Journalism, Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)
Banner Code: 1_AAT_JOUR
Control Number: 32179
Financial Aid Eligible
Students graduating with an Associate in Arts in Journalism for Transfer Degree are well positioned to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a similar major within the CSU system with 60 units of upper-division coursework. Students who complete the Journalism AA-T degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum 2.0 is required for CSU admission, some majors may require a higher GPA. Please consult a counselor for more information.
The Department of Journalism at Orange Coast College is a comprehensive program with offerings ranging from beginning journalism instruction to state-of-the-art multimedia production. Our mission is to use theory and practice to help how journalists report and write for a variety of publications and understand the value of a free press in America. We strive to help students achieve an AA or AS or transfer to other institutions of higher learning and be prepared for the opportunities that may exist. The department also operates a weekly student newspaper, the Coast Report, the website www.coastreportonline.com, and regularly posts a variety of multimedia productions. Classes are open to students of all majors.
The Journalism AA-T degree directly aligns with many of the department’s goals and objectives: achieving an AA and transferring to an institution of higher education. It is also designed to give students a broad perspective on the options they might select at the 4-year level and help prepare them for their transfer goals. They will also be prepared to work on any campus publication or website with journalistic confidence and experience.
Program Outcomes
- Analyze a complete newspaper and understand why stories were chosen for inclusion.
- Find and pitch both news and feature stories.
- Conduct numerous interviews to obtain factual information.
- Write a complete story using proper structure, style and grammar, and have the story published in the newspaper or online.
- Assess their own strengths, weaknesses, and omissions in writing news and feature stories or taking photographs for publication and be able to adjust future performance in light of their self-assessments.
- Collaborate in developing, designing, and completing a multi-media project and post it to the web.
- Students will be eligible and prepared for admission (SB 1440 and Education Code 66746) to California State University system schools.
Associate Degree for Transfer Requirements
The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:
- Minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
- Minimum GPA of at least 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors require a higher GPA. Consult with a counselor for more information.
- Completion of a minimum of 18-semester units in the major as detailed in the Degree and Certificate section of this catalog. All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C (or “P”) or better.
- Certified completion of the California State University General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU General Education Breadth — Option 2) OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC — Option 3).
- A minimum of 12 units in residence within the Coast Colleges (Orange Coast College, Golden West College and/or Coastline College).
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| CMST A180 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 |
| JOUR A110 | News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR A115 | Student Newspaper I | 4 |
| List A | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Relations | ||
| Multi-Media Reporting and Producing | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Photojournalism | ||
| List B | ||
| Select two of the following or not taken from List A: | 6-8 | |
| Essentials of Argumentation | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
or ECON A175 | Macroeconomics | |
| Critical Reasoning: Fiction | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| American Government | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Critical Reasoning & Writing | ||
| Total Major Units | 19-21 | |
| CSU or IGETC for CSU | 37-39 | |
| Transferable electives as needed to satisfy unit requirement | Varies | |
| Total Minimum Degree Units | 60 | |
Program Sequence - CSU
These sequences at Orange Coast College are general course curriculum maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. The course sequence may include course prerequisites and other placement requirements. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Units | |
| JOUR A110 | News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR A115 | Student Newspaper I | 4 |
| ENGL A100 | Freshman Composition | 3 |
| CSU GE AREA B4- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 | |
| Units | 13-14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CMST A180 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 |
| CSU GE AREA A3- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 | |
| CSU GE AREA E- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| ADT LIST A COURSE- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| Public Relations or Public Relations or Multi-Media Reporting and Producing or Feature Writing or Photojournalism |
||
| Units | 12-13 | |
| Summer | ||
| CSU GE AREA C1- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| Units | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PSCI A180 or PSCI A180H |
American Government 1, 4 or American Government Honors |
3 |
| HIST A170 |
History of the United States to 1876 1 or History of the United States to 1876 Honors or History of the United States Since 1876 or History of the United States Since 1876 Honors |
3 |
| CSU GE AREA B1 (no lab)- CHOOSE ONE 2 | 3 | |
| CSU GE AREA A1- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE (CSU TRANSFERABLE) 3 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CSU GE AREA D- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| CSU GE AREA B2 (with lab)- CHOOSE ONE 2 | 4 | |
| CSU GE AREA F- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| ADT LIST B COURSE- CHOOSE ONE (See Requirements) | 3-4 | |
| ELECTIVE (CSU TRANSFERABLE) 3 | 4-1 | |
| Units | 17-15 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
- 1
American Ideals Requirement - CSU Graduation Requirement
- 2
Lab can be taken with B1 or B2
- 3
VARIES TO REACH MINIMUM 60 TRANSFERABLE UNITS
- 4
This course meets one of the two List B selections
Program Sequence - IGETC
These sequences at Orange Coast College are general course curriculum maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. The course sequence may include course prerequisites and other placement requirements. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Units | |
| JOUR A110 | News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR A115 | Student Newspaper I | 4 |
| ENGL A100 | Freshman Composition | 3 |
| IGETC GE AREA 2- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 | |
| Units | 13-14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CMST A180 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 |
| PSCI A180 or PSCI A180H |
American Government 1 or American Government Honors |
3 |
| IGETC GE AREA 1B- CHOOSE ONE | 3-4 | |
| ELECTIVE (UC TRANSFERABLE) | 3 | |
| ADT LIST A COURSE- CHOOSE ONE 2 | 3 | |
| Public Relations or Public Relations or Multi-Media Reporting and Producing or Feature Writing or Photojournalism |
||
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Summer | ||
| ELECTIVE (UC TRANSFERABLE) 3 | 1-3 | |
| LOTE: Foreign Language or ELECTIVE (UC TRANSFERABLE) 4 | 3-5 | |
| Units | 4-8 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| HIST A170 |
History of the United States to 1876 5 or History of the United States to 1876 Honors or History of the United States Since 1876 or History of the United States Since 1876 Honors |
3 |
| IGETC GE AREA 4- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| IGETC GE AREA 5A (no lab)- CHOOSE ONE 6 | 3 | |
| IGETC GE AREA 1C- CHOOSE ONE or ELECTIVE (UC TRANSFERABLE) 7 | 3 | |
| IGETC GE AREA 3A- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| IGETC GE AREA 4- CHOOSE ONE | 3 | |
| IGETC GE AREA 5B (with lab)- CHOOSE ONE 6 | 4 | |
| ADT LIST B COURSE- CHOOSE ONE OR TWO (See Requirements) or ELECTIVE (UC TRANSFERABLE) 8 | 6-8 | |
| Units | 13-15 | |
| Total Units | 60-68 | |
- 1
American Ideals Requirement - IGETC GE AREA 4 and CSU Graduation Requirement OR take another course from IGETC GE AREA 4. This recommended selection also fulfills one of two List B selections.
- 2
ADT List A courses are only CSU transferable. If planning on transferring to UC, 60 transferable total units are required.
- 3
VARIES TO REACH MINIMUM 60 TRANSFERABLE UNITS.
- 4
LOTE Requirement for UC only. If met LOTE through HS then take elective units to meet minimum 60 transferable units.
- 5
American Ideals Requirement - IGETC GE AREA 3B and CSU Graduation Requirement OR take another course from IGETC GE AREA 3B.
- 6
Lab can be taken with 5A or 5B.
- 7
IGETC GE Area 1C - CSU Requirement.
- 8
If List B Requirements have been met by IGETC GE Area selections, take elective units to meet minimum 60 transferable units.