The Path to Graduation
Every SOJC major follows the same basic path, with the courses in Step 4 varying by major. Here's how it works from your first term to your degree:
If you're an incoming student, declare one of our four majors—advertising, journalism, media studies, or public relations—on your UO application. Decide whether you'd like to pursue a bachelor of arts degree (BA) or a bachelor of science degree (BS); both options are available for all four majors. For a BA, you’ll need to take up to two years of a second language, and for a BS, you’ll need to take up to a year of math or computer science.
Current UO students in other majors can fill out our major application form.
Complete the general studies requirements. These can be completed throughout your time at UO and concurrently with your SOJC requirements.
Complete the SOJC platform courses. These must be completed before you move into courses specific to your major.
Complete SOJC core context courses in media theory and analysis. You can take them at the same time as your major sequence courses (see next step).
Complete the sequence requirements for your major. You can take these at the same time as the core context courses.
Complete requirements for a minor. This can be done while you're working through the steps above.
Apply for your degree. Congrats—you made it!
Minimum Requirements
To graduate with an SOJC degree, you'll need to have:
General Studies (Non-Major) Requirements
All SOJC undergraduate students must complete at least 180 total credits with a passing grade to earn their degree. UO Core Education requirements account for a large chunk of your credits; all UO students must complete six blocks of courses within the College of Arts and Sciences in core subjects including Literature, History, and Economics.
Learn more about General Studies Requirements →
Your major will fulfill 70 credits. All SOJC students must also complete at least 70 credits from outside of their major, which can be done through your minor or by double-majoring in a program outside of the SOJC. Unless you enter the UO with existing credits, adding an additional non-SOJC major cannot typically be completed in a traditional four-year time frame.
SOJC Required Courses
All SOJC majors complete two sets of courses that ground all degree paths in a shared understanding of the basics of writing, storytelling, and media theory and analysis. Some of these courses can also fulfill UO Core Education requirements; consult with an advisor to find out more.
SOJC Platform Courses
All SOJC majors begin with the courses below, starting in your first term. These classes must be completed before you move into your major sequence courses.
- JCOM 101 Media Professions 4 credits
- JCOM 102 Story Craft Audio 2 credits
- JCOM 103 Story Craft Visual 2 credits
- JCOM 201 Making Sense of Media 4 credits
- JCOM 202 How Stories Work 4 credits
- JCOM 203 Writing as Practice 4 credits
Core Context Courses
All SOJC students must complete five classes in media theory and analysis. You can take them concurrently with sequence courses for your major. If you’re an SOJC Honors student, you’ll meet some of these requirements with your honors courses.
- JCOM 301 Gender Media Diversity 4 credits
- JCOM 302 Communication Law 4 credits
- JCOM 303 Media Ethics 4 credits
- JCOM 304 Business of Media 4 credits
- JCOM 305 Media History 4 credits
or JCOM 306 Global Communication 4 credits
Major Sequence Requirements
Once you've completed the platform courses, you can start registering for courses specific to your major (typically in the spring term of your second year). Specific courses and required sequences vary by major.
Minor Requirement
We want you to graduate with a well-rounded skill set; to that end, we require all SOJC majors to add a minor to their degree. Minors are 24–40 credits (6–10 courses) and count towards your minimum of 70 non-major credits. You can choose either (or both!) of the following options:
Academic Support and Career Advising
Our academic advisors are available year-round to help you plan your flight path through the UO. The SOJC’s Undergraduate Student Success Center is your home base for academic advice and career-building support. All undergraduate SOJC students are welcome, even if you haven't enrolled yet. Drop by Room 134 on the ground floor of Allen Hall or make an in-person or virtual appointment to connect with an advisor.