See what you can learn in SOJC required courses, and explore a few options for electives. See the UO Class Schedule to find out which courses are offered in the coming terms.

Platform Courses

JCOM 101 Media Professions 4 credits
Get an introduction to the SOJC majors and a range of dynamic media and communication professions, opportunities, and issues. The course has its own hashtag: #MPATUO. Check out what current students are saying.

JCOM 102 Story Craft Audio 2 credits
This course prepares majors for basic audio production classes, projects, and opportunities in their program of work. With this knowledge comes a respect for the resources and people of the School of Journalism Communications and Allen Hall. Emphasizes the basics of recording and using sound.

JCOM 103 Story Craft Visual 2 credits
This course introduces fundamentals of creating professional visual media and lays a foundation of technical knowledge and creative capacities that will be further developed in future classes. Successful students will demonstrate a basic understanding of and confidence in using production camera equipment, lighting equipment, production studios, editing software, and equipment checkout systems.

JCOM 201 Making Sense of Media 4 credits
This course explores the social, cultural, economic, and political implications of media consumption in an age of misinformation and disinformation. Over the course of the term, students will explore key transformations in the media landscape, paying close attention to the interplay of media and power.

JCOM 202 How Stories Work 4 credits
This class will ground students in the basics of story: the components, the structure, and the conceptual framework with consideration for how story is understood in SOJC majors and coursework. Throughout the term, students will explore how stories unfold for different audiences, in different channels, and with different purpose in mind.

JCOM 203 Writing as Practice 4 credits
This course is designed to help students develop a professional voice and identity through consistent writing and feedback. Practice is ritual and routine. The focus is strictly on improvement, so this class is Pass/No Pass, which means everyone will need to meet a basic minimum standard. Because of that, everyone will leave this class as a better writer.

Core Context Courses

JCOM 301 Gender, Media, and Diversity 4 credits
Students undertake a critical study of the media’s representation of gender, race, ethnicity, and other social divisions. The course explores ramifications and possible mechanisms of change. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

JCOM 302 Communication Law 4 credits
This course emphasizes legal aspects of the media: constitutional freedom of expression, news gathering, access to public records, libel, privacy, copyright, advertising, electronic media regulation, and antitrust. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

JCOM 303 Media Ethics 4 credits
This course focuses on ethical problems in the media: privacy, violence, pornography, truth-telling, objectivity, media codes, public interest, media accountability. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

JCOM 304 Business of Media 4 credits
This course emphasizes the changing landscape of media channels and systems, how they are adapting to transformational technology, and how innovation and entrepreneurship are requisites for successful careers. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

JCOM 305 Media History 4 credits
This course focuses on the changing structure and character of the media in the United States. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

JCOM 306 Global Communication 4 credits
This course addresses national and cultural differences in media, global news and information flows, implications of rapid technological change, and communication and information policies. Prerequisite: JCOM 201)

Journalism Sequence Courses

JCOM 241 Principles of Multimedia Techniques 4 credits
This class will ground students in the principles of shooting, recording, and editing photos, videos, and audio. Students will learn how to operate professional-level cameras and audio recorders and edit digital content using software. Students will learn about media aesthetics and how to create compelling photos, videos, and audio pieces for publication. Prerequisites: JCOM 102 and 103)

JCOM 330 Journalism and Democracy 4 credits
This course focuses on the journalistic process of producing work that is fair, accurate, and community focused. This is a journalism class where no journalism is created. Instead, students will build a strong base regarding how to work in the public interest. Prerequisites: JCOM 101, 201, and 202)

JCOM 331 Fundamentals of Reporting and Interviewing 8 credits
Journalism requires four essential skills: research, interviewing, analysis, and writing. This course provides students with the foundation to gain mastery of those skills. Prerequisites: All platform courses and JCOM 330)

JCOM 332 Public Affairs Journalism 4 credits
In this course, you will meet the real-world, professional demands of reporting publication-ready news in a timely, consequential, and ethical way. You will broaden your reporting experiences, strengthen your news-gathering skills, and sharpen your proficiency with writing and revision. You will think critically about the role of community journalism and how your stories can have a meaningful impact. Prerequisite: JCOM 331)

JCOM 333 Audiences 4 credits
This course teaches students in the Reporting and Writing track of the journalism major how to make news work for audiences. Students will learn how to understand one’s current and potential audiences via digital metrics and listening, and grasp how to meet people where they are across various digital platforms, apps, services, and future possibilities. This course trains students to craft news in a multi-platform way with polish, professionalism, and ethical standards, and with maximum public engagement and impact in mind. Prerequisite: JCOM 332)

JCOM 341 Audio Journalism I 4 credits
This class will elevate the student's understanding of engaging audio narratives, technical skills for audio production, and professional competencies in real-world journalistic settings. It emphasizes the course's applicability to podcasting, radio journalism, and enhancing storytelling skills for a variety of media careers. Prerequisite: JCOM 331)

JCOM 342 Video Journalism I 4 credits
This course teaches professional on-camera video storytelling with an emphasis on journalism that is designed to work across multiple platforms, including social and mobile. It teaches students how to craft audio/video news stories and how to deliver them. Prerequisites: JCOM 241, 331, and 341)

JCOM 343 Video Journalism II: Live Broadcast 4 credits

JCOM 345 Photojournalism I 4 credits
This course teaches visual reporting techniques, with an emphasis on practice, law, and ethics of photojournalism and photographic communication. The course is laboratory and portfolio intensive. Journalism majors only. Prerequisites: JCOM 241 and 331)

JCOM 347 Social Media Journalism 4 credits
This class grounds students to develop their understanding of social media's role as a leading source for news consumption, story gathering, and distribution. By creating their own social media content and critiquing others' work, students will develop their digital skillsets and their ability to analyze journalistic content on different social media channels. In doing this, students will be equipped with the foundational social media skills and knowledge that are fundamental to their future success as journalists and communication professionals.

JCOM 348 Media Entrepreneurship 4 credits
This class is designed to lay the foundational knowledge of media entrepreneurship, focusing on understanding and addressing audience needs, pinpointing market gaps, and crafting a compelling media startup proposal. Over the term, students will delve into case studies of successful media startups, gaining insights into how these ventures identify their niche in the market and develop strategies for long-term sustainability. Through this practical exploration, the course equips students with the essential tools and frameworks needed to conceptualize and propose viable media business solutions.

JCOM 349 Project Management 4 credits
This class offers a unique blend of project management principles and journalistic integrity, designed to equip students with the skills to lead impactful editorial projects. This course is pivotal for those looking to excel in the fast-paced media industry, teaching essential techniques for effective project execution and team leadership. Perfect for aspiring journalists and editors, it bridges academic learning with professional preparation, ensuring students are ready to manage innovative projects from the classroom to the newsroom.

JCOM 385 Science of Science Communication 4 credits
This class is designed to introduce students to the theoretical foundations of science communication as a discipline. The class will provide an overview of the theoretical landscape, with an understanding of how the discipline of science communication has largely moved from deficit to dialogue in the past 30 years. Students will spend the majority of their time in this course exploring the different models of science communication, when and why they work, and how we know they work.

JCOM 430 Topics in Reporting 4 credits

JCOM 431 Data Journalism 4 credits
This course underscores and advances the power to identify, locate, obtain, and analyze data that is central to journalism’s public service role and the capacity of journalism to engage a wider audience. Prerequisite: JCOM 333)

JCOM 432 Solutions Journalism 4 credits

JCOM 433 Catalyst Journalism 4 credits
This course teaches a pioneering approach to journalism developed here at the SOJC that seeks impact by combining investigative reporting with solutions journalism, an emerging evidence-based reporting strategy that highlights social progress and innovation. Prerequisite: JCOM 333)

JCOM 434 Investigative Journalism 4 credits
This class challenges students to do the important work through thorough investigative journalism using in-depth interviews, public records, and mastery of story. Students are expected to publish their vetted work at the end of the term. Prerequisite: JCOM 333)

JCOM 435 Profiles and Narrative 4 credits
This course provides you with the essential skills, methods, and mindset to produce compelling narratives and in-depth, insightful profiles that will engage with compelling stories about the human experience. Prerequisite: JCOM 333)

JCOM 436 Topics in Magazine 4 credits

JCOM 437 Newsroom 4 credits

JCOM 438 Science Story 4 credits

JCOM 439 Sports Story 4 credits

JCOM 441 Audio Journalism II: Narrative and Podcasting Capstone 4 credits

JCOM 442 Video Journalism III: Broadcast Capstone 4 credits

JCOM 445 Photojournalism II: Photo Story 4 credits

JCOM 446 Photojournalism III: Multimedia Storytelling 4 credits
This hands-on class in audio and video storytelling will expand the toolkit and mastery of photojournalism students. Prerequisite: JCOM 345)

JCOM 447 Lighting for Photo 4 credits

JCOM 448 Topics in Visual Production 4 credits

Academic Support and Career Advising

Need some guidance? Our academic advisors are here for you. The SOJC’s Student Success Center is your one-stop shop for undergrad academic advice and career-building tips. All undergraduate SOJC students are welcome—even if you haven’t enrolled yet. Drop in to Room 134 on the ground floor of Allen Hall or make an appointment and get on track to meet your goals.