Journalism - Bachelor of Communication Studies
Overview
The major in Journalism provides students with a strong set of writing, research, reporting and digital media production skills. Option courses let students specialize based on their interests: online digital storytelling, television production, arts and culture reporting, feature writing, current affairs reporting or investigative reporting.
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
MacEwan.ca/CommunicationDegree
In our fast-paced world of evolving and conventional media, communication is key to interpersonal, organizational and career success. The Bachelor of Communication Studies program provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamental skills of critical thinking, writing, editing, and research. Common coursework for professional communication and journalism majors builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law and research methods supported by a liberal arts framework. The courses in the majors offer depth, specialization, and choice. The minor provides additional scope and depth to your studies. The program offers many opportunities to integrate what you have learned in the classroom with real-life projects that engage the community and provide students with an enhanced learning experience. The field is forward-looking, and so is this program of studies.
Years one and two include common coursework for both professional communication and journalism majors that builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law, and research methods. Years three and four provide specialization in editing, strategic communication, technical communication or film studies (in the professional communication major), or in news gathering, digital media production, or film studies (in the journalism major).
Year three includes an ethical practice and portfolio course, followed by a professional field placement that includes BCSC 398 either/or BCSC 395. Students conclude year four with skills, experience and practical proof of their communication competency.
The Bachelor of Communication Studies program prepares students for strategic roles in business, traditional and new media, not-for-profit and public sector organizations: wherever clear, correct, and effective messages are valued. Confident in research methodology and contemporary communication theory, students are also ready for graduate studies in communication or a related field.
Career Potential
Graduates of MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Communication Studies will have competency in critical problem solving, global awareness and cultural sensitivity, creativity, information and research literacy, and ethical and professional practice. These competencies will bring career success in a variety of positions – writer, editor, researcher, journalist, reporter, marketer, client or community relations practitioner, communications advisor, communications coordinator, public information officer, producer, social media contact, reviewer, analyst, commentator – and in many roles that have yet to be created. In 2011, Statistics Canada reported a healthy demand for employment in the information and communication fields, and in 2010, the Government of Alberta reported that hiring is robust for journalists and good for writers and editors.
Technology Integration for Creative Learning (TICL)
On entering the second year of the Bachelor of Communication Studies program, students in the Journalism major will need to purchase a Mac laptop and necessary software identified by the program. For specifications, refer to the program website or contact an advisor.
Contact Information
Program of Study
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BCSC 100 | Grammar and Composition Foundations | 3 |
| BCSC 101 | Communication and Human Interaction | 3 |
| BCSC 102 | Introduction to Visual Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 200 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| BCSC 202 | Online Communication | 3 |
| BCSC 203 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| BCSC 302 | Multimedia Authoring | 3 |
| BCSC 306 | Ethical Practice and Portfolio | 3 |
| BCSC 307 | Communication Law I | 3 |
| BCSC 411 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Analysis and Argument | 3 |
| Choose an ENGL course from the following: | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Breadth Requirements – Journalism
9 Credits must be at the senior level.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 9 | |
| Sciences | 6 | |
| Fine Art/Performing Arts | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Breadth Requirements – Professional Communication
9 Credits must be at the senior level.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Sciences | 6 | |
| Fine Arts/Performing Arts | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| BCSC 201 | Foundations of Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 210 | Introduction to News Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 313 | Intermediate News Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 320 | Canadian Press and Society | 3 |
| BCSC 327 | Online News Reporting: Journalism in the Digital Age | 3 |
| BCSC 398 | Professional Field Placement | 3 |
| BCSC 412 | Advanced News Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 420 | Online Journalism Workshop: News Production for Digital Platforms | 6 |
| Journalism Major Option Courses | ||
| Select 21 credits of Option courses | 21 | |
| Professional Communication Minor Requirements | ||
| Professional Communication minor required courses, taken under the Core Coursework, must include BCSC 100 and BCSC 200. | ||
| Professional Communication Minor Options | ||
| 9 credits from the courses listed below 1 | 9 | |
| Applied Communications | ||
| Professional Communication | ||
| Introduction to Technical Communication | ||
| Classical and Modern Rhetoric | ||
| Substantive and Structural Editing | ||
| Strategic Communication Planning | ||
| Rhetoric of Popular Culture | ||
| Technical Communication for Digital Applications | ||
| The Media and the Message | ||
| Magazine Editing | ||
| Book Editing | ||
| Print Culture Studies | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Organizational Communication Theory | ||
| Technical Communication: Safety Standards and Policies | ||
| Technical Communication for Policy Writing | ||
| Publication Editing and Management | ||
| Total Credits | 57 | |
1 In addition to the 9 credits of Professional Communication minor options to be taken, the core required course, BCSC 307, will also be included for a total of 12 credits of minor options.
Journalism Major Options
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BCSC 205 | Introduction to Film Studies and Narrative | 3 |
| BCSC 207 | Documentary Film Principles and Practices | 3 |
| BCSC 211 | News Production Process | 3 |
| BCSC 223 | Introduction to Screenwriting | 3 |
| BCSC 303 | Popular Culture and Film Studies: Film Noir | 3 |
| BCSC 305 | Popular Culture and Film Studies: Science Fiction | 3 |
| BCSC 308 | Communication Law II | 3 |
| BCSC 322 | Interviewing Techniques | 3 |
| BCSC 323 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| BCSC 324 | Arts and Culture Reporting | 3 |
| BCSC 325 | Radio News and Documentaries | 3 |
| BCSC 328 | Documentary Screenwriting | 3 |
| BCSC 341 | Literary Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 342 | Writing for Periodicals | 3 |
| BCSC 379 | Public Affairs Data Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 380 | Independent Study in Communications | 3 |
| BCSC 415 | Global Media Systems | 3 |
| BCSC 421 | Advanced Online Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 422 | Advanced Reporting and Writing: The Feature | 3 |
| BCSC 423 | Broadcast News Current Affairs | 3 |
| BCSC 424 | Reporting on Canadian Politics | 3 |
| BCSC 425 | Investigative Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 426 | Advanced Seminar in Journalism | 3 |
| BCSC 480 | Advanced Independent Study in Communications | 3 |
| BCSC 499 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship: New Ventures in Digital Media | 3 |
Program Regulations
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from a faculty or university advisor about fulfilling these degree requirements.
Declaration of a Major and a Minor
Students are advised to declare a major and a minor by the time they have completed 45 credits. Majors consist of 42 credits. Students can re-declare their major or minor if required.
Breadth Requirement
Students in the Professional Communication major and Journalism minor complete 24 credits of baccalaureate-level courses as outlined in the programs of study. A minimum of nine credits must be senior-level courses. Students in the Journalism major and Professional Communication minor complete 27 credits of baccalaureate level courses as outlined in the programs of study. A minimum of nine credits must be senior level courses.
Core Field Placement Requirements
All program students must successfully complete a field placement component to their Program of Study.
Journalism major students will complete BCSC 398, which is a three-credit, full-time or part-time 180-hour field placement, after successfully completing at least 84 out of 120 credits required for the degree, as well as BCSC 327: Online News Reporting. It is highly recommended, but not required, for journalism students to also complete BCSC 412: Advanced News Reporting.
Professional Communication major students will complete BCSC 395: Professional Field Placement and Practice, which is a three-credit, full-time or part-time 250-hour field placement with an academic course component, after successfully completing at least 84 out of 120 credits required for the degree.
The program will assist students in finding field placement opportunities; however, students are ultimately responsible for securing their own work placements, and all placements must be approved by the program. Students must comply with Policy C2060 Workplace Integrated Learning regarding their field placement.
Junior- and Senior-Level Courses
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior level and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior level.
Senior-Level Coursework Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits of the total 120 program credits must be at the senior level. Additional courses at the 100-level will be declared extra to the 120 credits required to complete the degree and will not be counted toward fulfilment of graduation requirements.
Option Requirements
Students are required to complete 21 credits of major options. Journalism and Professional Communication minors must complete 18 credits of minor course work. Journalism minors must complete 6 credits of option courses. Professional Communication minors must complete 12 credits of option courses. Students must select from a list of BCSC option courses designed for each major and minor. Not all option courses are offered each term or year. These courses must be at the baccalaureate level.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the date on which students declare their major and minor. Students who declare their major and minor up to and including February 15 are bound by the requirements of the current academic year. Those students who declare after February 15 are bound by the programs of study and degree requirements of the upcoming calendar year published in the academic calendar.
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they fulfill the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements of courses taken to complete the Bachelor of Communication Studies degree.
Minimum Transfer Grade for Credit
A minimum grade of D is required for any transfer credit granted for the program. Courses in the Program of Study require a minimum grade of C- when the course is used as a prerequisite. Transfer credit decisions are final and cannot be appealed (See Policies C2030 and E3103).