The Department of Communication and Journalism offers three different BA degrees. These degrees are in: Communication, Mass Communication and Journalism. The department also offers minors in Communication and in Public Relations. The BA in Journalism requires coursework to be completed in one of three sequences—Advertising, Broadcast Journalism, News Editorial—that prepare students for leadership roles in news, advertising and journalism careers in Maine and nationwide. The Journalism major offers students strong oral and written expression skills, a firm grasp of public affairs, and a broad foundation in the liberal arts regardless of students’ ultimate career plans. The major also prepares students for graduate study in related communication fields, law, the humanities and social sciences. Full-time faculty members are established scholars who draw on extensive professional experience and ongoing contacts with journalism organizations. Part-time faculty with careers in news and advertising share their state-of-the-art knowledge with students. The department maintains productive relations with journalism enterprises and associations in the state, and houses the Maine Center for Student Journalism, which supports student journalists and advisors in secondary schools statewide. Through an active internship program students also gain practical experience and professional contacts in the industry before they enter the job market.
Majors in Journalism must complete a minimum of thirty six (36) credits of specific CMJ courses to fulfill the core course requirements and the requirements for one of the three following sequences:
Advertising
Broadcast Journalism
News Editorial
Students must also fulfill the external course requirements.
The external coursework must include at least 9 credits in the areas of Writing and Language and at least 18 credits of coursework concentrated in an area outside of the CMJ Department.
The 9 credits of coursework in the areas of Writing and Language must include at least 3 credits in each of the two areas (6 credits from one area; 3 credits from the other). The Writing area includes the following courses: ENG 205, ENG 206, ENG 212, ENG 301, ENG 317, ENG 417, and ENG 418. CMJ 236 and CMJ 237 can also be used to meet part of this requirement when not used to meet a CMJ major or sequence requirement. The Language area includes: French, German, Spanish, American Sign Language or other non-English languages.
At least 18 credits of coursework concentrated in an area outside of the CMJ Department must be completed. This requirement can be fulfilled by completing: (a) a Minor in another department, (b) an Interdisciplinary Curricula, or (c) a concentration of 6 courses (18 credits) taken in another department, with at least 12 of the 18 credit hours taken in coursework above the 100 level. No CMJ or Honors courses can be used to meet any part of this requirement.
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