Academic Bulletin

School of Communication - Undergraduate

VISUAL JOURNALISM - Dept. Code: CVJ

http://com.miami.edu/VisualJournalism

Educational Objectives | Degree Programs | Major | Minor

Introduction

The Visual Journalism program emphasizes visual storytelling that includes meaningful content within the global community. It teaches technical literacy in traditional and cutting-edge technologies. Each course builds upon an understanding of the visual storytelling process, and each course stresses the theoretical underpinnings and ethical foundations of the journalistic tradition.

Our internationally recognized faculty is a blend of award-winning professionals and distinguished researchers and includes two Knight Chairs specializing in Visual Journalism and Cross-Cultural Journalism. Alumni of the program include award-winning journalists working with major news organizations.

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the Visual Journalism Program require that students:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the workings of the diverse global communication marketplace and be able to identify the impact of historical, technological, ethical and sociological influences in the communication evolution.

• Demonstrate the ability to gather and chronicle community-based information using research, interpersonal interviewing skills and media technology tools.

• Demonstrate the development of a professional identity through the ability to articulate and practice the values, ethics, social responsibility and expectations of the profession.

• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze one’s own creative work as well as the work of fellow students and professionals in terms of content and aesthetics.

• Demonstrate service to the campus and community at large through participation in the creation and delivery of content for the campus and community audiences.

• Demonstrate technical proficiency in visual storytelling using both traditional and cutting-edge technology.

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Degree Programs

The Bachelor of Science in Communication is offered in the Visual Journalism Program.

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Major

A Major is offered in Visual Journalism.

Each candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Communication will complete School of Communication requirements including courses in the Required Areas of Study, the second major, and electives sufficient for a total of 66 credits in the liberal arts and sciences.

A Bachelor of Science student in Visual Journalism will be permitted a maximum of 30 credits in Mass Communication courses (excluding COM 101, COM 110, and COM 250) toward the 120-credit University degree.

Visual Journalism majors who select ART as their second major may choose any ART area of specialization except Photography.

Admission to the Visual Journalism major

Before admission as a Visual Journalism (CVJ) major, a student must:

A) Achieve sophomore standing;

B) Complete the five Core courses listed below, in residence at the University, all with grades of C or higher (C- is not acceptable).

Students who have obtained the written approval of the Director of the Visual Journalism major to use transfer credit to satisfy one or more requirements of that major may be required to complete additional courses in residence at the University before being admitted to that major.

Upon completion of a student's first 45 University credits while enrolled in the School of
Communication, all University credits earned toward the major will be used in computing a student's major cumulative quality point average; only those students with a cumulative average of 2.5 or higher will be admitted to a major.

A student who has completed 45 credits while enrolled in the School of Communication but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication majors may be dismissed from the School. A student who has completed 60 University credits while enrolled in the School but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication majors will be dismissed from the School. See PROBATION AND DISMISSAL.

The Visual Journalism Major

CORE COURSES

COM 101 Mass Media Communication and Society
COM 110 Communication Theory
COM 250 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics
CVJ 106 Multimedia Design
CVJ 221 Introduction to Photojournalism

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

CVJ 209 Audio Visual Production
CVJ 341 Web Design

Select one of the following courses:

CNJ 111 Introduction to News Media Writing or
CMP 126 Introduction to Scriptwriting or
CEM 201 Writing for the Electronic Media

Multimedia Programming Track
CVJ 309 Database Journalism
CVJ 422 Programming for Interactivity
CNJ 595 Advanced Programming
SOC elective

Select one of the following courses:

CVJ 519 Interactive Storytelling or
CNJ 599 Adv. Projects (Team Multimedia Project)

News Design Track
CVJ 331 Infographics
CNJ 595 Special Topics: 3D Infographics
CVJ 409 Advanced Feature Design
SOC elective

Select one of the following courses:

CVJ 519 Interactive Storytelling (Capstone) or
CNJ 599 Adv. Projects (Team Multimedia Project- Capstone)

Photojournalism Track
CVJ 361 Advanced Photojournalism
CVJ 435 Video Journalism
CNJ 595 Special Topics: Photographic Storytelling
SOC elective

Select one of the following courses:

CVJ 519 Interactive Storytelling (Capstone) or
CNJ 599 Adv. Projects (Team Multimedia Project - Capstone)

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Minor

VISUAL JOURNALISM MINOR: CVJ 106, 209, 221, 341, and one 300-level or higher from one of the three tracks of specialization in Visual Journalism.

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