About the Program
Communication Department
Buckham Hall B120
(716) 878-6008
communication.buffalostate.edu/
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (Accredited)
This major allows students interested in news, sports, and entertainment the flexibility to tailor a journalism program toward the presentation of factual information in writing, video, audio, or digital formats for print, broadcast, online and social media. It meets the needs of students preparing for a career in which research and interviewing abilities, accurate and objective reporting, legal and ethical insight, and competence in editing are central to professional practice. Compare this major with communication studies, media production, and public relations and advertising.
Buffalo State was the first SUNY school to become affiliated with the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. and has one of the largest program in the system. Only a handful of undergraduate programs in New York State are accredited.
Career Opportunities
Students prepare for careers as reporters, anchors, commentators, and news directors for radio, television, and internet-based media, and as reporters, editors, and columnists on newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media.
The profile of a successful journalism graduate is a person with a strong writing proficiency and a compelling use of language, good speaking and listening skills, keen ethical insight and legal awareness, and competence in presentation of information in written, visual, and digital formats.
Academic Standards
Only grades of C or higher may be applied toward requirements for any communication degree; courses with lower grades must be repeated. Consistent with standards of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the number of communication courses that students may take is capped, encouraging a broad-based liberal arts education. The department encourages students to take minors or second majors.
Admission Requirements
Incoming freshmen and transfer students can declare the major.
See the Communication Department for application forms and additional information,
including a list of equivalent core courses at community colleges. Transfer students from two-year schools may apply only core courses toward this major for a maximum of 12 credits. Students generally require four semesters of study after completing communication core courses.
Learning Outcomes
Students will
1. understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice relevant to the major
2. demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communication relevant to the major
3. demonstrate an understanding of gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion in domestic and global societies and their significance in the major
4. understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information relevant to the major
5. demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
6. think critically, creatively and independently
7. conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions in which they work
8. write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, audiences and purposes they serve
9. critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy, fairness, clarity, creativity, effective storytelling and/or professional style as appropriate to the major
10. apply basic numerical and statistical concepts appropriate to the major
11. apply tools and technologies appropriate to the major
12. demonstrate competence in professional speaking and presentational skills appropriate to the major
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)
Journalism Major Requirements (45 credit hours)
Communication Core (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
COM100 MEDIA LITERACY | 3 - Credit Hours
COM210 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM215 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
OR COM212 INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL STORYTELLING | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC205 INTRODUCTION TO ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
Major Requirements (24 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
COM303 WRITING FOR PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM | 3 - Credit Hours
COM312 BASIC MEDIA PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
COM334 JOURNALISM BROADCAST OPERATION | 3 - Credit Hours
COM338 DIGITAL AND BROADCAST REPORTING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM347 DIGITAL AND BROADCAST PRODUCING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM400 COMMUNICATION LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
COM405 FIELD REPORTING | 3 - Credit Hours
Senior Seminar (3 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
COM450 COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY | 3 - Credit Hours
Communication Electives (6 credit hours)
Select any two 300 or 400 level COM or SPC courses.
COM Experiential Course (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
COM403 DIGITAL SPORTS JOURNALISM | 3 - Credit Hours
COM488 INTERNSHIP | 1 - 15 Credit Hours
COM495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
COM499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 3 - 12 Credit Hours
All College Electives (36-48 credit hours)
120 Total Credits