Sample Schedules and Required Courses

Your advertising, journalism, or public relations journey begins as a freshman, when you begin taking the premajor sequence. These are 15 hours of required course work—five classes—that provide a solid foundation upon which you will build when you begin the professional program specific to your major. These premajor courses, designed to be taken during your first two years at Ball State, are:  

• JOURN 101 Introduction to Mass Communications
• JOURN 102 Information Gathering
• JOURN 103 Visual Communications and Presentation
• JOURN 105 Journalism Writing Skills
• A specific introductory course, generally a 200-level course, that varies depending upon which major (or journalism sequence) you wish to pursue.

Note: You must earn a C or better grade in the premajor courses to qualify for admission to one of the professional programs.

Once complete, you will apply for admission to the professional program of the major you wish to study. From this point on, the course work you take will depend upon the major you choose and your own career goals and personal interests. Following are the total credit requirements for our majors:

• major in advertising, 60 hours
• major in journalism, 54 to 66 hours (depending upon whether you choose journalism graphics, magazine, news-editorial, or photojournalism)
• major in public relations, 63 hours
• teaching major in journalism, 42 hours (teaching programs require additional courses in educational methods)

Note: You must earn a C or better grade in all courses required for the professional program of your major.