1. Carolina Core (31-44 hours)

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written — CMW (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

• ENGL 101 - Critical Reading and Composition   
• ENGL 102 - Rhetoric and Composition   

Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (6-7 hours)

• STAT 201 - Elementary Statistics  OR STAT 205 - Elementary Statistics for the Biological and Life Sciences  
• any other approved CC-ARP course

Scientific Literacy — SCI (7 hours)

Two approved Carolina Core Scientific Literacy courses from the natural sciences, including one laboratory course

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language (except Latin or Ancient Greek) equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in 122. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

• CC-GFL courses

​Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking — GHS (3 hours) 

One US History course selected from the following:

• HIST 111 - United States History to 1865  
• HIST 112 - United States History since 1865  

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences — GSS (3 hours) 

• any CC-GSS course

Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding —  AIU (3 hours)

• any CC-AIU course

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)

Select one from the following:

• SPCH 140 - Public Communication  
• SPCH 145 - Online Public Communication  
• SPCH 230 - Business and Professional Speaking  
• SPCH 260 - Argumentation and Debate  

Information Literacy* —  INF (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course

Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

*Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (18-21 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours)

• only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

History (3 hours)

One non-US History from the following:

• HIST 101 - European Civilization from Ancient Times to the Mid-17th Century  
• HIST 102 - European Civilization from the Mid-17th Century  
• HIST 104 - Introduction to the Civilization of the Islamic Middle East  
• HIST 105 - Introduction to East Asian Civilization  
• HIST 106 - Introduction to African History  
• HIST 107 - Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Civilization  
• HIST 108 - Science and Technology in World History  
• HIST 109 - Introduction to Latin American Civilization  

Literature (3 hours)

One English course selected from the following:

• ENGL 282 - Special Topics in Fiction  
• ENGL 283 - Special Topics in British Literature  
• ENGL 284 - Drama  
• ENGL 285 - Special Topics in American Literature  
• ENGL 286 - Poetry  
• ENGL 287 - American Literature  
• ENGL 288 - English Literature  

Social Science (3 hours)

• any CC-GSS course

Social or Behavioral Science (3 hours)

• A 300-level or higher course from HIST or POLI or three hours of Social or Behavioral Sciences at the 300 level or higher from: AFAM- African-American Studies; ANTH- Anthropology; COLA- College of Liberal Arts; GEOG-Geography (except GEOG 545 and GEOG 546); LASP-Latin American Studies; POLI- Political Science; PSYC- Psychology; SOCY- Sociology; SOST- Southern Studies; WGST- Women and Gender Studies.

Additional SJMC Requirements (6 hours)

• ECON 224 - Introduction to Economics  
• MKTG 350 - Principles of Marketing  OR MGMT 371 - Principles of Management  

3. Program Requirements (12-23 hours)

Minor or Cognate (12-18 hours)

Students must complete either a minor or a cognate from courses outside the SJMC.

a minimum grade of C is required in all cognate or minor courses

Minor (18 hours)

A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a minor consisting of 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. A minor form must be completed and approved by the school after the student has completed 30 hours of course work.

Cognate (12 hours)

A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a cognate. A cognate requires a minimum of 12 hours of courses in other departments related to the student’s major and/or career goals. Cognate courses may be taken in one or more departments depending on the interest and requirements of the student, but must have approval of the student’s adviser. Journalism courses may not be used in the cognate. At least 6 of the 12 hours must be at the 300-level or higher. No 100 level courses may be used in the cognate.

Electives (0-11 hours)

The Carolina Core, additional SJMC General Eduation Requirements, Minor/Cognate and Electives outside of the SJMC must include at least 72 semester hours in academic subjects. Students with fewer than 72 hours in general education courses must take enough electives to fulfill the 72-hour minimum.

No elective courses of a remedial, developmental nature may apply as credit toward the 72-hour minimum.

4. Major Requirements (48 hours)

a minimum grade of C is required in all major courses

Major Courses (30 hours)

• JOUR 101 - Media and Society  
• JOUR 291 - Writing for Mass Communications  
• JOUR 303 - Law and Ethics of Mass Communications  
• Select 3 of the following principles courses (9 hours):
  • JOUR 201 - Principles of Public Relations  
  • JOUR 202 - Principles of Advertising and Brand Communications  
  • JOUR 203 - Principles of Visual Communications  
  • JOUR 204 - Principles of Journalism  
• Select 3 from among the following (9 hours):
  • JOUR 205 - History and Philosophy of the Mass Media  
  • JOUR 306 - Theories of Mass Communications  
  • JOUR 501 - Freedom, Responsibility, and Ethics of the Mass Media  
  • JOUR 506 - Mass Media Criticism  
  • JOUR 542 - Public Opinion and Persuasion  
• Capstone Portfolio Course (3 hours)
  • JOUR 515 - Mass Communications Capstone Portfolio  

Leadership with Distinction Pathway (6 hours)

Choose one of the University’s Leadership with Distinction Pathways: Global Learning, Research, Civic Engagement, or Community Service.  Courses listed under each pathway are examples that address the pathway’s learning outcomes.  Except for the required courses identified, otehr relevant courses that address the pathway outcomes may be substituted per approval of advisor.

• Global Learning (6 hours)

  • JOUR 541 - International Mass Communications  (required)
  • One approved SJMC international elective

• Research (6 hours)

  • JOUR 332 - Mass Communications Research  (required)
  • One approved SJMC research elective

• Civic Engagement (6 hours)

  • Two approved SJMC civic engagement electives

• Community Service (6 hours)

  • Two approved SJMC service learning or community engagement electives

Note: The major in Mass Communications aligns with Graduation with Leadership Distinction. All students pursuing the Leadership Distinction designation will be assigned a faculty mentor from the Mass Communications sequence with whom they will be required to meet at least once per semester during their academic career. Further information on Graduation with Leadership Distinction can be obtained through the Office of USC Connect.

Major Electives (12 hours)

Four JOUR electives of the students’ choice: at least 3 hours and no more than 6 hours must be from skills courses.