Associate in Applied Science in Journalism and New Media Studies

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

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Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MCO120 Media and Society View requisites Critical course Gateway course SB 3
JRN101 Grammar and Style for Journalists View requisites 1
JRN105 Introduction to Journalism 3
ENG101 or
ENG107
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL View requisites Critical course FYC or FYC 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics View requisites OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course MA 3–6
BPC110 or
CIS105
Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
FYE101 or
FYE103
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
JRN201 News Writing View requisites L 3
JRN205 Copyediting View requisites 3
MCO220 Cultural Diversity and the Media View requisites C, L 3
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL View requisites FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication View requisites SB or SB or L or SB 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking View requisites OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HIS103 or
HIS108 or
HIS203 or
PHI101 or
PHI103 or
PHI105
United States History to 1865 or United States History 1945 to the Present or African-American History to 1865 or Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to Logic or Introduction to Ethics View requisites H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or C, H, HU, SB or HU or HU, L or HU 3
JRN225 Photojournalism 3
JRN210 News and Media Production View requisites 3
ENG235 or
JRN212 or
JRN234
Magazine Article Writing or Writing for Broadcasts or Feature Writing View requisites None or L 3
SQ or
SG
Natural Sciences Quantitative or Natural Sciences General SQ or SG 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
JRN213 Writing for Online 3
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
POS110 or
PSY101 or
SOC101
Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or American National Government or Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology SB or SB or SB or SB or SB 3
General Elective General Elective Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete the minimum total program credits required for this degree. Consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor. 0–2

Program Electives

Any combination of the following courses must be taken for a total of ​6​ credits: JRN240AC,  ​JRN298AA, ​JRN298AB, and JRN298AC.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
JRN240AC Journalism Internship View requisites 3
JRN298AA Special Projects View requisites 1
JRN298AB Special Projects View requisites 2
JRN298AC Special Projects View requisites 3

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.