Journalism Student Survival guide (Continued)
Complete the Major
The journalism major requires a minimum of 37 units, 26 of which must be in the upper division (300- or 400-level). No more than 11 units of lower division journalism may apply toward the bachelor's degree. You may select an area of concentration (broadcast journalism, freelance and magazine journalism, newspaper journalism, photojournalism, or public relations) or you may select courses from the different areas (general journalism). The Catalog and Department advising sheets contain the specifics. You may select the catalog in effect at the time you start at CSUN or when you graduate. All courses in the major except J.494 Internship must be taken for letter grades (rather than credit/no credit).
Complete the Collateral Field of Study
All journalism majors must complete 15 upper division units in a secondary field of study, usually one of the liberal arts, sciences or humanities, such as sociology, history, economics, political science or ethnic studies. Certain courses in fields that are related to journalism such as Cinema & Television Arts, Art or Marketing cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. See your adviser before selecting your collateral field. Upper division courses meeting the General Education requirement may also be used to meet this requirement. All collateral field courses must be taken for letter grades (rather than credit/no credit) since they are part of the major requirements. Those selecting a minor must still keep in mind that you will still need to complete 15 units in upper division (300, 400 and/or 500 level) courses. For example if the minor only requires 9 units of upper division units, then you will need to take 6 more to meet the Journalism department’s 15 unit requirement.
Complete the Non-Journalism Requirements
The Department is nationally accredited for the study of professional journalism. In accordance with accreditation standards, at least 80 units of the 120 required for the bachelor's degree must be taken in departments other than journalism and mass communication, and of those 80 units, at least 65 must be in the liberal arts, sciences or humanities. You cannot graduate with a degree in journalism without meeting these non-journalism requirements. Your collateral field of study (see above) can apply to these units if you select a collateral field in the liberal arts. See your faculty adviser and Department advisement sheets for details.
Meet the Cal State Northridge Grade-Point Requirement
All candidates for graduation must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 ("C") in courses taken, those taken at CSUN, and those required by your major. All courses in the major (except J494 Internship) and in the collateral field must be taken for letter grades (rather than credit/no credit).
Complete 120 Units of College Credit
Course below the college level (starting with a “0” at Northridge, for example) or exceeding transfer limits (70 lower division units and 11 units [J.100, J.110, J.210 and J.250] in journalism from community colleges) do not count toward the 120 needed for graduation.
Meet the CSUN Residence Requirement
Students transferring from other colleges and universities must complete
the CSUN residency requirement a minimum of 30 units taken
at CSUN, 24 of which must be in the upper division, including nine
in General Education, and 12 of which must apply toward the major.
Request a Department Graduation Check
The Cal State Northridge Catalog and the Schedule of Classes list deadlines for filing graduation checks. Generally, you should see your faculty adviser for a Department grad check about 14 months before you plan to graduate (e.g. early in the spring semester if you plan to graduate in May of the following year) Your adviser will go over your courses, units and grades, and will approve the remaining courses and units you will need to complete your major. The Department clerical staff will type the final form, making three copies — one for you, one for the Department files, and one for you to submit immediately to Admissions and Records as evidence of completion of your journalism major. Please allow several days for typing. Once the grad check form has been signed and filed with Admissions and Records, you cannot vary from the requirements listed without filing a substitution form, which must be signed by your adviser and the Department Chair.
Apply for Graduation
After you have picked up the formal journalism grad check form from the Department Office, take one copy to the Admissions and Records Office and apply for graduation. Remember, you should file for graduation about 14 months before you plan to graduate. Deadlines are listed in the Catalog and in the Schedule of Classes. After Admissions and Records reviews all of your college work, they will mail you a final evaluation, showing all requirements that remain for you to complete before you can be granted the degree. If you meet the published deadlines, you will receive this evaluation before registering for your final semester at Cal State Northridge, allowing you to complete any unfinished work in your final term. If you cannot graduate on the date for which you applied, you will need to change your date of graduation at Admissions & Records. Fees are charged for graduation applications. Once the final graduation evaluation has been received, you must meet all stated requirements in order to graduate.