Course Descriptions
Print Journalism (PJ)PJ 2003. Basic News Writing. Prerequisites: MCOM 1003 or permission, ENGL 1113, and 30 wpm typing ability. Fundamentals for news reporting for print and broadcast. News values, journalism style/grammar, information gathering, and news writing. Fall semester.
PJ 2103. Design I - Newspaper. Prerequisite: PJ 2003. Copy editing, headline writing, photo editing, and news value judgements for design and layout of newspapers. Operation of printing, typography, illustration, and other elements of layout. (Students enrolled are not allowed to receive financial compensation for work performed for campus media in meeting course requirements.) Fall semester – odd years.
PJ 2203. Advanced News Reporting. Prerequisite: PJ 2003. Evaluation of news sources and leads and interpretative and investigative reporting. Coverage of local government, courts, and social problems. (Students enrolled are not allowed to receive financial compensation for work performed for campus media in meeting course requirements.) Spring semester.
PJ 3003. Feature Writing. Prerequisite: PJ 2003. Newspaper and magazine features, and special articles for business and trade journals. Sources, materials, markets. Spring semester.
PJ 3023. Photo Journalism. Prerequisite: MCOM 2013. Skills and techniques in photojournalism and including scaling photographs, layout of picture stories, and photo essays. Course may also include supervised experience in photographing for The Bray, The Mulerider, public information, or sports information. Student must provide own camera, attachments, film, and paper. Spring semester.
PJ 3103. Principles of Public Relations. Concept of public relations as management function in business, industry, education, and other institutions. History, practice, and ethics of public relations. Spring semester – even years.
PJ 3203. Design II - Magazine. Prerequisite: PJ 2103. Designing and editing of newsletters, yearbooks, and magazines. Working with staff departments, budgets, and suppliers. Duties of industrial editors or school newspaper/yearbook advisors. Offered as needed.
PJ 3213. Writing for Public Relations and Advertising. Prerequisites: PJ 2003, PJ 2013. Instruction in writing practice to develop the necessary skills needed to produce professional-level editorial/advertising copy required in public relations and advertising. Emphasis will be placed on the different approaches required for various media and audiences. Offered as needed.
PJ 3503. Directed Study in Print Journalism I. This course will be individually designed to meet the needs of students concentrating in Print Journalism.
PJ 3603. Directed Study in Print Journalism II. This course will be individually designed to meet the needs of students concentrating in Print Journalism.
PJ 4013. Publicity, Media, and Campaigns. Prerequisite: PJ 3103. Concepts and case studies of public relations campaigns, and utilizing public media to achieve motivation of audiences. Materials and tools for publicity, planning, executing, and evaluating publicity campaigns is presented. (Students enrolled are not allowed to receive financial compensation for work performed for campus media in meeting course requirements.) Spring semester – odd years.
PJ 4023. Editorial Writing. A study of skills needed for editorial writing and opinion writing/columns. Fall semester – even years.
PJ 4033. Methods of Specialized News Reporting. Prerequisite: PJ 2203. Advanced coverage techniques for newspaper editorial divisions: science, education, sports, living (women’s, food, travel), and business. Spring semester – even years.
PJ 4903. Senior Research Project. Prerequisite: Senior standing. To add to the graduate’s field of expertise, the student will write an extensive research paper. An oral quiz on the work will be required. Fall, spring semesters.
PJ 4913. Print Internship. Prerequisites: Completion of 12 hours of upper-class courses, senior standing, a minimum grade point average of 2.50 or higher, and permission of chair. Structured professional experience in commercial newspapers, public relations, or other print related areas. Must be arranged in advance. Fall, spring semesters.
