMST 1013GENERAL EDUCATION (K1) Social Science – American and European History3
CMST 1103CMST 2013
JOUR 1804JOUR 2103
 14 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION (H) Mathematics3GENERAL EDUCATION (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives3
World Language 13GENERAL EDUCATION (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives3
JOUR 2493World Language 23
JOUR 2533JOUR 2803
Major Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION (I) Natural Science Laboratory4GENERAL EDUCATION (D) Fine and Performing Arts3
GENERAL EDUCATION (J) Physical Education1GENERAL EDUCATION (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences3
JOUR 3414GENERAL EDUCATION (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives3
STCM 2403Major Elective3
Major Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION (L) Interdisciplinary Studies3Major Elective3
JOUR 4803Free Elective3
Major Elective3Free Elective3
Major Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective1 
 16 15
Total Credits 120