Program: Mass Communication and Journalism - Digital Journalism Option, B.A. - Fresno State

Apr 01, 2025

General Catalog 2024-2025

The Department of Media, Communications, and Journalism

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Majors must complete a minimum of 37 semester units of mass communication and journalism courses with a grade of C or better in each course. Each student will take 19 units of MCJ core courses and 18 units of courses in their selected option.

Each MCJ major must select an option, which is an area of specialization within the major. The options are advertising and public relations, broadcast and multiplatform journalism, digital journalism, and film and media arts. The courses required for each option are listed under Major Requirements.

Major Requirements (37 units)

MCJ Core Courses:

MCJ 2 - Media Writing Units: 3
MCJ 15 - Filmmaking I Units: 3
MCJ 40 - Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations Units: 3
MCJ 164 - Applied Media Research Units: 3
MCJ 171 - Media Law and Ethics Units: 3
MCJ 199 - Capstone Units: 4

Digital Journalism Option Requirements

MCJ 102W - Reporting Units: 3
MCJ 104 - Editing for Digital Journalism Units: 3

Pick Four From (12 units)

MCJ 17 - Principles of Photography Units: 3
MCJ 101 - News and Media Literacy Units: 3
MCJ 105 - News Practicum Units: 3
MCJ 106 - Publication Design Units: 3
MCJ 108 - Public Affairs Reporting Units: 3
MCJ 109 - Law and Order Reporting Units: 3
MCJ 124 - Intermediate Broadcast News Writing Units: 3
MCJ 125 - Radio Reporting and Podcasting Units: 3
MCJ 131 - Online Media Design Units: 3
MCJ 174 - History of Mass Media Units: 3
MCJ 177T - Media Topics Units: 3
MCJ 190 - Independent Study Units: 1-3
MCJ 191I - Internship Units: 1-3

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the major program requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate degree requirements such as:

American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2 )
General Education Requirements (48 units) - see note 2
Multicultural and International (MI) - see note 3
Upper-division Writing - see note 4
Sufficient Elective Units to Meet Required Total Units (varies); it is recommended that units in this area be utilized to complete a second major or minor.

A full description of the University’s graduation requirements can be found in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

Total: 120 Units*

*General Education, MI, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.

Advising Notes

MCJ majors are not permitted to enroll for CR/NC grading in MCJ courses applied to the major, except for courses that require such grading.
It is recommended that students take MCJ courses for the General Education requirements package: MCJ 1 , and MCJ 101 , MCJ 175 or MCJ 178
It is recommended that students take a MCJ course for the MI requirement: MCJ 176 or MCJ 179
Students must meet all university graduation requirements. This includes the Upper-Division Writing requirement, which may be met by taking MCJ 102W or a “W” course from another department.