Founded in 1914, the Journalism program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Alumni include Pulitzer Prize winners, Nieman fellows and nationally known journalists.
The journalism major prepares students for leadership roles in rapidly changing media by requiring a strong core of journalism courses within the rich context of a liberal arts education. Courses are designed to foster analytical and critical thinking skills and to teach students to communicate effectively with a media audience.
Our students learn the skills needed for success in their chosen field. They also learn about industry structures, ethics, and regulation. Our goal is for students in our classes to become skilled practitioners as well as critical thinkers – training for a first job and a long-term career.
Journalism majors learn about media law, ethics and history, and about the media's role in an increasingly diverse society. The program emphasizes hands-on learning. Students select either a print/multimedia or broadcast/multimedia emphasis in their professional skills courses. Majors choosing a print/multimedia emphasis have the opportunity to write for a daily newspaper or the university's yearbook. Students who select the broadcast/multimedia emphasis gain on-air experience at the campus student radio station and report, anchor and produce a live newscast aired four days a week (Monday-Thursday) on a local cable channel.
Students also have the opportunity to work with several independent campus media organizations. UK’s award-winning daily newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, is housed in our building; many of the Kernel’s editorial and advertising staff members are JAM students. UK’s yearbook, The Kentuckian, is also located in the Grehan Building and attracts many of our students as staff writers. And, there’s WRFL-FM, a student-run radio station. UK Student News Network is our live, daily newscast produced by students in the broadcast emphasis.
Graduates are prepared for jobs as reporters and editors for print, broadcast and on-line media, and for positions as assignment editors, producers, managing editors, publishers and new media entrepreneurs. Courses are also offered for students interested in specialized careers such as sports reporting, business writing, and arts criticism.
Academic statistics for the UK School of Journalism and Media, which has been accredited since 1950.
Students develop analytical and critical thinking skills to communicate with audiences across all media platforms. Two areas of interest prepare students for long-term careers as reporters, photographers, videographers, editors, publishers, producers, anchors, social media content managers, or other professions that require experience in writing, reporting, editing, curating, printing, broadcasting, web or social media. All students learn about traditional as well as new media. Capstone experience includes maintaining a daily multimedia blog.
Broadcast/Multimedia
Students gain on-air experience at the student-run radio station through producing, writing and airing daily newscasts and producing a weekly half-hour community affairs broadcast. They produce, report and anchor a daily, live newscast for a local cable channel.
Print/Multimedia
Students may write, edit, design and report for the independent, student-run, daily newspaper as well as other campus publications.
Four Year Plans
B.A. Journalism—Broadcast/Multimedia Four Year Plan
B.S. Journalism—Broadcast/Multimedia Four Year Plan
B.A. Journalism—Print/Multimedia Four Year Plan
B.S. Journalism—Print/Multimedia Four Year Plan
Degree Requirements
120 Credit Hours (EXCLUDES: KHP service courses, EXP courses, and remedial courses)
Complete all UK Core requirements, Graduation Writing, BA or BS requirements, and one statistics course
42 Hours at the 300 level or above
2.00 cumulative GPA and 2.00 major GPA required to graduate
Pre-Major Requirements–9 Hours
JOU 101—Introduction to Journalism
JOU 204—Writing for the Mass Media
Required Courses Outside the Major
One Political Science Course
Students must complete an official minor
Broadcast/Multimedia
Major Requirements–39 Hours
JOU 302—Radio and TV News Reporting
JOU 304—Broadcast News Decision Making
JOU 404—Advanced TV News
6 hours JOU/ISC/MAS 300+ level
JOU 330—Web Publishing and Design
JOU 455—Mass Media and Diversity
JOU 498—Multimedia Storytelling
JOU 531—Media Law
JOU 532—Ethics of Journalism and Mass Communication
JAT 399—Internship
Choose One*
JOU 485—Community Journalism
JOU 499—Advanced Writing and Reporting
Choose One
JOU 535—History of Journalism
JOU 541—The First Amendment, Internet and Society
Print/Multimedia
Major Requirements—39 Hours
JOU 301 News Reporting
JOU 303 News Editing
9 hours JOU/ISC/MAS 300+ level
JOU 330—Web Publishing and Design
JOU 455—Mass Media and Diversity
JOU 498—Multimedia Storytelling
JOU 531—Media Law
JOU 532—Ethics of Journalism and Mass Communication
JAT 399—Internship
Choose One*
JOU 485—Community Journalism
JOU 499—Advanced Writing for the Mass Media
Choose One
JOU 535—History of Journalism
JOU 541—The First Amendment, Internet and Society
* Broadcast multimedia students may satisfy this requirement by enrolling in JOU 404 Advanced TV News, for a second time.
A PORTFOLIO is required for graduation.
Printable Program Flyers
Minor Pre-requisites
JOU 101—Introduction to Journalism
JOU 204—Writing for the Mass Media
Minor Requirements
JOU 455—Mass Media and Diversity
JOU 531—Media Law
Minor Electives
Select from the following for a total of 6 credits
JOU 415—Design and Layout*
JOU 497—Special Topics in Journalism
JOU 532—Ethics of Journalism and Mass Communication
JOU 535—History of Journalism
JOU 541—The First Amendment, Internet and Society
*May be repeated to a maximum of 3 credits under different subtitles
Minor in Journalism Studies Printable PDF
Course Forms
Students requesting overrides for Summer 2020 or Fall 2020 classes should not fill out override forms for JOU or MAS classes until April 1. Override requests will be processed beginning April 15. Students requesting seats in controlled enrollment classes should request seats immediately.
- Journalism Studies Minor form
- JAT 395 Independent Study form
- Course request form for Journalism majors or pre-majors requesting a JOU or MAS course
- Course request form for Media Arts and Studies majors or pre-majors requesting a JOU or MAS course
- Course request form for students not majoring in Journalism or Media Arts and Studies - Please note, This form is used only for requests for JOU or MAS courses.
Overrides for ISC classes should be requested at http://ci.uky.edu/isc/override-request.