Revised 9.28.22
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REVERSE.
A Course of Study for
JOURNALISM AA-T
This program teaches students the methods and techniques for gathering, processing and delivering news, and
prepares students to be professional print and multimedia journalists. Included is instruction in news writing and
editing, reporting and multimedia story production, professional standards and ethics, and journalism history and
research. Careers in this field include book editor, copywriter, film critic, foreign correspondent, freelance writing,
online editor, multimedia story producer, journalist, magazine editor, news anchor, newspaper editor, publicist,
sportswriter, and technical writer.
For additional career possibilities, visit the Career Services Center on the main campus to utilize computerized
career information systems and other valuable career resources.
PROGRAM OFFERED
• Transfer Preparation
• Career Opportunities
DEGREE
• Journalism Associate Degree for Transfer
Students may satisfy the requirements of this degree with approved courses (which may be fewer units)
taken at other California Community Colleges. The courses listed below are SMC courses. If completed
entirely at SMC, the Area of Emphasis requires 19 units.
• Journalism – Multimedia Storytelling Associate Degree
RELATED AREAS
• Communication Studies
• Media Studies
ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN JOURNALISM FOR TRANSFER TO THE CSU
The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is designed to facilitate transfer admission to a CSU in a similar major. If
you are considering transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state school, consult a counselor regarding the transfer
requirements of that institution.
Associate Degree for Transfer Requirements:
• completion of at least 60 CSU-transferable semester including:
o completion of the Area of Emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course or with a P if the course
was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063)
o completion of either CSU GE or IGETC; students transferring to CSU using IGETC must complete Area
1C (see www.smc.edu/articulation or visit the General Counseling and Transfer Services Center)
o a minimum of 12 degree applicable semester units completed at SMC
o a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable units
Note: while a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission to a CSU, some majors/campuses may
require a higher GPA. Please consult with a counselor for details.
Revised 9.28.22
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REVERSE.
CATALOG RIGHTS
A student may satisfy the requirements of a degree that were in effect at any time of the student’s continuous
enrollment. Continuous enrollment means attendance in at least one semester (Fall or Spring) in each academic
year.
TRANSFER PREPARATION
Many colleges/universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students planning to transfer to a four-year
college or university should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern
for the specific transfer institution. SMC has articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well
as several private and out-of-state institutions.
Exact major requirements for UC and CSU campuses can be found online at assist.org.
A listing of private, nonprofit California colleges and universities can be found online at aiccu.edu. For articulation
agreements between SMC and some of these institutions see smc.edu/articulation.
SMC offers the Journalism Associate Degree for Transfer. Students completing this degree are eligible for priority
transfer admission consideration in the majors at the California State University campuses listed below. In
addition, you will be required to complete no more than 60 semester/90 quarter CSU units of coursework after
transfer to complete your baccalaureate degree.
NOTE: If you are considering transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state school, please consult a counselor
before applying to transfer, as the transfer requirements may be different from those required for the
Journalism AA-T.
For the most current list of CSU campuses accepting this Transfer degree visit calstate.edu/transfer/adt-
search/search.shtml
JOURNALISM, ASSOCIATE DEGREE FOR TRANSFER
The Associate in Arts in Journalism for Transfer (AA-T) involves the methods and techniques for gathering,
processing, and delivering news, and prepares students to be professional print and multimedia journalists.
Included is instruction in news writing and editing, reporting and multimedia story production, professional
standards and ethics, and journalism history and research. Careers in this field include book editor, copywriter,
film critic, foreign correspondent, freelance writer, online editor, multimedia story producer, journalist, magazine
editor, news anchor, newspaper editor, publicist, sportswriter, and technical writer.
Students will have a strong academic foundation in the field and be prepared for upper-division baccalaureate
study. Completion of the degree indicates that the student will have satisfied the lower division requirements for
transfer into journalism or similar majors for many campuses in the California State University system.
Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will be able to produce essential
nonfiction storytelling techniques in print and multimedia formats, demonstrate the ability to work as a team
member to collaborate on media production across several formats, and demonstrate an understanding of the
ethical and legal issues affecting journalists.
Revised 9.28.22
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REVERSE.
AREA OF EMPHASIS: (18 UNITS)
Required Core Courses: (9 units minimum)
JOURN 1
The News
3
JOURN 16
Producing the Campus Newspaper
4
MEDIA 1
Survey of Mass Media Communications
3
LIST A: Select 1 course from the following: (3 units required)
BUS 29
Public Relations and Publicity (same as JOURN 43)
3
JOURN 2
Intermediate Newswriting and Reporting
3
JOURN 15
Introduction to Multimedia Storytelling
3
JOURN 17
Editing the Campus Newspaper
2
JOURN 21
News Photography (same as PHOTO 13)
3
JOURN 43
Public Relations and Publicity (same as BUS 29)
3
PHOTO 13
News Photography (same as JOURN 21)
3
LIST B: Select 2 courses; each course must come from a different group: (6 units minimum)
GROUP 1
ANY COURSE FROM LIST A NOT USED ABOVE
GROUP 2
BUS 32
Business Communications
3
COM ST 11
Elements of Public Speaking
3
COM ST 12
Persuasion
3
COM ST 16
Fundamentals of Small Group Discussion
3
COM ST 21
Argumentation
3
ENGL 1
Reading and Composition 1
3
ENGL 2
Critical Analysis and Intermediate Composition
3
ENGL 31
Advanced Composition
3
HIST 47
The Practice of History
3
PHILOS 7
Logic and Critical Thinking
3
GROUP 3
MATH 2
Precalculus
5
MATH 21
Finite Mathematics
3
MATH 26
Functions and Modeling for Business and Social Science
3
MATH 54
Elementary Statistics
4
or
ANY MATH COURSE FOR WHICH THE ABOVE IS A PREREQUISITE
GROUP 4
PHOTO 1
Introduction to Photography
3
