Journalism Department Courses


ENG 316 - Business Writing, 4 credits. E1. An introduction to workplace communication including memos, business letters, brochures, job search materials, grants, reports, and oral presentations. No prerequisites. This course is open to all majors.
ENG 317 - Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits. E. A study and practice of reporting and writing news stories. This course explores traditional reporting and contemporary multimedia approaches to storytelling. Students will gain proficiency in writing news stories, understanding the basic concepts of multimedia, using proper grammar, syntax, and Associated Press style, and conducting research and interviews. The course also introduces students to journalism law and ethics, copy editing, and the roles and functions of journalism in a free society.
ENG 318 - Telling the Story: Feature Writing, 4 credits. E2. A study and practice of reporting and writing feature stories for a variety of media. Students will hone the interviewing and research skills introduced in ENG 317 - Telling the Story: News Writing and will investigate how multimedia elements can be used to enhance feature stories. The course focuses on applying such narrative techniques as scenes, characterization and dialogue to journalistic writing. Students evaluate and edit peer stories in small-group workshops. Although ENG 317 is not a prerequisite, the course is excellent preparation for ENG 318.
ENG 324 - Technical Writing, 4 credits. E2. Practice in writing a variety of technical documents that might include: business reports, users manuals, scientific reports, grant proposals, and Web site text. No prerequisites. This course is open to all majors.
ENG 371 - Editing and Grammar for Professionals, 4 credits. E2. Practice editing to achieve concise, precise, and varied writing. Review conventional rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation. Valuable for those entering professional programs or fields such as education, publishing, business, and more. No prerequisite. Open to students from any major and with any level of writing experience.
ENG 377 - Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits. E2. A workshop in reading and writing contemporary nonfiction. Prerequisite: ENG 227 or consent of instructor
ENG 403 - Investigating and Narrating the News, 4 credits. E2. This course builds on the reporting and writing skills introduced in ENG 317 and ENG 318. Students will gain proficiency in reporting by delving beneath the surface of issues and events to write investigative and interpretive reports. Students will go beyond basic news structures, using the hybrid news feature and narrative storytelling forms to capture and convey human experience as well as complex subjects. This course probes the how and why of subjects. Students study online reporting techniques and journalistic ethics. Students evaluate and edit peer stories in small-group workshops. Prerequisite: ENG 317 - Telling the Story: News Writing
ENG 422, COM 422 - Mass Communications Law and Ethics, 4 credits. A2 (2011-2012). A study of legal and ethical issues vital to print and broadcast journalists and other communication professionals. Topics include prior restraint, defamation, privacy, copyright and broadcast regulation, as well as the role of journalism in society, relevant ethical theories, and the ethical decision-making process. Emphasis is on legal and ethical cases.