45 Credit BA in Journalism
The 45-credit BA Major for students who want to major in journalism and pursue a second major in another discipline (such as history or political science); or for those who major in journalism and declare a minor in another discipline. You will graduate with all the skills you need to succeed.
Stage 1 (18 credits)
1st semester (9 credits)
JOUR 206 Introduction to Reporting
JOUR 207 Introduction to Multimedia
JOUR 205 Principles of Journalistic Thought and Practice
2nd semester (9 credits)
JOUR 208 Intermediate Reporting
JOUR 209 Intermediate Multimedia
JOUR 216 Law and Ethics in Journalism
Stage 2 (12 credits)
3rd semester (6 credits)
JOUR 321 Visual Journalism
Choose 1:
JOUR 303 Feature Writing
JOUR 325 Social Media and Mobile Reporting
JOUR 335 Alternative Journalism*
4th semester (6 credits)
JOUR 302 Reporting and Research Methods for Journalism
Choose 1:
JOUR 309 Editing and Page Design
JOUR 310 Gender, Diversity, and Journalism*
JOUR 330 Radio newsroom
Stage 3 (15 credits)
5th semester (9 credits)
JOUR 444 Critical Approaches to Journalism
Choose 2:
JOUR 404 Magazine Writing
JOUR 421 Advanced Video Journalism
JOUR 432 Documentary Video and Radio
JOUR 445 Advanced Photojournalism
6th semester (6 credits)
JOUR 443 The Digital Magazine (Fall and Winter)
Choose 3 credits from the following:
JOUR 402 Specialist Reporting
JOUR 437 Turning Points in Journalism History
JOUR 442 International Journalism
JOUR 463 Literary Journalism*
Other
JOUR 450 Journalism Practicum
(With department permission, may replace a 400-level elective)
JOUR 451 Independent Study
(With department permission, may replace a 400-level elective)
Journalism courses available to university and journalism majors
JOUR 205 Principles of Journalistic Thought and Practice
(Required for Journalism Majors and open to the university)
JOUR 210 The Media in Quebec (service course)
JOUR 215 Contemporary News Media (service course)
JOUR 310 Gender, Diversity, and Journalism
JOUR 335 Alternative Journalism
JOUR 437 Turning Points in Journalism History
(Offered in alternating years and may replace a 400-level elective)
JOUR 463 Literary Journalism
(Offered in alternating years and may replace a 400-level elective)
Course Descriptions
JOUR 205 Principles of Journalistic Thought and Practice (3 credits)
This course provides a survey of the foundational ideas about journalism and its role in society, from the time of an emergent press to the present. It addresses received ideas about journalism’s place in democratic society as well as current critical thought.
JOUR 206 Introduction to Reporting (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Enrolment in the journalism program. This workshop course lays the foundation for all subsequent reporting and writing courses. Students learn how to do library and online research, structure and conduct interviews, and write news and feature stories for print and digital outlets. Students will learn Canadian Press style.
JOUR 207 Introduction to Multimedia (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Enrolment in the journalism program. This workshop course introduces students to the use of technology across all digital news platforms, including audio and visual equipment and software. It focuses on the development of the necessary professional technical and esthetic skills to produce editorially sound audio and visual stories. Students will be expected to master the use of cameras, recording equipment, and editing software as well as basic digital tools for journalists.
JOUR 208 Intermediate Reporting (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201 and JOUR 221. This workshop course builds on reporting, writing and research fundamentals taught in JOUR 201, with increased emphasis on reporting stories in the community. Practical out-of-class assignments will focus on the city of Montréal. Students will be expected to report on public events, conduct interviews, and write news and feature stories for print and digital outlets.
JOUR 209 Intermediate Multimedia (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201 and JOUR 221. This workshop course expands the fundamentals of technical and editorial fundamentals taught in JOUR201 and JOUR 221with increased emphasis on the use of digital news technology in journalistic storytelling. Students will also learn the basics of web layout and design, CMS, and know writing for these news platforms. Students strengthen their skills by producing multimedia stories using the city of Montréal as their focus.
JOUR 210 The Media in Quebec (3 credits)
This course considers the current reality of the Quebec news media as they have been informed by the history of journalism in Quebec. The course situates the media in Quebec within broader philosophical and sociological currents informing the understanding of journalism as an institution. Some of the reading material for this course is in French.
JOUR 215 Contemporary News Media (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the increasingly complex structures of modern media, and considers them in the context of journalism ideals. It examines the organizations, practices and problems of news media, focusing on key functions in day‑to‑day activities. In any given year, it may explore in detail a particular development or problem in the news media.
JOUR 216 Law and Ethics in Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201 and JOUR 221. This course looks at issues and practices in journalism within the contexts of law and ethics. It aims to provide students with an understanding of professional standards and legal norms, together with a strong foundation in ethical reasoning.
JOUR 302 Reporting and Research Methods for Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201 and JOUR 221. This course introduces students to research methods with a particular focus on primary sources, such as official documents, legal and financial records, access to information requests, electronic databases, as well as in-depth interviews. These methods are treated as both sources of story ideas and as essential elements of good reporting.
JOUR 303 Feature Writing (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201, JOUR 221, JOUR 203 and JOUR 223. This workshop course is designed to help students develop and enhance their writing abilities, preparing for the broadest range of long-form journalism, from brief colour stories and profiles to in-depth and long-form articles. It consolidates interview techniques and introduces a variety of writing approaches, including long-form journalism.
JOUR 309 Editing and Page Design (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201, JOUR 221, JOUR 203 and JOUR 223. This workshop course develops students’ copy-editing skills and introduces them to the fundamentals of page layout. While the editing component of the course is designed primarily for students in textual journalism, the techniques employed are applicable to all media forms.
JOUR 310 Gender, Diversity, and Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 30 credits or permission from department. This course focuses on gender and diversity issues in journalism, ranging from the historical context to more contemporary material. It addresses the ways in which gender and diversity affect journalism as both a practice and an institution.
JOUR 321 Visual Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201, JOUR 221, JOUR 203 and JOUR 223. This workshop course advances video and photography skills introduced in JOUR 221 and JOUR 223, including those involved in all forms of digital newsgathering. Students refine reporting, writing, recording and editing skills in a visual production context to produce editorially sound and esthetically acceptable stories.
JOUR 325 Social Media and Mobile Reporting (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 201, JOUR 221, JOUR 203 and JOUR 223. This workshop course emphasizes the professional and ethical use of social media and mobile technology to report on current affairs topics. Students will be expected to use all forms of social media to report about the community.
JOUR 330 Radio newsroom (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 221 and JOUR 223. This workshop course replicates the working conditions and journalistic expectations of a radio newsroom. Students assume various journalistic positions, including assignment editor, reporter, and newsreader, working to deadline to produce a live radio newscast.
JOUR 335 Alternative Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 30 credits or permission of the Department. This course considers the alternative news organizations in a variety of media forms. It examines both historical and contemporary examples in the context of an expanding and diversifying media landscape.
JOUR 402 Specialist Reporting
Prerequisite: JOUR 302 and 303, or permission of the Department. This workshop course focuses on a specified topic area and introduces students to the particular "beat" reporting and analytical demands of the topic and the institutions that form the basis of this reporting specialty.
JOUR 404 Magazine Writing
Prerequisite: JOUR 302 and 303, or permission of the Department. This workshop is designed for those students who want to further develop a set of research and writing skills geared specifically to the magazine market. Students produce magazine articles of publishable quality and shape the stories to fit the needs of a particular magazine by studying the overall market in depth.
JOUR 421 Advanced Video Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 321. This workshop course focuses on studio and field production of public affairs programming. Students produce long and short-form video journalism, contributing to the department’s Digital Magazine and to their professional portfolio. Students will learn basic studio production techniques.
JOUR 432 Documentary Video and Radio (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 321. This workshop course is for students who wish to explore long-form journalism in sound and pictures, in particular, the television or radio current affairs documentary. Through assignments, class discussions, and exposure to notable examples of the form, students learn the fundamentals of long-form documentary news production.
JOUR 437 Turning Points in Journalism History (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 60 credits or permission from the Department. By concentrating on seminal moments reflected in a range of news media forms, this course examines technological, socio-cultural, political, and historical trends that have contributed to journalism’s development as a set of complex practices. Special attention is given to innovative journalists who have advanced the field.
JOUR 442 International Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 60 credits or permission of the Department. This course examines cross-cultural journalism practices as they pertain to both international news coverage and local reporting in a multicultural setting. The course asks students to apply basic theoretical concepts to case studies of the news.
JOUR 443 The Digital Magazine (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR444 plus two of JOUR404, JOUR421, JOUR432, or JOUR466. This capstone course requires students to produce the department’s digital magazine. The course replicates the working conditions and journalistic expectations of a digital newsroom. Students will be expected to work in editorial teams to create current and updated multimedia content throughout the semester.
JOUR 444 Critical Approaches to Journalism
Prerequisite: 60 credits or permission of the Department. This course introduces students to a scholarly critique of journalism, both as a practice and as an institution. By interrogating specific readings, students are encouraged to consider the journalist as a cultural producer operating within overlapping social, political, and economic contexts.
JOUR 445 Advanced Photojournalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: JOUR 321. This workshop course expands on the photojournalism fundamentals, where students apply their knowledge of theory and aesthetics of long and short-form news photography. Students will use digital cameras and other technologies to complete coursework and to master the professional techniques of news photography.
JOUR 450 Journalism Practicum (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 60 credits and enrolment in a Journalism program. Students who have demonstrated ability, near the end of their program, undertake a practicum at a recognized media outlet, under the supervision of a senior journalist and with permission of the Department’s undergraduate program director.
JOUR 451 Independent Study (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 60 credits and enrolment in the Journalism program. Students who have demonstrated ability may, near the end of their program, undertake an independent study on a topic not otherwise covered by the program, under the direction of one or more faculty members.
JOUR 463 Literary Journalism (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 60 credits or permission of the Department. This course explores the literary aspects of selected, seminal journalistic writings by examining the work of past and present journalists and other non-fiction writers, including those in Canada, U.S., U.K., and elsewhere. Students will appreciate how literary styles and techniques can enhance their journalistic practices.
