Journalism: Bachelor of Journalism (also: Honours)

Description

The Bachelor of Journalism program is unique in B.C., featuring multimedia storytelling experience utilizing the most current technologies. Students use industry-standard software to produce journalism that draws on the full range of multimedia storytelling possibilities, including animation, interactivity, audio, and video. Students participate in academic studies and practical training through seminars, labs, and off-campus work experiences. The Journalism program prepares graduates for such positions as multi-media journalists, editors, researchers, and freelance writers. Our grads also work as communications professionals in such fields as media relations, corporate communications, and public relations. The Bachelor of Journalism gives students valuable transferable skills that can be put to use in many fields of endeavour, including working in a multimedia environment, using social media and journalistic research skills in professional settings, and understanding the many facets of the collection and dissemination of information via the media.

Communication Studies courses are also an important part of the program, including exploration of such issues as media law and ethics, media and diversity, and media and social change.

Faculty members in KPU's Journalism department include award-winning journalists with career experience and academic credentials. Many faculty members continue to work as journalists.

Admission Requirements

The Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, apply to this program.

Declaration Requirements

Students intending to graduate with this Faculty of Arts Bachelor’s degree must declare the credential by the time they complete 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:

In good academic standing with the University
Completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following with a minimum grade of “C”:
- 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
- 6 credits at the 1100 level or higher in the Major area

Curricular Requirements

Students must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts framework in addition to Journalism- and Communication-Studies course requirements.

Note: A first-year English course, ENGL 1100, is a requirement of this program. This course has prerequisites that may require a student to complete additional preparatory courses.

Major

Lower Level Requirements

Students must complete the following required courses for the Journalism Major.
	1000 Level
	JRNL 1160	Intro to Journalism	3 credits
	JRNL 1220	Citizen Journalism	3 credits
	2000 Level
	JRNL 2120	Storytelling 1	3 credits
	JRNL 2230	Multimedia Storytelling	3 credits
Students must complete a total of 12 credits from the following two areas by selecting two courses from each area:
	1. Journalism Electives (choose two)
	JRNL 2140	Introduction to News: How We Inform Ourselves	3 credits
	JRNL 2240	Beyond the News	3 credits
	JRNL 2250	Public Affairs Journalism 1	3 credits
	2. Communication Studies Electives (choose two)
	COMM 1100	Foundations of Communication Studies	3 credits
	COMM 1110	TV and Social Change	3 credits
	COMM 1200	Visual Literacy	3 credits
	COMM 2100	Media Ethics and Law	3 credits
	COMM 2210	Media, Audiences and Popular Culture	3 credits
	COMM 2220	Communications Rights & Freedoms	3 credits

Upper Level Requirements

Students must complete the following required courses for the Journalism Major:
	3000 Level
	JRNL 3155	Storytelling 2: Reporting	3 credits
	JRNL 3160	Photojournalism	3 credits
	4000 Level
	JRNL 4270	Advanced Storytelling	3 credits
Students must complete a total of 21 credits from the following three areas by selecting at least two courses from each area:
	1. Journalism Electives (choose at least two)
	JRNL 3170	Storytelling 3: Narrative Nonfiction	3 credits
	JRNL 3260	Media Economics and Entrepreneurial Journalism	3 credits
	JRNL 4165	Data Visualization	3 credits
	JRNL 4250	Public Affairs Journalism 2	3 credits
	2. Journalism Electives (choose at least two)
	JRNL 3270	Advanced Photojournalism	3 credits
	JRNL 4141	Work Experience	3 credits
	JRNL 4240	Social Issues Journalism	3 credits
	JRNL 4260	Coding for Storytelling: Apps and More for Journalists	3 credits
	3. Communication Studies Electives (choose at least two)
	COMM 3100	Media and Diversity	3 credits
	COMM 3110	News Media and Influence	3 credits
	COMM 3200	Celebrity and Media	3 credits
	COMM 3210	Everyday Communication	3 credits
	COMM 3220	Social Media, Technology, and Society	3 credits
	COMM 4210	History of Canadian Journalism	3 credits

Honours

In addition to the 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Journalism degree, Bachelor of Journalism Honours students must complete the following 9 credits: