Journalism Major (B.S.J. in Journalism) [offered through Honors Tutorial College]
Program Overview
The HTC program in Journalism offers exceptional students the opportunity to study the many aspects of journalism and mass communication in small groups and one-on-one relationships with our school's faculty members. Maximum opportunities will be afforded for the student to progress well beyond the material found in conventional courses. The primary purpose of the tutorial program is to prepare students for a professional career while at the same time serving as preparation for graduate study. Students will receive a degree of Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the Honors Tutorial College. The HTC Journalism program satisfies the accreditation standards of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Students in the HTC Journalism program typically follow one of the two main tracks in journalism, the news and information track or the strategic communication track.
Eight tutorials in Journalism are required, including two thesis tutorials. To allow maximum flexibility, tutorials can vary between 1 and 15 hours per semester, though non-thesis tutorials are usually taken for a minimum of 3 hours and thesis tutorials for a minimum of 5 hours. Students must also complete regular journalism courses, liberal arts requirements, and a specialization. Honors Tutorial students are required to enroll in a minimum of 15 hours per semester.
Students in the HTC Journalism program will be prepared to 1. achieve a sophisticated understanding of their discipline and profession via conceptual and skills classes, labs, and tutorials, 2. pursue original, independent research and journalistic creative activity by completing pertinent assignments, participating in applicable projects, and working on the honors thesis, and 3. develop a professional work ethic and responsibility through ethics training, tutorials, group work, and the honors thesis. These goals are assessed continuously throughout the program.
Honors Thesis
Students are required to complete an honors thesis, investigating a problem of concern to both scholars and practitioners. Due to the professional orientation of journalism, the thesis can either be a scholarly piece or a professional project. As a rule, the thesis should be somewhere between 50 and 80 pages long or an adequate, agreed-upon length for the professional project (including a 25-page-long scholarly essay). The thesis committee is usually composed of the thesis adviser and the director of studies, who will monitor the thesis work. Its acceptance, dependent upon an appropriate mixture of research and analysis, relies upon the judgment of the thesis adviser and the director of studies. Additionally, it must be approved by the dean of the Honors Tutorial College.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
Students are selected by the director of studies of the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior academic ability and the potential for self-motivated study and research. Applicants typically are required to submit additional essays, and an interview with the director of studies is required for admission. More information, including materials and deadlines, is available at www.ohio.edu/honors/tutorial-college/apply. Recommendations from two high school teachers are optional but highly recommended. Portfolios with writing samples and/or broadcast or multimedia productions are strongly encouraged (showcasing students' writing abilities and experience with journalism and mass media).
Change of Program Policy
First-year students at Ohio University may apply to transfer in to the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen.
External Transfer Admission
First-year students at another institution may also apply to transfer in to the journalism tutorial program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Most students graduating from the program will work in the field of journalism, mass communication, PR, or advertising, and related fields. Journalism graduates are often hired into other jobs, as well, due to their general abilities (critical thinking, writing skills, analytical facilities, computer literacy, etc.). The Bachelor degree in journalism is also a great preparation for graduate school. Students may apply for graduate school in journalism or related fields, including law school, business school, and political science. HTC Journalism and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism have an outstanding record of post-graduation job placement.