Academic Catalog 2019–2020

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Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism

Overview

The B.A. in Multimedia Journalism builds upon the Department of Communication Arts’ history of graduating renowned journalists and media scholars.

A new kind of journalism has emerged, wherein different technologies are used to report the story of the future. Journalists report, tweet, film, take pictures, write and edit, taking in an abundance of information streaming from around the globe into computers and phones; they sift through information, do the fact-checking, conduct research and juggle with legal and ethical questions.

To equip students with the skills required by journalists today, the B.A. in Multimedia Journalism integrates some of the basic courses already available with more specialized courses that take into consideration the recent changes in the principles and practices of journalism. The program draws on

  • a rich blend of theoretical and hands-on courses involving extensive use of technology,
  • a dedicated, community-engaged and well-published faculty, and
  • state-of-the-art facilities and software.

Mission

Through a broad-based liberal arts and sciences curriculum that balances theory, research, professional practice and critical inquiry, the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism prepares students to become innovative, professional, and ethical communicators ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving journalism field and industry. It offers a regional and global scope, focusing on Arab media and society, and instilling principles of freedom of the press, objective and responsible journalism, global citizenship, and civic engagement. The program enables students to be life-long learners, scholars and critical thinkers who possess innovative and resilient capacities to adapt, succeed, and lead in an ever-changing and diverse global environment.

Program Objectives

The B.A. in Multimedia Journalism aims to:

  1. demonstrate conceptual and practical knowledge for careers in journalism and media production across various specializations (print, broadcast, online and other emerging fields),
  2. exhibit an appreciation of the theoretical aspects of journalism and media studies, and an understanding of the cultural, economic, and political contexts that affect news media production processes in the Arab region and globally,
  3. exhibit technical and skill-based competencies with a wide range of convergent communication technologies in order to thrive in a technology-driven and rapidly evolving news media environment,
  4. demonstrate the required research, critical and analytical competencies that enable them to pursue scholarly work and graduate studies, and
  5. create professional, ethical, and civically engaged news and media content to communicate with diverse audiences in an increasingly multicultural and global environment.

Learning Outcomes

Graduate with B.A. in Multimedia Journalism should be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of the functions and roles of various news production environments,
  2. critically apply  major theories to various genres of journalism and media studies,
  3. comprehend the historical, political, economic and technological developments of the news industry globally and in the Arab region,
  4. adapt to trends and technological developments in the field,
  5. demonstrate competence in cross-platform media research, production and information management,
  6. conduct research using quantitative and qualitative methods of scientific inquiry,
  7. produce objective, accurate, balanced and engaging news content that reflects a variety of voices, and
  8. apply journalistic principles and legal and ethical standards across various news media platforms.

Curriculum

For the B.A. in Multimedia Journalism, a student must complete a minimum of 92 credits, distributed as follows:

  • Departmental Core Courses (31 credits)
  • Departmental Professional Electives (9 credits)
  • Departmental General Electives (15 credits)
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Courses (34 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)

Departmental Core Courses (31 credits)

  • JSC220 News Writing and Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics (3 cr.)
  • JSC228 Arabic News Writing & Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC236 Advanced News Writing and Reporting (3 cr.)1
  • JSC312 Media & Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC314 Data and Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC330 Arab and International Media (3 cr.)
  • JSC419 Media Law and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • JSC451 Media Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • JSC498 Internship (1 cr.)
  • JSC499 Capstone Project (3 cr.)

1 or JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing and Reporting (3 cr.)

Departmental Professional Electives (9 credits)

  • JSC222 Digital Media Design (3 cr.)
  • JSC232 Photojournalism (3 cr.)
  • JSC236 Advanced News Writing and Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing & Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC332 Broadcast Journalism (3 cr.)
  • JSC431 Investigative Journalism (3 cr.)
  • JSC432 Multimedia Feature (3 cr.)
  • JSC434 Data Journalism (3 cr.)
  • JSC436 Journalism Workshop (3 cr.)

Departmental General Electives (15 credits)

  • COM213 Public Relations (3 cr.)
  • COM223 Persuasive Communication (3 cr.)
  • COM305 Communication & Conflict Management (3 cr.)
  • COM312 Communication & Gender (3 cr.)
  • COM316 Political Communication (3 cr.)
  • COM488 Topics in Communication (3 cr.)
  • JSC224 Social Media (3 cr.)
  • JSC480 Global Media Literacy (3 cr.)
  • JSC481 Global Change, Cooperation, and News (3 cr.)
  • JSC488 Topics in Media Studies (3 cr.)
  • TVF421  Documentary Film (3 cr.)
  • TVF488 Topics in Television and Film (3 cr.)

Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Courses (34 credits)

Free Electives (3 credits)

Study Plan

Important: English Level

The below 3-year study plans are based on the English level at which the student started: ENG009, ENG101, or ENG102. Please choose the right study plan according to your English level.

Students starting in Byblos

Students who start in Byblos may complete the first semester in Byblos. For the rest, they need to transfer to the Beirut camps and complete their program there.

Students starting as of Fall 2018

For students who started their study as of Fall 2018, the following courses no longer count toward LAS: ETH 201, HLT 201, PED elective. Instead of these courses, students who started as of Fall 2018 get an extra free elective. This is marked in the study plan in the last semester: LAS (or Free Elective if you started in Fall 2018).

 

For Students Starting at ENG009 Remedial English

Year One

Fall (13 credits)

  • ENG009  Remedial English (0 cr.)
  • LAS (ARA) Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)             
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • CSC201 Computer Applications (1 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • JSC220 News Writing & Reporting1 (3 cr.)
  • JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics 1 (3 cr.)
  • JSC228 Arabic News Writing & Reporting (3 cr.)
  • ENG101 Academic English I (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

  • ENG102  Academic English II (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • JSC236 Advanced News Writing/Reporting OR JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing/Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC312 Media & Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • JSC314 Data and Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC330 Arab and International Media (3 cr.)
  • JSC419 Media Law and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)

Summer (1 credit)

Year Three

Fall (16 credits)

  • JSC451 Media Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • JSC499 Capstone (3 cr.)
  • TVF Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • Free Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)

 

For Students Starting at ENG101 Academic English I/ ENG102 Academic English II

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

  • JSC220 News Writing & Reporting1 (3 cr.)
  • JSC226 Multimedia Journalism Basics 1 (3 cr.)
  • ENG101 Academic English I (3 cr.) [for students starting at ENG101]/ ENG102 Academic English II (3 cr.) [for students starting at ENG102]
  • LAS (ARA) Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)             
  • CSC201 Computer Applications (1 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • JSC228 Arabic News Writing & Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC312 Media and Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • ENG102  Academic English II (3 cr.) [for students starting at ENG101]/ ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.) [for students starting at ENG102]
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Summer (3 credits)

  • ENG202  Advanced Academic English4 (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • JSC236 Advanced News Writing/Reporting OR JSC328 Advanced Arabic News Writing/Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JSC312 Media & Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • JSC314 Data and Society (3 cr.)
  • JSC419 Media Law and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course2 (1 cr.)

Summer (1 credit)

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

  • JSC451 Media Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • JSC499 Capstone (3 cr.)
  • JSC Departmental Liberal Art Elective (3 cr.)
  • Free Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Course (3 cr.)

1 With prerequisite override/ Students can take this course in fall and substitute it for a LAS course in Spring. Students should consult their advisor on this matter first.

2 Students who started as of Fall 2018 get a free elective instead of these 3 credits, as PED elective, HLT 201 and ETH 201 are no longer required for them. 

3 Or the student can take this course in spring and substitute it for a LAS course in Fall. Students should consult their advisor on this matter first.

4 Students who start at ENG101 may take ENG202 in the following Fall with a heavier course load (18 credits) if they do not wish to take summer courses. Those who start at ENG102 do not need to take any course in summer of year one.