Journalism Pathway Guide

Preparation for Transfer as a Journalism or Fashion Media Major

The following sequences are suggested courses to take in your semesters prior to transferring to SMU as a journalism or fashion media major. For students attending a Texas public community college or university, Texas Common Course Numbers (TCCNS) are listed.  If you are transferring from a college or university outside of Texas, click on the SMU course for a course description which may be used to select/compare courses at your current institution.

CC listings refer to SMU’s Common Curriculum, which all undergraduates are required to complete. Refer to the Common Curriculum Transfer Guide  for a list of courses satisfying CC components. Interactive equivalency guides organized by transfer institution are available on the Transfer and Transition Services’ website.

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The Meadows Movement

Welcome to the Meadows School of the Arts! We’re excited you’re interested in transferring to SMU and majoring in Journalism. Established in 1969, the Meadows School is a nationally recognized arts education institution offering degrees in the communication, performing and visual arts.

Meadows graduates are found in top positions around the globe at major television networks, Town & Country, Los Angeles Clippers, Condé Nast and Burson-Marsteller; the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts; dance and theatre company founders and Oscar and Tony award winners; news producers and reporters for major networks; singers for the Met and musicians for major metropolitan symphonies; artists whose work is shown in the U.S. and abroad; directors and curators of museums and galleries; and more.

The Division of Journalism

Established in 1922, the Division of Journalism at SMU Meadows provides students with the intellectual, interpretive, practical and ethical skills needed to function as professionals in today’s digital world. Students gain hands-on experience in the high-definition Tony Pederson Broadcast Studio and convergence media lab producing content for broadcast, print and digital platforms. In addition to highly personalized classroom training, the program offers a wide array of practical learning opportunities: SMU-TV news programs (Spanish and English); sports, fashion, and lifestyle broadcasts; and the SMU Daily Campus online news site. The division also has the Fashion Media major to train professionals in all facets of fashion communication.

The Meadows Advantage

Located in Dallas, Top-Five Media Market

The Division’s award-winning faculty has considerable industry experience as reporters, editors, producers, consultants and authors, and many have earned honors including the Emmy Award and regional and national awards. Small class sizes (typically 12-1) ensure plenty of individual attention; stellar internships in Dallas and other major markets are plentiful; and the annual Sammons Lecture in Media Ethics and O’Neil Lecture in Business Journalism bring in top professionals in journalism and business to speak and interact with students.

Alumni

Journalism graduates of SMU hold positions in numerous media organizations, including:

• ABC, CBS and NBC News, Bloomberg News, ESPN, Fox News, CNN
• Dallas Cowboys
• The Dallas Morning News,Houston Chronicle
• Newsweek, American City Business Journals, The New York Times
• Top regional publications and network affiliate television stations across the U.S.

Internships

SMU is located in the largest media market in the Southwest and the No. 5 television market in the United States. A wide variety of internships are available in broadcast, print, digital, magazine, public relations and governmental affairs. Recent internships in Dallas and other major markets include: Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, The Dallas Morning News, Marie Claire, D Magazine, Christian Dior, Goldman Sachs and more.

Study programs at American University in Washington, D.C., and SMU-in-London broaden students’ journalistic horizons.

The Journalism Majors

The Division of Journalism offers two bachelor of arts degrees - Journalism  and Fashion Media  - and a minor to prepare students for success in the dynamic, fast-changing world of journalism. In addition, Journalism and Fashion Media majors may choose a concentration in business journalism through the William J. O’Neil Program in Business Journalism, or a concentration in sports journalism.

Majors study cross-platform multimedia journalism, including broadcast, print and digital formats, supplemented by multiple hands-on practica and significant internship opportunities.  Students are also taught the intellectual and theoretical skills they will need to help them interpret the world around them and understand the role of the media in society.  They graduate as clear, concise thinkers and writers.

The major requires 37 credit hours within the division. A total of 80 credit hours must be taken outside the division; at least 65 of these hours must be in the arts and sciences.  All journalism and fashion media majors must declare and complete a second major or a minor of their choosing, which must be outside the Division of Journalism.

B.A. in Fashion Media

SMU’s Fashion Media program  prepares students to enter the growing field of fashion media, an increasingly significant segment of the trillion-dollar international fashion industry. Fashion media careers include opportunities in journalism, blogging, social media, public relations, event planning, styling and fashion photography. Dallas’ profile as a fashion center offers a rich laboratory in which students can sharpen their skills. Professional internship opportunities are available to all Fashion Media students as part of their coursework.

William J. O’Neil Business Program

This innovative interdisciplinary program includes courses in Meadows School and in the Cox School of Business. In addition to the 37 credit hours required for the journalism major, students wishing to concentrate in business and economics journalism complete a second Major in Business ; the Minor in Business Administration ; or the summer Minor in Business  plus ECO 1311  and ECO 1312 .  Students put into practice what they are learning about business, financial markets and economics in advanced journalism classes and in coverage of North Texas-based companies and the regional economy.

Journalism and Fashion Media Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students planning to major or minor in journalism must have completed 24 hours of study, and must complete the following core classes with a minimum combined 2.5 GPA with nothing lower than a C+ in any one of them:

• WRTR 1311 - Foundations of Writing  or equivalent
• WRTR 1312 - Introduction to Academic Writing  or equivalent
• JOUR 2302 - Ethics of Convergent Media  

Students must declare the major or minor before taking JOUR 2312 - News Reporting .  JOUR 2312  and JOUR 2398 Introduction to Digital Media and Analytics  are required before further journalism study, with the exception of Critical Studies courses. Students transferring from other universities must have completed equivalent courses and obtained the equivalent GPA in those courses before they can be considered a major candidate in the Division of Journalism.  

Strong writing skills are essential for a major in journalism and, later, in the profession of journalism.

Minor in Journalism

The Minor in Journalism , consisting of 22 hours of coursework, provides a basic understanding of the role of the news media in American society and an introduction to the basic skills necessary for the practice of the field.

Honors in Journalism

Declared journalism majors with a GPA of 3.5 or better can apply to the journalism honors program. The honors program is highly selective and consists of honors coursework within the Division of Journalism and an honors thesis. Separate from the honors program, the top 10 percent of the graduating journalism class is invited for membership in Kappa Tau Alpha, the Journalism Mass Communication Honor Society.

Preparing for a Smooth Transition

Transfer students who take time to prepare for their transition to Meadows are some of the most successful students. Following are a few important points to remember:

• The second language requirement of the Common Curriculum  may be satisfied by 1) transferring two terms of college courses in the same world language, 2) placing out of four terms of world language by taking an SMU placement test or through AP or IB credit, or 3) being literate in a native language other than English.
• SMU accepts AP scores of 4 or 5.
• Compare Course Descriptions  found in SMU’s University Catalog to course descriptions at your current institution to maximize your awarded transfer credits. 
• For additional information on journalism majors, visit the department homepage.
• For more information about transferring to SMU, click here or call 214-768-3417.

SMU Degree

A degree from SMU is typically comprised of a minimum of 122 hours, 60 of which must be completed through SMU. Components of the degree include:

• Courses in your major.
• Courses required for the Common Curriculum (CC) .  
• Elective courses.  These electives may be used to add a second major or minor.

The Common Curriculum (CC)

The Common Curriculum is required of all undergraduate students and consists of three main components: 

1. Foundations - 6 hours of Writing courses, 3 hours of Quantitative Reasoning courses, proficiency in a second language. 
2. Breadth - 7 Breadth courses which may double count with majors and minors.
3. Proficiencies and Experiences - 8 Proficiencies and Experiences requirements, met through coursework or approved, noncredit activities.                                                                                                                           

NOTE: If you transfer with 23 or fewer credit hours and/or transfer in your first year out of high school, transfer work earned prior to high school graduation (dual/concurrent credit) will not satisfy CC requirements.

Apply Now!

Click here for more information about transferring to SMU.