More than a third of declared journalism majors complete a second major to complement their journalism education. The majority of these students still complete their undergraduate degree in four years. Good planning is key.
If you are considering a second major, we suggest you take a few elementary-level courses in that department during your freshman and sophomore years. Most 100- and 200-level courses will apply toward general education and breadth requirements, so if you change your mind about the program, you will still be able to use those credits toward your degree.
Completing that preliminary coursework in the first two years of your undergraduate education will free you to take your choice of more challenging courses to fulfill departmental requirements later and help you avoid problems with the Letters & Science rule that requires you to take at least 60 of your total degree credits in intermediate or advanced-level courses.
Students may not double major in journalism and any program offered outside the College of Letters and Science, including the College of Engineering, the School of Nursing, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the School of Education (such as art) or the Business School (such as marketing, with the exception of the certificate for non-business majors).
Common SJMC double majors
- Business Certificate (for non-business majors)
- Communication Arts
- English
- History
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Women’s Studies