Courses
The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.
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COM FT 953: Internship 1
This course description is currently under construction. -
COM FT 954: Internship 2
This course description is currently under construction. -
COM JO 150: History and Principles of Journalism
This course surveys the evolution of the American news media. Students examine press freedom, censorship, changing definitions of news and shifting business models underlying journalism. Based on that history, students examine the enduring values and principles of journalism in modern society. (Formerly JO357, cannot be taken for credit if JO357 has been taken.) Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Historical Consciousness. -
COM JO 200: Newswriting
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) and COM CO201.
Students acquire fundamental newsgathering and writing skills needed to thrive as a journalist working in any platform. The course is based in the classroom, but students are expected to learn and adhere to professional newsroom standards. The course focuses on essential practices and principles that apply to reporters, photographers, bloggers, producers and editors at newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online media. The class emphasizes news judgment, storytelling and reporting skills as well as writing clearly and quickly. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy. -
COM JO 205: Visual Storytelling
Required of journalism majors. An introductory course designed to provide students with a basic working knowledge of the media required for professional journalism, including photography, sound, video, and editing for production of multimedia packages. No previous experience in visual media is required. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation. -
COM JO 210: Reporting in Depth
Undergraduate Prerequisites: JO 200 and JO 205
In J0210 you will learn and practice in-depth reporting in a community. You will develop sources, walk the streets, cover a beat, attend meetings, shoot photos and provide readers with public interest journalism. This is a working newsroom. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Writing- Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy. -
COM JO 300: Media & Democracy - Journalism in an Age of Disinformation
This course is for anyone who reads the news or produces it, for those who want accurate information and those who want to provide it. Students will gain a true-north understanding of the role of the free press in a democracy, the rise and allure of online fake news, and how empowered individuals and the news media can push back against this 21st century threat to freedom. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, The Individual in Community, Research and Information Literacy. -
COM JO 304: Online Journalism
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 205.
This course introduces students to reporting, writing and creating multimedia journalism for the web. Students learn how to create stories using a variety of media. They learn which elements -- text, stills, audio, video, and interactive graphics -- are best for delivering a story and engaging an online news audience. Students also learn the basics of the tools needed to create multimedia journalism packages and practice using them to report news online. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. Pre-req: JO 205/JO 303 -
COM JO 309: Feature Writing
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 210.
The course invites students to refine their reporting and writing skills in projects that will showcase their mastery of the craft. Projects will span a variety of lengths, deadlines, and forms. Prerequisites: COM JO 200, 205 and 210. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. -
COM JO 312: Photojournalism I
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 205.
An introductory course for students interested in pursuing a career in photojournalism and visual reporting. Students photograph assignments to the standards of professional news outlets and advance their skills in digital photography for use on websites and in publications. Prerequisites: COM JO 205. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. -
COM JO 322: Smrt Phn Report
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COM JO 350: Law and Ethics of Journalism
This interactive course introduces the core legal and ethical issues affecting how journalists, including the student press, gather, verify and communicate news. This course offers an exciting deep-dive into the key concepts affecting newsgathering and dissemination today.Students will discover the underpinnings of a free press as well as practical tools to use when confronted with government efforts to block legitimate newsgathering. Students will gain a working knowledge of how and why the First Amendment protects them as they gather, verify and disseminate the news. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Ethical Reasoning, Research and Information Literacy. -
COM JO 351: Reporting With Audio and Video
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 200 or COM JO 205.
Learn how to find, write, shoot, and edit news packages, broadcast on television or the internet. Taught by veteran journalists in a newsroom complete with the latest digital technologies. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. (Prerequisites: COM JO 200 and 205.) -
COM JO 358: British Journalism, Culture, and Society
Covers the workings of the British State and the obsessions and quirks of British culture so students can understand UK newspapers, and helps students build upon their own feature writing output from conception to completion. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Creativity/Innovation. -
COM JO 400: Newsroom
Undergraduate Prerequisites: JO 200 and JO 210
What is it like to work in a deadline-driven, multimedia newsroom? That's the focus of this capstone course which will immerse you in an environment that produces deadline stories, long-form reporting and data- driven projects. As you report, you will employ new technologies learned in a weekly Innovation Lab. The professor is your editor experienced in one or more of the primary platforms of Online, Television, Radio and Print/General Assignment reporting data journalism. Your classmates are your colleagues in reporting, writing, shooting and editing daily and enterprise stories that will be published on the Boston news service website and by local media partners. -
COM JO 403: Magazine Writing and Editing
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 250 and COM JO 310.
Students learn to research and write lengthy articles of national magazine quality. Students also learn editing skills. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. (Prerequisites: COM JO 200 and COM JO 210.) -
COM JO 412: Professional Journalism Internship
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Junior standing; at least 3.0 in COM; completion of JO250 and either JO303 or JO357
Graduate Prerequisites: .
Valuable on-the-job practice of journalism skills. Provides student with portfolio of professional work. The student works 150 hours per semester or summer at the internship. Assistance in placement; instructor must approve project. Paper, employer evaluation, and portfolio required at end of semester. Credit variable, every semester. (Undergraduate Prerequisites: Rising junior status; a 3.0 GPA in COM; completion of JO200/250 and JO205/303.) -
COM JO 435: Online Radio Newsroom
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM JO 351.
For students who like the teamwork and adrenaline of a real newsroom. Students produce a half-hour LIVE news show on the student radio station, WTBU, during each class. Students report, write, produce and engineer all the news sports and commentary on deadline. Students use social media to report stories and upload content to the Boston University News Service website. Student file stories frequently and programs from NPR, BBC, WBZ, and other radio news outlets will be critiqued. Four credits, fall and spring semesters. (Prerequisite: COM JO 200.) -
COM JO 455: Jo Prof Proj
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COM JO 490: Directed Studies
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
Students work with faculty on individual research, professional training, or special studies. Variable credits, either sem.
