This recommended pathway meets the requirements of the AAS/DTA degree and prepares you for a university major in journalism. But you can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
Quarter 1 (13-15 credits)
ENGL& 101 English composition I (5 credits)
CMST& 102 Intro to mass media (5 credits)
LIBR 201 Foundations of research (3 credits) (preferred)
or another Elective (3-5 credits)
Career exploration:
- Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs related to your career goals. Find out where students in your pathway go to study.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan in Starfish.
- Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
- Visit the Intercultural Center, the Learning Center and the library.
Quarter 2 (15 credits)
JOURN 210 Writing for mass media (5 credits)
ART 185 Intro to visual communications (5 credits) (preferred)
or another Humanities course (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
MATH& 107 Math in society (5 credits)
If you're not ready for MATH& 107, start the math sequence that leads to it.
Career exploration:
- Compare the different journalism majors at universities you're interested in.
- Start keeping a portfolio of your best work, including news stories and photos.
Quarter 3 (15 credits)
JOURN 120 Horizon staff (5 credits)
Social Science (5 credits): a course with "SS" at the end of the course description
GEOL 140 Natural disasters (5 credits) (preferred)
or another Lab Science (5 credits): a physical or biological science with "MS l" at the end of the course description
Career exploration:
- Ask your instructors about nearby conferences you might attend next year.
- Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action items:
- Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
Quarter 4 (17-20 credits)
JOURN 211 Advanced reporting and editing (5 credits)
POLS& 202 American government (5 credits) (preferred)
or another Social Science (5 credits): a course with "SS" at the end of the course description
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
If you took ART 185, this time choose a course marked "H" but not "Hp."
Elective (2-5 credits)
Career exploration:
- Listen to podcasts about journalism or the kind of journalism career you're aiming for.
- Prepare for an editorial role at the Horizon. Shadow the current student editor. Take on some editing duties.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor about applying to transfer. Start your transfer applications.
- Apply for next year's financial aid.
Quarter 5 (15 credits)
JOURN 211 Advanced reporting and editing (3 credits)
JOURN 212 Advanced editing and production (2 credits)
You must take JOURN 211 and JOURN 212 at the same time at least once.
SOC 250 Multicultural issues (5 credits)
Science (5 credits): a physical or biological science with "MS" or "MS l" at the end of the course description
Action items:
Quarter 6 (15 credits)
Math/science (5 credits): a course with "MS" or "MS l" at the end of the course description. It can be a science, an additional 100-level math course, or a programming course.
HUM& 101 Intro to humanities (6 credits)
HUM 106 Humanities here and now (1 credit)
ENGL& 230 Technical writing (3 credits)
Action items:
- Ask for letters of recommendation.
- Attend the spring job fair.
Course Suggestions
Humanities
- ART 114 History of graphic design
- ART 150 History of photography
- ART 185 Intro to visual communications
- ART 186 Intro to digital video
- ENGL 267 Native American literature
- FILM 240 Documentary film
- FILM 265 American LGBTQ+ cinema
- HUM& 101 Intro to the humanities (6 credits)
- HUM 106 Humanities here and now (1 credit)
This one-credit supplement to HUM& 101 must be taken at the same time.
- HUM 220 The western cultural tradition
- HUM 260 American cultural studies (6 credits)
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
- MUSC& 105 Music appreciation
Social Sciences
- ANTH& 100 Survey of anthropology
- ANTH& 200 Intro to language
- ANTH& 206 Cultural anthropology
- GEOG 100 Intro to geography
- GEOG 110 Intro to physical geography
- GEOG 243 Urban geography
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
- POLS& 101 Intro to political science
- POLS& 202 American government
- POLS& 203 International relations
- PSYC& 100 General psychology
- PSYC 250 Intro to organizational behavior
- SOC& 101 Intro to sociology
- SOC& 201 Social problems
- SOC 210 Urban sociology
- SOC 250 Multicultural issues
Math/Sciences
- ANTH& 205 Biological anthropology
- ASTR& 100 Astronomy
- BIOL& 100 Survey of biology (lab)
- BIOL 159 Marine biology (lab)
- BIOL& 175 Human biology (lab)
- ENVS& 100 Survey of environmental science
- GEOL 100 Intro to earth science (lab)
- GEOL& 101 Intro to physical geology (lab)
- GEOL 110 Environmental geology
- GEOL 140 Natural disasters (lab)
- GEOL 150 Intro to weather (lab)
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
- OCEA& 101 Intro to oceanography (lab)
- PHYS& 110 Physics for non-science majors (lab)
- PHYS 112 Environmental physics (lab)
Electives
- CJ 109 Community relations
- COOP 190 Internship (1-5 credits)
- CS 101 Computers and software
- CS 120 HTML fundamentals
- DANCE Any course
- LIBR 201 Foundations of research (3 credits)
- PE Any course
- PSYC 105 The career search process