Applying for Full Major Status

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Effective Fall 2011, the minimum cumulative UO GPA required for full major status will rise from 2.70 to 2.90.

Who will this impact?
The GPA change impacts students who are admitted to the University (freshman or transfer) Fall 2011 or later. It also impacts any continuing student who declares "pre-journalism" as a major Fall 2011 or later.

Who will this NOT impact?
If you are currently a premajor or full major in the J-school, this change does not impact you. You will still be held to the 2.70 minimum.

Admission requirements for students who were declared "pre-journalism" majors Fall 2011 or later:

  • C or better in: J100 Media Professions, J101 Grammar for Communicators, J201 Media & Soceity
  • C-/P or better in WR 121 and either WR 122 or WR 123 (Clark Honors College students are exempt from this)
  • At least 24 graded UO credits
  • 2.90 or better cumulative UO GPA

Upon admission to full major status, students complete the Gateway to Media series before beginning course work in one of four sequences: Advertising, Communication Studies, Journalism or Public Relations. Each student is assured of admission only to required upper-division courses within the sequence to which he or she is admitted.

Admission requirements for students who were declared "pre-journalism" majors Fall 2009-Summer 2011:

(Note: Effective Fall 2011, all journalism courses must be passed with a C or better. If J100/201 were taken before Fall 2011, a C- or better grade is acceptable.)

  • C- or better in J100 Media Professions
  • C or better in J101 Grammar for Communicators
  • C- or better in J201 Media and Society
  • C-/P or better in WR 121 and either WR 122 or WR 123 (Clark Honors College students are exempt from this)
  • At least 24 graded UO credits
  • 2.70 or better cumulative UO GPA

Upon admission to full major status, students complete the Gateway to Media series before beginning course work in one of four sequences: Advertising, Communication Studies, Journalism or Public Relations. Each student is assured of admission only to required upper-division courses within the sequence to which he or she is admitted.

Admission requirements for students who were declared "pre-journalism" majors before Fall 2009:

  • C- or better in: J201 Mass Media and Society, J202 Information Gathering, J203 Writing for the Media, J204 Visual Communication*
  • 2.00 or better core (J201-J204) GPA
  • 2.70 or better cumulative UO GPA
  • Have at least 45 credits or more of course work (be of sophomore standing) or be a post-baccalaureate student

*J202, J203, J204 were discontinued with the implementation of the 2009 curriculum. The courses were phased out in the 2009-10 academic year. PJ students who fall under these admission requirements should consult a journalism advisor to discuss an appropriate substitution.

Upon admission to full major status, students begin course work in one of six sequences: Advertising, Communication Studies, Electronic Media, Magazine, News/Editorial or Public Relations. Each student is assured of admission only to required upper-division courses within the sequence to which he or she is admitted.

Students who meet the minimum admission requirements may apply for full major status online. Students who have not earned the minimum grade in a pre-major "core" class must retake the class. Students who do not meet the minimum UO GPA requirement can take a term or two to raise their GPA and/or petition for admission.

All applications are evaluated by an Admissions Committee. The committee considers the requirements listed above and other materials that applicants may submit. The committee will also consider other predictors of success in the major, such as prior professional work and letters of recommendation. The school admits approximately 250 new students each year.

Students may apply for major status at any time. Applications received by the second Friday of each academic term will be processed before the subsequent registration period. It can take up to two weeks to process the form. Do not turn in your application the day before you need access to a “majors-only” class. Students taking their last core class(es) may turn in their applications during finals week. The applications will remain pending until grades for that term are released.