The spirit of community will be sustained by a climate on the campus where personal relationships are prized, where integrity is the hallmark of discourse, and where people speak and listen to each other carefully. Ernest Boyer, former U.S. commissioner of education
Table of Contents About this Handbook 1 Degree Requirements 1 Journalism Courses 1 Distribution Requirements 3 Electives 5 Social Science Concentration 5 Elective Concentration 5 Global & Diverse Cultures 7 Number of Courses & Quarters 7 Rules, Policies & Procedures 7 Undergraduate Residence Requirement 7 Course Load 7 Grades 8 Dean s List 8 Add/Drop 8 Pass/No Credit 9 Independent Study 9 Petition of Degree Requirements 9 Registration 10 University Procedures 10 Medill Procedures 10 Cancellation 10 Withdrawal 10 Re-Entry 10 Registration Holds 11 Leave of Absence 11 Non-NU Credit 11 Transfer Credit 11 Advanced Placement 11 International Baccalaureate 11 Study at Another US Institution 12 Academic Options 12 Double Major and Minors 12 Study Abroad 13 Internships 13 Undergraduate Research 13 Accelerated Master s Program 14 IMC Undergraduate Certificate 15 Washington D.C. Program 16 NU-Qatar 17 Medill Integrity Code 17 Procedures 19 Academic Standards 20 Probation 20 Dismissal 21 Incomplete Work or Missed Examinations 21 Appeal 22 Absence from Class 23 Preparing to Graduate 23 Petition 23 Honors 23 Ceremonies 23 Medill Career Services 24 Advising, Counseling & Academic Resources 25 Medill Office of Student Life 25 University Resources 27 Appendices Appendix A: FERPA Information for Students 29 Appendix B: Chart of Degree Requirements 30 Appendix C: Medill Student Academic Planning Guide 31 Appendix D: Medill Career Services Undergraduate Planning Guide 36 Cover Design by Jessica Parker Gilbert
About This Handbook This handbook is primary resource for information about degree requirements, academic policies and procedures, and resources for Medill students. The degree requirements listed here are those by which degree progress will be monitored and audited in order to graduate. Keep this handbook and refer to it regularly. Students are responsible for familiarity with the information and policies; failure to read the handbook does not excuse students from knowledge of the information within. Degree Requirements The Bachelor of Science in Journalism program consists of five components: I. 12-14 journalism units Most courses count for one unit, except all Journalism Residency courses (JOUR 345, 346, 355, 356, 365, and 366), which are one or two units, depending on whether students choose a reporting-focused or editing/production residency. II. 14 distribution requirements Distribution requirements are taken in history (three), literature (three), math/science (three), political science (two), economics (one), religion/philosophy (one) and art/art history (one). III. 8-10 elective units Electives are unrestricted choices from any school in the University other than Medill. IV. Nine concentration units Concentrations are divided into a three-unit social science concentration and a six-unit elective concentration in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. V. 11 units in global and diverse cultures These units are among the 31-33 non-journalism courses required to fulfill the arts and sciences (23) and electives (8 or 10) requirements; they are not additional units required for graduation. A minimum of 45 units (courses) are required for the Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree. At least 31 must be from outside Medill and no more than 14 can be Medill courses. Students with more than 45 units may take additional journalism courses. Exceptions to any degree requirements and all independent study credit must be approved by the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Petitions and rules for filing petitions are available on the Medill website on the BSJ-16 page under Petition to Academic Standards. Journalism Courses All students take several courses in their first and second year that educate them to be multi-media journalists who can report and produce on a variety of storytelling platforms for the Web, on-air, in print and via digital devices like mobile phones. As sophomores, students report and produce from storefront news bureaus in diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. Students then can tailor their course of study through a Journalism Residency and choice of electives that will allow them to build depth or breadth. Students select one of four JR programs: magazine, News, broadcast/videography and marketing communications, giving them an opportunity during their junior or senior year to explore a specific industry first-hand and demonstrate proficiency and experience to prospective employers. 1
Journalism Curriculum First year 201-1 Reporting and Writing 201-2 Multimedia Storytelling 202 Introduction to 21st Century Media Sophomore year 301 Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities (prerequisite: 201-1,2) Mid-sophomore through early senior year Journalism Residency in News 310 Media Presentation: News (prerequisite: 301), then one of the following: 320 Storytelling: Interactive News 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing 322 Storytelling: Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing 370 Media Law and Ethics 345 Journalism Residency in News: Reporting (1 or 2 units; prerequisite: 310 & 320, 321 or 322; 370) 346 Journalism Residency in News: Presentation (1 or 2 units; taken with 345) Journalism Residency in Magazine 311 Media Presentation: Magazine (prerequisite: 301), then one of the following: 320 Storytelling: Interactive News 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing 322 Storytelling: Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing 370 Media Law and Ethics 355 Journalism Residency in Magazine: Writing (2 units; prerequisite: 311 & 320, 321 or 322; 370) 356 Journalism Residency in Magazine: Presentation (1unit; taken with 355) Journalism Residency in Video/Broadcast 312 Media Presentation: Producing for Broadcast and the Web (prerequisite: 301), then one of the following: 320 Storytelling: Interactive News 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing 322 Storytelling: Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing 370 Media Law and Ethics 365 Journalism Residency in Broadcast: Reporting (2 units; prerequisite: 312 & 320, 321 or 322; 370) 366 Journalism Residency in Broadcast: Production (1unit; taken with 365) Journalism Residency in Marketing Communications 310 Media Presentation: News (prerequisite: 301), then one of the following: 320 Storytelling: Interactive News 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing 322 Storytelling: Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing And one of the following IMC classes: IMC 300 Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications IMC 301 Consumer Insight IMC 305 Message Strategy and Persuasive Communications IMC 306 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics 370 Media Law and Ethics 385 Journalism Residency in Marketing Communications: Writing (2 units; prerequisite: 310 & 320, 321 or 322; 370) 2
386 Journalism Residency in Marketing Communications: Tactics (1 unit; taken with 385) Sophomore, junior and senior year Two to four journalism electives Journalism Electives Students are encouraged to begin taking electives as early in sophomore year as possible. 390 Special Topics classes are experimental courses that count as electives. A complete list of electives, which quarter they are offered and their prerequisites can be found on the BSJ-16 page of the Medill website. JOUR 310 Media Presentation: News JOUR 311 Media Presentation: Magazine JOUR 312 Media Presentation: Producing for Broadcast and the Web JOUR 320 Storytelling: Interactive News JOUR 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing JOUR 322 Storytelling: Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing JOUR 368 Video Documentary JOUR 369 Audio Documentary JOUR 371 Journalism of Empathy JOUR 375 Literary Journalism JOUR 376 Media Design JOUR 378 Photojournalism JOUR 372 International Journalism: South Africa (prerequisite for South Africa program) JOUR 373 Investigative Journalism (This course may be taken a second time for credit only with permission from the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence and the instructor.) JOUR 374 Investigative Reporting JOUR 380 Legal Reporting JOUR 381 Business Reporting JOUR 382 Environmental Reporting JOUR 383 Health and Science Reporting *This course may be taken a second time for credit with permission from the instructor. IMC 300 Consumer Insight IMC 301 Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications IMC 305 Message Strategy and Writing for Persuasion IMC 306 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics Seniors pursuing the BSJ degree are allowed to take a Medill graduate journalism course if they: 1) have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in journalism courses and a minimum 3.0 average overall 2) have written permission of the instructor teaching the graduate course and written permission of the Senior Director of Graduate Education & Teaching Excellence 3) use the credit as an optional 14th journalism unit 4) apply the course to just one degree. Distribution Requirements Courses taken to fulfill the distribution requirements expose students to a variety of liberal arts disciplines. See the BSJ-16 page on the Medill website for a list of pre-approved courses that meet these requirements. (Go to: www.medill.northwestern.edu>students>bsj 16) 3
The requirements include: Three history courses to be chosen from courses through the history department or certain other departments. At least one course must be in U.S. history and at least one in non- U.S. history Three literature courses in any department within Northwestern that teach literature in English or a foreign language (English Courses in Composition or 205, 206, 207 and 208 do not meet this requirement) Three mathematics/science courses. Courses in astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, geological sciences, mathematics, physics, or logic courses in the philosophy department can be taken for two of the three courses. No 100-level math course may be taken for credit after a 200-level or higher math course has been completed. Computer science classes valuable for journalists interested in computational journalism (particularly in conjunction with JOUR 320 Storytelling: Interactive News, JOUR 376 Media Design, JOUR 390 Depth Reporting Using Documents and Databases, JOUR 390 Innovations in Journalism & Technology, and JOUR 390 Advanced Interactive Design): EECS 101 Introduction to Computer Science for Everyone EECS 110 Introduction to Computer Programming EECS 111 Fundamentals of Computer Programming I EECS 130 Tools and Technology of the World Wide Web EECS 317 Data Management and Information Processing EECS 330 Human-Computer Interaction At least one mathematics/science course must be a statistics course: http://www.statistics.northwestern.edu/ Two political science courses, one in American government and one in international politics/relations/studies One economics course, from the economics department or certain other departments One religion/philosophy course; logic courses in philosophy cannot be used to meet this requirement because they are part of the mathematics/science requirement (these courses are: PHIL 150-0, 250-0, 350-0, and 351-0) One art/art history course; from the art or art history departments or certain other departments that meet this requirement Some of these units may also meet the Global and Diverse Cultures requirement. Refer to the BSJ 16 page on the Medill website to see how AP credits may be applied to distribution requirements. (Go to www.medil.northwestern.edu>students>bsj 16) 4
Electives The 8 to 10 electives can be chosen from any school or department at Northwestern other than Medill. Social Science Concentration Students must choose a three-unit Social Science Concentration in any one of the following Northwestern departments: anthropology, economics, gender studies, history, political science, psychology or sociology. Students may apply only one 100-level course toward this requirement. At least one of the three units must be at the 300-level. Courses used to meet this requirement cannot be applied to a WCAS major or minor (see Elective Concentration below). Some or all of these units also may meet the Global and Diverse Cultures requirement. Students may not apply more than one unit from any single field study or independent study course toward the social science concentration. Students also may not apply AP credits to the social science concentration. NOTE: International Studies core courses (Global History 201-1,2), may count toward the three-unit social science concentration in Political Science. SESP 201 may count as Psychology unit towards SSC in Psychology. Elective Concentration Students must complete a six-unit concentration in any department of WCAS (other than the area selected for the three-unit social science concentration). For any concentration except astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, geological sciences, mathematics, physics or a foreign language, students may not apply more than one 100-level course and must take at least two 300-level courses. Some or all of these units also may meet the Global and Diverse Cultures requirement. Students may not apply more than two units of field study or independent study credit toward the six-unit concentration. Students also may not apply AP credits to the elective concentration. Students are exempted from this requirement for a six-unit elective concentration if they: 1) Complete a WCAS minor. Note that courses used to fulfill the three-unit Social Science Concentration and courses used for the distribution requirements, as well as journalism courses, cannot be used to fulfill requirements for the WCAS minor. Also, the minor must be in a subject other than that selected for the three-unit social science concentration. 2) Complete a double major in a WCAS department, or an interdisciplinary or adjunct major offered through WCAS. Note that courses used to fulfill the three-unit social science concentration, as well as journalism courses, cannot be used to fulfill requirements for this second major. Also, the major must be in a subject other than that selected for the three-unit social science concentration. Permission to pursue a second major must be secured from the appropriate WCAS department. Global and Diverse Cultures Requirement To gain a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and the world beyond the United States, Medill students must complete an 11-unit Global and Diverse Cultures requirement within the non-journalism courses needed to meet their arts and sciences (23 units) and electives (eight to 10 units) requirements. Among these 11 units, students must take at least three units in a foreign language, unless can demonstrate proficiency as defined by the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. WCAS proficiency can be accomplished in two ways: 5
Earn a high enough AP score on a College Board Advanced Placement foreign language examination. Pass an individual Foreign Language Proficiency Examination given by each department. Information on placement exams, exam schedules and exam results can be found on the following Web site: http://www.northwestern.edu/orientation/incoming-student-resources/ beforeyouarrive/placement-exams.html Students should consider language proficiency if they want to apply for a global residency program; some sites may require proficiency in languages like Spanish or Portuguese. Students who took the language placement exam and did not show sufficient skills to fulfill the WCAS language requirement must satisfy one of the following requirements: Continue studying the language at the level indicated by the placement score. Enroll in a new language. If they choose to continue studying the language at the level indicated, students should check the following page of WCAS Web site to verify exactly how many and which courses will meet the WCAS proficiency standards: http:// www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/degree/language/table.html *One exception to the way Medill applies the WCAS standards for proficiency is for students who place into either the Spanish or French 115 sequence. Completing either Spanish 115-1,2 or French 115-1,2 are acceptable ways to fulfill Medill s foreign language requirement.* Students starting a new language begin with an introductory unit to fulfill the Medill requirement. Introductory language classes offered by the University are typically labeled 101-1,2,3 within a fall, winter, spring quarter sequence. For more information on specific language classes and requirements, check with the appropriate WCAS foreign language department or the University s Council on Language Instruction (CLI) at http://www.cli.northwestern.edu/ In certain cases of a clinically diagnosed disability affecting foreign language acquisition, students may apply to seek to satisfy the Medill foreign language proficiency requirement by using both language and non-language classes. In such circumstances, the students should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) and file the petition for appointment of a language proficiency adviser (LPA). (See complete instructions for seeking accommodations on the WCAS Web site at http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/degree/ language/#disability Final decisions regarding this petition must be approved by the LPA, CLI and Medill s Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Students must start this process early so that they have sufficient time to make a plan to satisfy the Medill foreign language requirement before graduating. The other non-journalism courses used to meet this 11-unit requirement must focus on one or more of the following themes: gender, race, age, class, ethnicity, religion or disability. Refer to the BSJ 16 page on the Medill website for a list of approved courses offered throughout the University, including JOUR 301, 372 and 390: Connecting with Immigrant and Multiethnic Communities. Students may petition the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence if they believe another class qualifies. AP credits may not be applied to the Global and Diverse Cultures requirement, with the exception of language courses 6
Number of Courses and Quarters All Medill students must successfully complete 45 one-unit courses in order to graduate. Almost all courses taught at Northwestern are worth one unit. JR is a three-unit quarter (see explanation on page 2). Two half-unit classes count as one full unit, and two one-and-a-half-unit courses count as three full units toward this requirement. The final 23 courses must be taken at Northwestern, and the last three quarters of work must be completed while the student is enrolled at Medill. Exceptions are sometimes made for approved study abroad programs or for summer work taken at other universities with prior approval by a staff member in the Office of Student Life. If a student takes four one-unit courses per quarter, three quarters per year, for four full years, that will equal a total of 48 courses. Since only 45 courses are required for graduation, only three quarters with three courses will allow on-time graduation (assuming no AP, IB or transfer credits have been applied). The Journalism Residency quarter is one such quarter, leaving students with the option of taking just two more three unit quarters. Of the 45 units required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, at least 31 must be outside Medill and no more than 14 can be Medill courses, except in the case of students earning an IMC Certificate; these students may count the additional IMC classes they need for the certificate as general electives. If a student has more than 45 units, additional journalism courses may be taken. Rules, Policies & Procedures In addition to this handbook, Medill students are responsible for familiarity with the University policies outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. Of particular importance is the Undergraduate Residence Requirement. The Undergraduate Registration Requirement The Undergraduate Registration Requirement (URR) applies to undergraduate students seeking a bachelor s degree and must be completed in addition to the degree requirements established by the various school faculties. Each school specifies a minimum number of units of credit needed for a bachelor s degree (45 or more, depending on the degree). The URR specifies the number of quarters a student must be registered at Northwestern and how much credit must be earned at Northwestern. It is predicated on the principle that when a student receives a bachelor s degree from Northwestern University, the majority of the student s academic work is completed at the University. Journalism Residency and Medill D.C. program count towards this registration requirement. The requirement is important to understand, particularly when considering a double major or study abroad. Please refer to the Office of Registrar s website for the full URR description: http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/graduation/urr.html Course Load and Adding a 5th Class Registration for three or four credit-bearing courses a quarter is a typical full-time academic load. Registration for fewer than three courses or more than 5.5 units of credit requires permission from the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Students who take between 3 and 5.5 units of credit will be billed full-time tuition. Students who receive permission to take more than 5.5 units of credit will incur additional charges. See the Undergraduate Financial Aid website for information about tuition and financial aid for overload enrollment. Students who take fewer than 3 units of credit (those who are part-time) will be billed 7
for just the classes they take, not for full-time tuition. Find guidance on how to be part-time and how to declare your intent, via a new form in CAESAR at: http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/registration/course_load_policies.html. See the Northwestern policy here: http://ug-finaid.northwestern.edu/topics/current/ Eligibility.html. Registration for a fifth course will not be permitted until the beginning of drop/ add week. First-quarter freshmen and students on probation cannot take more than four classes without permission. Grades Undergraduate journalism courses employ intermediate grading, meaning that instructors may use A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D and F. Specific graduation requirements are as follows: Minimum grade point averages of 2.0 or better for all non-journalism courses taken for a letter grade and a 2.25 or better for all journalism courses must be achieved. Students may earn grades below C in no more than 1/5 (or total of 9) of courses taken at NU and offered for graduation. All X and Y grades (incompletes), unless made up satisfactorily by the end of the subsequent quarter, shall be counted as grades of F. (Further clarification about X and Y grades can be found in the NU undergraduate catalog. Students who earn below a C in journalism courses (Ds or Fs) must retake the class until they have earned a C or better. When courses are repeated, both the previous grade and the subsequent grade are computed in the grade point average> One course does not substitute for another. Students must earn the following to be eligible for the Journalism Residency program: - A minimum of 2.25 grade point average in these courses: Reporting and Writing, Multimedia Storytelling, Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities and the two JR prerequisite courses. - A C or better in Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities and the JR prerequisite courses. Students who do not meet the minimum grade requirements are placed on academic probation. Continued poor performance will result in further disciplinary action, including academic probation, suspension or expulsion. Medill undergraduates are required to take these courses for letter grades (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D and F): - All journalism courses (except for Journalism Residency). -All courses in the Social Science Concentration -All Distribution Requirements Any other courses may be taken on the P/N option, if that option is available. However, a total of no more than three courses outside of the JR quarter, may be taken P/N and counted toward the 45 units required for graduation. Only one course per quarter may be taken on the P/N option (NU Policy) Dean s List Students enrolled full-time who earn a GPA of 3.7 or higher will be placed on the Deans list for the quarter. This is documented in a letter sent to the student and does not appear on his/ her transcript. Add/Drop The first week of classes during each quarter is the change of registration ( add/drop week ) period, when students are allowed to adjust their schedules by either dropping or adding a course. 8
Students have until the end of the first week of classes to add a course and until the end of the sixth week of classes to drop a course. If a student drops a course by the deadline and has followed the proper procedures, no grade is recorded. Students who wish to drop a class after the drop/add deadline must receive approval from the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education and Teaching Excellence; University practices warrant late drops in only extraordinary circumstances. Students can drop and add courses online via CAESAR up until the deadlines published by the University Registrar s Office. Deadlines and other important dates can be found in the University s Academic Calendar: http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/ Pass/No-Credit Option The P/N grade option is open to full-time students for courses without grade restrictions. When this option is available, it allows students to explore a subject without concern about how it will affect their grade point average. Students may not apply more than three P/N units, outside of the Journalism Residency quarter, toward the 45 required for graduation. Only one course may be taken in any quarter under this option. Students planning to use the P/N option must do so when initially registering for the course. For instructions on selecting the P/N option, please see Instructions on using CAESAR at http://www.northwestern.edu/caesar. A change from the P/N option to the regular grade system, or vice versa, must be done prior to the deadline established by the University Registrar s Office http:// www.registrar.northwestern.edu/registration/p-n_regulations.html. Approval past the deadline requires special permission from the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Independent Study Independent Study (JOUR 399) enables qualified students to engage in individualized study and research in an area of interest in journalism outside the available curriculum. An approved independent study will be counted as a journalism elective. Students who wish to propose an independent study project must follow the instructions posted here: http:// www.medill.northwestern.edu/students/page.aspx?id=141913 Independent study petitions must be submitted the quarter prior to the quarter in which the independent study is to take place. Students planning to extend their work beyond one quarter may do so only with the permission of the sponsoring faculty member and the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Petition of Degree Requirements Occasionally students may wish to take a course that, based upon the description and content, they believe should count toward a distribution or concentration requirement for which it is not preapproved. In such cases students may file a petition to ask for an exception by following the instructions provided here: http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/students/page.aspx?id=141913 The deadline for submission of petitions is announced on the BSJ class listservs. 9
Registration University Procedures Medill students register for all non-journalism courses at a time designated by the University Registrar s Office. Students may register any time after their appointment, but not before. Appointment times and course listings are in CAESAR. Students register for the next quarter during the current term. For more information about registration appointment times visit this page on the University Registrar s website: http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/registration/ Some courses require permission from a particular department (no permission numbers are used for Medill classes). In such instances, a registration permission number needs to be obtained from the appropriate department and submitted at the time of registration. Medill Procedures The registration process can vary from quarter to quarter. Medill participates in a University process called pre-registration, which takes place each quarter during the week prior to the regular registration period. Registration instructions are posted to the BSJ-16 page every quarter. During pre-registration, students with declared majors or minors in participating departments can register for up to two courses in their major or minor. Therefore, Medill students will typically register for their Medill course(s) during pre-registration, depending upon their prerequisites and assigned JR quarters. They will then complete non-medill course registration during the regular registration period. Cancellation If a student registers for a quarter during advance registration and then later decides not to attend classes that quarter the student must complete cancellation forms and deliver them to the University Registrar s Office on or before the first day of classes for the quarter canceled. Nothing will appear on the student s record and no tuition will be charged, as long as this deadline is met. Withdrawal A student who withdraws from the University after having already attended classes in any quarter must fill out a withdrawal form, available at the Medill Office of Student Life or the University Registrar s Office. The completed form requires the signature of the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. It may also require signatures from the Housing, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts offices. The form must be submitted to the University Registrar s Office for processing. The Office of Student Financial Services considers the date the completed form is filed with the University Registrar s Office as the effective date for determining financial adjustments. Tuition and refundable fees are refunded according to the policies listed on the student financial services website: http://www.northwestern.edu/sfs/ Re-Entry Any student who seeks to re-enroll after one quarter or more of absence must fill out an application to re-enter. The FRET (Former Returning Student) form is available from the University Registrar s Office or that office s Web site. It requires approval from the Medill Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence and must be filed at least six weeks before the quarter a student plans to return. If specified at the time of withdrawal, re-entry may also require approval from the University Dean of Students. 10
Before approval for readmission is granted, the student s record will be reviewed to verify that he or she left in good academic standing and that any predetermined conditions for re-entry have been met. When a student has been inactive in a program for longer than a calendar year, the student s preparation and ability to complete the degree program will be evaluated. The school cannot guarantee that the student will be able to resume studies precisely at the point at which they were interrupted. Course offerings, for instance, may change in the student s absence, and it is the student s responsibility to adjust to any changes in offerings or requirements. Registration Holds Students will be blocked from registering if they have a hold on their record. Holds are indicated on the student s Personal Academic Information Screen in CAESAR. In all cases students need to arrange with the appropriate office to have the hold cleared before they can register. Leave of Absence Unlike a withdrawal, a leave of absence is arranged in advance between the student and Medill. A student may opt to interrupt his or her undergraduate program for an internship, related work experience or for personal reasons. Leave of absence forms must be reviewed and signed by the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence. Students returning from a leave of absence must file a FRET form with the University Registrar s Office at least six weeks before registration. Please refer to the procedures described here: http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/forms/fret.pdf Non-Northwestern Credit Transfer Credit Coursework completed at another institution prior to enrolling at Northwestern is evaluated by the University Registrar s Office for possible credit transfer. No student may use journalism credits earned at other universities toward the Bachelor of Science in Journalism major. Advanced Placement Credit Advanced Placement credit is awarded through the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Journalism students may use Advanced Placement credit toward the fulfillment of any degree requirement except journalism courses, courses in the social science concentration or courses in the six-unit elective concentration. International Baccalaureate Credit International Baccalaureate (IB) credit is awarded through the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Scores of 5, 6 or 7 on the Higher Level Examinations of the IB qualify for one, two or three units of NU credit, depending on the examination(s) completed. Scores for subsidiary level exams are not recognized. Questions about IB credit should be directed to the WCAS Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising. Journalism students may use IB credit toward the fulfillment of any degree requirement except journalism courses, the social science concentration or the six-unit elective concentration. Study at Another Institution Within the United States Students may wish to take courses at another college or university and transfer the credit to Northwestern, typically involving summer courses at an institution close to the student s home. 11
A limited amount of credit may be transferred, and such coursework must be in compliance with the University Residence Requirement (see the Undergraduate Catalog) and meet the following criteria: 1. Courses must be taken at an accredited college or university acceptable to Northwestern. This is determined by the University Registrar s Office. 2. Medill will not accept transfer credit for any course taken at a junior or community college by a Medill undergraduate with junior or senior standing. 3. The courses must be acceptable for transfer to Northwestern and be applicable to the student s degree program. This is partially determined by the Medill Office of Student Life, with final approval by the University Registrar s Office. 4. The first three requirements must be met BEFORE the student enrolls in the course(s). 5. An official transcript of work completed must be received by the University Registrar s Office by the end of the next quarter in residence at Northwestern. Undergraduate students must earn grades of C or better in classes taken at other universities that are transferred to Northwestern and applied to the Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree. In other words, grades of F, D (of any type), C- and P (for pass ) will not be accepted. 6. Credits received by taking courses at other U.S. universities in the summer or at other times may be used for any degree requirement except for journalism courses. No student may use journalism credits earned at other universities toward the Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree. To obtain approval for such study, the student should complete an Application for Credit for Non-Northwestern Courses, available at www.registrar.northwestern.edu/student_info/ coll_credit.html, and have it approved by a staff member in the Medill Office of Student Life before the study is undertaken. Academic Options Double Majors Some Medill students complete the major requirements in an academic discipline within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Permission to pursue a double major must be obtained from the appropriate WCAS department. A student pursuing a double major would take all prerequisite and major courses required of that major in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. The student would NOT be required to complete WCAS distribution, foreign language writing proficiency or freshman seminar requirements. Minor A student pursuing a minor would take the prerequisite and minor courses required by the department. Permission to pursue a minor must be obtained from the appropriate WCAS department. Applying Major and Minor Credit Although Medill does not normally allow students to double count courses (using one course to meet two requirements), an exception is made in the case of double majors. A Medill student completing a double major in WCAS can apply courses used to meet Medill s: Distribution Requirements General Elective Options 12
WCAS 6-Unit Elective Concentration Medill students completing a minor may use minor courses towards Medill s: WCAS 6-Unit Elective Concentration General Elective Options Completing a double major does not qualify a student for a second bachelor s degree. The Bachelor of Science in Journalism is the only degree such a student would be awarded. On the final transcript it will be noted that the student fulfilled all departmental requirements for the additional major. The only double degree program for Medill students is offered by the Bienen School of Music and Medill. For a list of the programs offered by WCAS, students should refer to the Undergraduate Catalog and/or visit the WCAS Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1922 Sheridan Road. Study Abroad Students interested in international study should visit the Study Abroad Office at 630 Dartmouth Place to review program options and requirements. Students also can consult the Study Abroad Office Web site at http://www.northwestern.edu/studyabroad/, or e-mail specific questions to studyabroad@northwestern.edu. All students planning to study abroad for NU credit apply to a specific program through the Study Abroad Office. As part of the application process for study abroad, students must meet with a staff member from the Medill Office of Student Life to discuss degree progress and course selection abroad and obtain adviser approval. Check the Study Abroad Web site for application submission deadlines. Internships, Field Studies and Special Programs Some Medill undergraduates interrupt their Northwestern studies to take an internship with a news organization or a governmental body, or to participate in a study program at another school. These experiences must be planned carefully with the help of the Medill Office of Student Life and the University Registrar s Office. Medill does not grant credit for internships outside of the Journalism Residency program. Students may, however, register for JOUR 388-0, a zero credit internship option that exists to serve Medill undergraduates who participate in media internships that require course registration. Students registered for JOUR 388-0 will receive S (for satisfactory ) or U (for unsatisfactory ) on the transcript upon completion of the internship. Students planning to register for JOUR 388 must make an appointment with the Medill Career Services Office in Fisk 106. Medill students also may seek internship or field study credit through other schools; however, any internship credit or any field study credit a Medill student wishes to apply toward the minimum 45 units required for the BSJ degree must receive prior approval from the Senior Director of Undergraduate Education & Teaching Excellence if the internship or field study involves work in journalism (newspaper, magazine, radio, television), mass communications, public relations, advertising and/or direct marketing. Undergraduate Research Program (388-1) Students can apply to do a research project sponsored and/or approved by Medill, such as the Eric Lund Global Reporting and Research Grant Fund. Students must secure a Medill faculty 13
adviser who will oversee the project, and they must submit a proposal detailing the project goals to Medill s Senior Director of Undergraduate Education for approval. Students do not receive credit, but the project is indicated on their transcript as JOUR 388-1: Undergraduate Research. The Accelerated Master s Program This program allows students to earn both the BSJ and MSJ degrees in less than five years. For program descriptions and application information, students should visit the Graduate Admissions website: www.medill.northwestern.edu/admissions/default.aspx. Students typically apply during their junior year. Admission to the Accelerated Master s Program may be for any quarter of what would have been the student s senior year. Candidates must meet the following requirements: 1. Completion of at least 10 of the required journalism courses, specifically all courses with the exception of at least two elective journalism credits 2. Completion of the social science concentration, elective concentration and all distribution requirements, plus 8 general electives, to total at least 41 credits completed before beginning graduate coursework Accelerated students meet the missing journalism and general elective credits through coursework in the graduate program. The exact combination will depend upon whether students choose to pursue 12, 13 or 14 credits in the journalism major. Accelerated students complete between 10 and 14 units of graduate study, depending upon their focus. Neither the BSJ nor the MSJ degree will be conferred until the student has successfully met all requirements for both degrees, because the student is being excused from certain undergraduate requirements based on graduate work performed. In addition, students will not be eligible for undergraduate or graduate honors until all required graduate work has been completed and grades are recorded. Northwestern considers students to have undergraduate standing until the 12th quarter of study is completed. Consequently, through the 12th quarter, tuition is at the undergraduate rate and students who receive financial aid will continue to receive it through Undergraduate Financial Aid. Students who require more than 12 quarters to complete their degree requirements will thereafter be considered graduate students and will pay the graduate tuition rate; they can apply for financial aid through the Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid. Students considering the Accelerated Master s Program should consult with their faculty adviser and the Medill Office of Student Life to discuss the advisability of the plan and to organize their undergraduate coursework accordingly. For application information and program descriptions, students must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions: www.medill.northwestern.edu/admissions/default.aspx. NOTE: The Accelerated Master s Program is not open to students entering the graduate IMC program. 14
Integrated Marketing Communications Undergraduate Certificate Program The undergraduate Integrated Marketing Communications Certificate Program focuses on effective marketing communications strategies and tactics for an increasingly digital media environment. It prepares students for entry-level marketing communications positions in such fields as advertising, public relations, corporate communications, database marketing, and social media marketing. Students develop skills for understanding and analyzing consumers in traditional markets and in newly forming digital communities and social networks. They learn how do conduct research and analyze data on consumer behavior, media usage and marketing communications effectiveness. Students also learn about message creation and delivery through a wide variety of media channels. Students in all undergraduate schools at Northwestern are eligible to apply to the certificate program as described on the Medill website. Students may apply to the program after successful completion of three prerequisite courses and IMC 301 (Consumer Insight). To qualify for acceptance into the program, students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the three prerequisites and IMC 301. Certificate requirements (3 prerequisites, 3 IMC core courses, 2 IMC electives) 3 prerequisite courses: ECON 202 or comparable Microeconomics course One Statistics course from: ANTHRO 362 BMD ENG 220 CHEM ENG 312 CIV ENG 306 CSD 304 ECON 281 EECS 302 IEMS 201, 202 MATH 310 PSYCH 201, 205 SESP 210 SOCIOL 303 STAT 202, 210 One course from: ANTHRO 211, 235, 389 BUS INST 390 COMM ST 205, 360, 363, 380 ECON 322, 330, 350 IEMS 383 POL SCI 348, 375 PSYCH 204, 228, 316, 335, 351, 385 SOCIOL 302, 303, 315, 332, 345 15
3 core courses: IMC 301, 302 and 303 2 electives from: IMC 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 320 IMC Courses: IMC 300-0 Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications (for non-certificate students only; will not count towards certificate requirements) IMC 301-0 Consumer Insight Prerequisites: sophomore standing. IMC 302-0 Research for Marketing Communications Prerequisites: approved Statistics course and admission to IMC Certificate Program (may be taken in the same quarter student applies for program admission) IMC 303-0 Integrated Marketing Communications Strategy Prerequisite: IMC 301, 302, admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 304-0 Media and Message Delivery Prerequisites: IMC 303, and admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 305-0 Message Strategy and Persuasive Communications Prerequisites: for non- Medill students: IMC 303 and admission to the IMC Certificate Program; for Medill students: JOUR 301. IMC 306-0 Public Relations Strategies and Tactics Prerequisites: for non-medill students: IMC 303 and admission to the IMC Certificate Program; for Medill students: JOUR 301. IMC 307-0 Direct and Interactive Marketing Communications Prerequisites: IMC 303 and admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 308-0 Marketing Models Prerequisites: IMC 303 and admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 309-0 Entertainment Marketing Prerequisites: IMC 303 and admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 310-0 IMC Law, Policy and Ethics Prerequisites: IMC 303 and admission to IMC Certificate Program. IMC 320-0 IMC Capstone Project Prerequisites: IMC 303 and admission to IMC Certificate Program. Access to prerequisites will be based on course availability each quarter. See the website at medill.northwestern.edu/admissions/imc.aspx for more details. DC Program Student may apply to study for Winter quarter in Medill s Washington D.C. news bureau. Students take two intensive journalism courses (a two-day, continuous reporting experience covering Capitol Hill and a one-day political reporting seminar) and a political science course ap- 16
proved by Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, for a total of three units. This interdisciplinary program exposes journalism students to the challenging dynamics of Capitol Hill, political organizations, think tanks and federal agencies. It is best suited to students interested in learning more about the political process and covering important national and global issues from the nation s capital in a rigorous, Web-driven reporting environment. Prerequisite: JOUR 301. Qatar Medill has opened a branch campus in Qatar, a progressive Arab emirate on the Persian Gulf. Medill and Northwestern s School of Communication share the campus, called Education City, with Georgetown, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M and Virginia Commonwealth universities. Students in Evanston may be eligible beginning in the 2013-14 academic year to spend a semester in Qatar taking Medill electives, NU courses offered at NUQ and courses offered at other universities within Education City. Medill Integrity Code All Medill students are bound by the code below. As members of the Medill community, all of our academic, professional, media, journalism and marketing communications work must meet the standards in this code. To fulfill my community responsibilities, I commit to honesty and fairness and to not plagiarize, cheat, submit the same work more than once or present someone else s work as my own. I further agree to avoid conflicts of interest or to identify conflicts to the appropriate individual(s) if they cannot be avoided. In addition, I will encourage those who have concerns about my work to voice their concerns, and if they are valid, I will correct my mistakes as soon as possible. While enrolled at Medill, I accept that this code applies to my academic, professional, media, journalism and marketing communications work -- whether I am in school, on an internship or job, acting as a volunteer or in a professional/academic activity not associated with Medill or Northwestern. Finally, because this is a community code, our collective credibility is harmed if anyone violates it. Therefore, I promise to promptly report violators of this code. Three brief appendices that provide information about the code follow: Appendix I: Background to the Integrity Code Appendix II: The Code and Outside Conflicts Appendix III: Persons Covered By the Code Appendix I: Background to the Integrity Code For journalism, media and marketing communications this is an era of unprecedented transformation. Changes in each of these arenas emerge with increasing frequency and with new opportunities and challenges. There are few factors in the digital age that are for sure. Nevertheless, at Medill a constant is our ability as a community to champion professional and academic integrity. With the proliferation of information outlets, work based on integrity will be even more important. That is why we are committed to learning about and living by the standards in this code. That is also why maintaining and deepening a commitment to it is a requirement to be a mem- 17