As of fall semester 2023, Journalism & Media is now a minor at Duke. The Journalism & Media minor replaces the Policy Journalism & Media Studies certificate, which the DeWitt Wallace Center has been offering for the past 20 years. The Journalism & Media minor serves students aspiring to become journalists, as well as those seeking to pursue other private and public sector media-related careers.
If you have any questions about the minor or the certificate, don’t hesitate to ask!
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Stephen Buckley
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies: Kim Krzywy
The Journalism and Media Minor (JAM)
The JAM minor has been approved by Duke for enrollment beginning in the fall of 2023. All students currently enrolled in the PJMS certificate program can switch to the minor (here’s how), with all credits towards the certificate transferring to the minor. For students who are not currently enrolled in PJMS, the JAM minor is the only option. No new enrollments will be allowed in the certificate program, which is being phased out and replaced by the JAM minor.
New subject area prefix for journalism and media courses:
In reference to courses, there will be a one-semester lag in changing the subject area prefix from PJMS to JAM in the registration system. When you register for spring 2024 courses, the journalism and media courses will be listed with the JAM subject area prefix in Duke’s registration system (ex: JAM 371-01 News as a Moral Battleground). For current fall 2023 courses, the PJMS subject area (ex: PJMS 371-01 News as a Moral Battleground) will remain in place, and these courses can count towards the minor or the certificate.
Academic Requirements:
The minor draws upon all Duke courses relating to journalism, public policy and media studies. The JAM minor is open to all Duke undergraduates, in any major. The requirements include 6 courses as follows:
- 1 core course on journalism ethics (must be taken for a letter grade)
- JAM or PJMS 371, News as a Moral Battleground
- 1 of these 3 core practical courses (must be taken for a letter grade)
- JAM or PJMS 365S: Video Journalism
- JAM or PJMS 366S: Long-form Journalism
- JAM or PJMS 367S: News Writing and Reporting
- 3 elective courses
- Any JAM or PJMS course that is not already counted as a core course
- Any approved elective course offered through another department
- Study away courses may also be approved as electives with permission of the DUS, Professor Stephen Buckley
- NOTE: Unlike the certificate, the minor has no restrictions on the number of electives that can originate in JAM or PJMS, or from outside of the department.
- 1 core capstone/internship course
- JAM or PJMS 410, Journalism and Media Capstone course
- NOTE: The capstone course will consist of a major project that integrates ideas and concepts learned in previous coursework with the hands-on experience from the required internship. You will need to complete your internship before or during this course.
A complete list of journalism and media studies courses offered through our program can be found here.
Other requirements:
- A pre-approved media-related internship.
- Students should complete the internship before or during the capstone course. Students will make a presentation on their internship experience during the capstone course and should keep this in mind while doing the internship. You may want to return to Duke with print, audio or video clips which represent your work during the internship.
- Junior year progress requirement:
- By the end of the junior year, students should have completed a minimum of 3 courses; or have a completion plan approved by the DUS, Professor Stephen Buckley. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Prof. Buckley if you have any questions about your timeline for completing the requirements.
- Engagement Requirement:
- We ask that PJMS students attend at least two DeWitt Wallace Center events per semester during their junior and senior semesters, if they are attending classes on campus (students on study-away programs or on leave are exempted from this requirement). Be sure to sign-in at events that you attend! If you have any questions about meeting this requirement, please contact our events coordinator, Katie Rains.
The Policy Journalism & Media Studies Certificate (PJMS)
The PJMS certificate program will remain open as long as necessary to currently-enrolled students. Students currently enrolled in the PJMS certificate program have the option to switch to the minor, with all credits towards the certificate transferring to the minor. No new students will be allowed to enroll in the PJMS certificate. The requirements for the certificate remain the same as they have been in the past. In the spring 2024 semester, courses offered in the PJMS subject area will be switched to the JAM subject area, but will still count towards the PJMS certificate.
Academic Requirements:
The certificate draws upon all Duke courses relating to journalism, public policy and media studies. The requirements include 6 courses as follows:
- 1 core course on journalism ethics (must be taken for a letter grade)
- JAM or PJMS 371, News as a Moral Battleground
- 1 of these 3 core practical courses (must be taken for a letter grade)
- JAM or PJMS 365S: Video Journalism
- JAM or PJMS 366S: Long-form Journalism
- JAM or PJMS 367S: News Writing and Reporting
- 3 elective courses
- Any JAM or PJMS course that is not already counted as a core course
- Any approved elective course offered through another department
- Study away courses may also be approved as electives with permission of the DUS, Professor Stephen Buckley
- NOTE: No more than four courses may originate in JAM or PJMS: 3 of these are the core courses, which means that students may take only ONE PJMS course as an elective. The other 2 electives must be originate from outside of JAM or PJMS. In our list of courses, electives that originated in JAM or PJMS are listed first and include a note “(Course originated in PJMS).” This is requirement differentiates the certificate from the minor, which does not have this requirement.
- 1 core capstone/internship course
- JAM or PJMS 410, Journalism and Media Capstone course
- NOTE: The capstone course will consist of a major project that integrates ideas and concepts learned in previous coursework with the hands-on experience from the required internship. You will need to complete your internship before or during this course.
A complete list of journalism and media studies courses offered through our program can be found here.
Other requirements:
- A pre-approved media-related internship.
- Students should complete the internship before or during the capstone course. Students will make a presentation on their internship experience during the capstone course and should keep this in mind while doing the internship. You may want to return to Duke with print, audio or video clips which represent your work during the internship.
- Junior year progress requirement:
- By the end of the junior year, students should have completed a minimum of 3 courses; or have a completion plan approved by the DUS, Professor Stephen Buckley. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Prof. Buckley if you have any questions about your timeline for completing the requirements.
- Engagement Requirement:
- We ask that PJMS students attend at least two DeWitt Wallace Center events per semester during their junior and senior semesters, if they are attending classes on campus (students on study-away programs or on leave are exempted from this requirement). Be sure to sign-in at events that you attend! If you have any questions about meeting this requirement, please contact our events coordinator, Katie Rains.
How to add the JAM minor to your course of study, or switch from the PJMS certificate to the minor:
Trinity Arts & Sciences is currently updating their list of minors, and JAM will appear there soon!
For sophomores and juniors, visit the Office of the University Registrar to drop the certificate and add the minor. A form is available online.
For seniors, first contact Professor Buckley. With his approval, you will then email: trinity_graduation@duke.edu to request the change.
For more information:
Core courses and electives
Internships
Career guidance and other resources
Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Faculty Chair and DUS: Stephen Buckley, Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy
DUSA’s: Kim Krzywy and Shelley Stonecipher
