Business Journalism Sequence

The business journalism program was started in 2002 and is headed by Pam Luecke, the Donald W. Reynolds Professor of Business Journalism.  The program offers a new concentration in the growing field of business journalism, capitalizing on two historic strengths of Washington and Lee: its journalism department and its Williams School of Commerce.  Students concentrating in business journalism might aspire to work for the business staff of a daily newspaper or for news organizations such as CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, or Business Week.  The ability to write clearly about business and economic issues is valuable in a number of other fields.

Students who choose this concentration take most of the regular requirements for a journalism major, plus two business-journalism courses and at least seven courses in the Williams School.  These include:

1).  At least 31 credits and no more than 37 credits in journalism. This total must include

the basic journalism core:

2).  Journalism 101, 190, 201, 203 (Politics 203), 301, and either 243 or

344 (Interdepartmental 344).

In addition, students must complete the business-journalism sequence:

253 or 263, 371, 372, 356, and three credits from 451, 452 and 453;

Accounting 100 or 201, and Economics 101, 102.

Students must also take at least 12 credits at the 200 level or above in Economics, Accounting or Management, including one from each of the following areas:

1).  Area I – Applied Microeconomics: Economics 240, 255, 330 or 350.

2).  Area II – International: Accounting 396; Economics 280, 370, 371; or another course with permission of Prof. Luecke

Journalism Core

(Journalism 101, 190, 201, 203, 301,

and either 243 or 344)

JOURNALISM 101 (3)—Introduction to Mass Communications

   Prerequisites: Completion of general education requirement in English composition and sophomore standing. A study of the theory, history and social, economic and political aspects of mass communications, with special emphasis on the role of news media in the development of contemporary political institutions. Staff

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 190 (1)—Bibliographical Resources

   An introduction to information sources and library services and their effective use, followed by instruction in specialized research methods and bibliography for journalism and mass communications studies. Degree credit is awarded for only one 190 course regardless of academic discipline. Must be taken as a corequisite of Journalism 203. Grefe, Smith.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 201 (3)—Introduction to Reporting

   Prerequisite: Journalism 101. The principles and techniques of information gathering and news writing, with emphasis on fulfilling the role of the news media in a democratic society. Extensive laboratory work preparing assignments for print, electronic and online media, stressing accuracy, clarity and the appropriate use of the different media. Richardson.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 203 (Politics 203) (3)—State and Local Government

   Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Corequisite: Journalism 190 or Politics 190. An introduction to the structures and functions of United States subnational governments, with particular emphasis on the policy-making process and on the relationships between policy-makers and the public. Computer-assisted analysis of survey-research data is included. Smith.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 243 (3)—Ethics of Journalism in Democratic States

   Prerequisites: Permission of the department. An examination of historical and contemporary roles and functions of journalism in the creation and sustenance of democratic governments. Includes inquiry into ethical responsibilities of professional journalists and news organizations, theories of government and the press during the era of the American Revolution, special roles of journalism in developing nations, and forces that promote and deter press performance. Appropriate for non-majors. Hodges.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 301 (3)—Law and Communications

   Prerequisite: Junior standing. An examination of the development of First Amendment jurisprudence, the law of defamation, privacy, access, free press-fair trial, journalists’ privilege, obscenity and pornography. The case study approach is used, but the emphasis is on the principles that underlie the landmark cases. This course can serve as an introduction to and preparation for further studies in communications law and/or the legal system in general. Jennings.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 344 (Interdepartmental 344) (3)— Ethics of Journalism

   Prerequisite: Junior standing. A study of the moral issues arising from the practice of modern journalism and communications. Includes examination of philosophical and theoretical foundations of ethics, the place and role of journalism in the larger society, and moral choices in the newsroom. Topics include: First Amendment freedoms, privacy, confidentiality of sources, conflicts of interest, cooperation with law enforcement, free press/fair trial, photojournalism, and issues of accountability. Appropriate for non-majors. Hodges, Richardson.

   Fall, Winter

Business Journalism Sequence

(Journalism 253 or 263, 371, 372, 356, and three credits from 451, 452 and 453;

 Accounting 100 or 201, and Economics 101, 102)

JOURNALISM 253 (3)—Reporting for Print Media

   Prerequisites: Journalism 201 in the immediately preceding term offered and Journalism 203 (Politics 203). Simulated daily newsroom laboratory stressing news judgment, information gathering, and journalistic writing under deadline pressure. Using the community as the laboratory, students develop competence in the principles and techniques of print-media and Internet communications in a democratic society. All work is produced in the computerized laboratory newsroom. Luecke

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 263 (3)—Reporting for Electronic Media

   Prerequisite: Journalism 262. Continuing development of news judgment, information gathering, and news presentation for the electronic media. Students develop competence in the principles and techniques of beat reporting for radio, television and the Internet. de Maria.

   Fall, Winter

JOURNALISM 356 (3)—In-depth Reporting

   Prerequisite: Journalism 253 or 263. The principles and techniques of developing and creating enterprising, heavily researched journalistic work for the mass media. Students produce in-depth work for newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the World Wide Web. Extensive group work is required. de Maria, Luecke, Richardson, Smith.

   Spring

JOURNALISM 371 (3)—Reporting on Business

   Prerequisites: Journalism 253 or 263, and Accounting 100 or 201, or permission of the instructor. Research, reporting and writing techniques used by business journalists, focusing especially on coverage of companies and their employees and customers. Students develop competence in framing, researching, and writing articles in these areas. A part of the business journalism sequence, also appropriate as an elective for other journalism majors and for business majors. Luecke, Fall

JOURNALISM 372 (3)—Reporting on the Economy

   Prerequisites: Journalism 253 or 263, and Economics 102, or permission of the instructor. Research, reporting and writing techniques used by business journalists, focusing especially on coverage of the economy and financial markets. Students develop competence in framing, researching, and writing articles in these areas. A part of the business journalism sequence, also appropriate as an elective for other journalism majors and for business majors. Luecke, Winter

JOURNALISM 451 (1), 452 (2), 453 (3)—Internship

   Prerequisites: Journalism 253 or 262 and permission of the department. Professional service, arranged and supervised individually, with newspapers, radio and television stations, or other media or business institutions as appropriate. Students proposing to undertake an internship  must coordinate their plans with the department’s internship supervisor. Students undertaking an internship in the summer may receive credit in the following fall only as an overload. Luecke

ECONOMICS 101 (3)—Principles of Microeconomics

Survey of economic principles and problems with emphasis on microeconomic analysis. The first half of a two-term survey of economics. Should be followed by

Economics 102. Staff. Fall

ECONOMICS 102 (3)—Principles of Macroeconomics

Prerequisite: Economics 101. Continuation of survey begun in Economics 101, with emphasis on macroeconomic analysis. Staff. Winter

ACCOUNTING 100 (3)—Accounting for Non-majors

Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. May not be used to fulfill major requirements in business administration or business administration and accounting. This course will focus on information and skills necessary to interpret

companies’ financial statements. The basic principles of financial accounting are covered and are then applied to the interpretation of a company’s performance as revealed

through its financial statements. Textbooks, articles from the popular press, and financial statements will

be used. Staff.

Offered in Spring when interest is expressed and

departmental resources permit.

ACCOUNTING 201 (3)—Introduction to Financial Accounting

Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. The fundamental principles of financial accounting. An introduction to the process of accumulating, classifying, and presenting

financial information. Primary emphasis is given to understanding the financial statements of a business enterprise. Staff. Fall, Winter

Applied Microeconomics Track (take at least one)

ECONOMICS 240 (3)—Government and Business

Prerequisites: Economics 101. A comprehensive survey of government policies toward business in the American economy. Discussion centers around the bases and

types of control and includes four major policies: maintaining competition, moderating competition, substituting regulation for competition, and government ownership.

Special attention is paid to the success and failure of government policies. Capra, Smitka. Fall

ECONOMICS 255 (3)—Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

 Prerequisites: Economics 101 and sophomore standing. The course serves as an introduction to environmental and natural resource economics. Economic principles are used to evaluate public and private decision-making involving the management and use of environmental and natural resources. Aspects pertaining to fisheries, forests, species diversity, agriculture, and various policies to reduce air, water and toxic pollution will be discussed. Lectures, reading assignments, discussions and exams will emphasize the use of microeconomic analysis for managing and dealing with environmental and natural resource problems and issues. Casey, Kahn. Winter

ECONOMICS 330 (3)—Labor Economics

Prerequisites: Economics 101, 102 and at least junior standing. The mechanisms and institutions which govern the allocation of labor in the American economy. The

composition, quantity, and quality of the labor force, the functioning of labor markets and labor market policy, and wage determination and the distribution of income. Kaiser. Fall, Winter

ECONOMICS 350 (3)—Public Finance

Prerequisites: Economics 101 and 102. Public choices and the public economy. An inquiry into how the preferences of individuals and groups are translated into public

sector economic activity. The nature of public activity and public choice institutions. The question of social balance. The effects of government expenditures and taxes on the

economic behavior of individuals and firms. Winfrey. Winter

International Track (take at least one)

Note: Other courses or certain off-campus study programs may fulfill this requirement; see Prof. Luecke in advance for permission.

ECONOMICS 272 - Japan's Modern Economy

ECONOMICS 274 - China's Modern Economy

ECONOMICS 280 - Economic Development of Low-Income Countries

ECONOMICS 296 -Special Topics in International Economics

ECONOMICS 370 - International Trade

ECONOMICS 371 - International Finance

ECONOMICS 381 - Economics of the Environment in Developing Countries

ECONOMICS 385 -Supervised Study Abroad

ECONOMICS 396 - Special Topics in International Economics

ACCOUNTING 396 - Seminar in International Accounting

MANAGEMENT 305 - Seminar in International Management

MANAGEMENT 357 - Multinational Business Finance

MANAGEMENT 364 - Cross-Cultural Issues in Marketing Management

MANAGEMENT 390 - Supervised Management Study Abroad