# Journalism (Associate in Arts for Transfer Degree)

San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Journalism

Source: https://sdccd.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/17540/18643/18644/17541/17639

### Summary

The Associate in Arts in Journalism for Transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Journalism or a related major in the California State University (CSU) system. It is accepted by some but not all CSU campuses. Students who complete this degree and transfer to a participating CSU campus will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. It may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus that does not accept the degree.

NOTE: Students intending to transfer into this major at a CSU should consult with a counselor and visit ASSIST for guidance on appropriate transfer coursework.

**Award Notes:**
The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:

-   Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University
-   Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units in an “AA-T” or “AS-T” major.
-   Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some CSU campuses and majors may require a higher GPA. Please see a counselor for more information.
-   Minimum grade of “C” or “P” or better for each course in the major. Students should review the Pass/No Pass acceptance policy of the transfer institution prior to requesting this grade option.
-   Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern.

**Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Journalism Program will be able to:**

1.  Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the mass media in society.
2.  Demonstrate understanding of legal issues of libel, privacy, copyright, free speech/press, as well as an understanding of ethical issues such as plagiarism, fabrication, and conflict of interest.
3.  Write, edit, and revise stories in accepted journalistic style utilizing multiple platforms.

### Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MAJOR:** | | 9 |
| JOUR 200 | Introduction to Newswriting and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 202 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| JOUR 210A | Newspaper Production 1 | 3 |
| **Category A: Select one of the following courses (3 units):** | | 3 |
| JOUR 206 | Online Journalism | 3 |
| JOUR 210B | Newspaper Production 2 | 3 |
| JOUR 220 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| **Category B: Select two of the following courses, or any course not selected in Category A (6 units):** | | 6 |
| DRAM 150 | Cinema as Art and Communication I | 3 |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 105 | Composition and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL C1001 | Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| PSYC 258 | Behavioral Science Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| POLI 101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOCO 101 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |