How the undergraduate major works

Pre-Professional Program

The pre-journalism and pre-radio-television curriculum, which requires a minimum of two years of full-time study, may be taken at any college or university with a journalism program accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, or ACEJMC. (See ACEJMC's list of accredited programs.)

Students at The University of Montana may enter the pre-journalism/pre-radio-television program during any semester. It is recommended that students considering journalism or radio-television declare them as pre-majors as early as possible in order to receive appropriate advising. All pre-professional majors will be assigned an adviser within the appropriate area.

Professional Program

Students must apply for admission to the professional programs in journalism and radio-television. Class size is restricted and admission to the program is competitive. The admissions process is designed to admit the best overall class into the professional programs. Students must have completed at least three semesters of pre-professional course work before applying for admission. Completed applications are evaluated by the School of Journalism Admissions Committee.

Acceptances are made by the faculty and dean based on the recommendations of the committee. The primary admissions criteria are the student's grade average, both overall and in the required pre-professional course work. To be eligible for admission a student must have a minimum grade average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and have completed all required courses in the pre-professional program.

Successful applicants will have demonstrated, among other qualities, promise and professional aptitude through the quality of their course work and their overall performance in the pre-professional program, and will have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in journalism or radio-television. Students with deficiencies may be admitted to junior year courses on a space available basis, but in no instance will they be admitted to the professional program. Once deficiencies are removed from the student's record he/she may reapply for admission to the professional program.

The School of Journalism gives all applicants from the Montana University System equal consideration for admission into the professional program. There is no restriction on admission of out-of-state students. However, Montana residents are given priority among students with equal qualifications. Students will be notified of their admission status in writing.

The curriculum of the journalism and radio-television programs is sequential. Therefore, students will be admitted to the professional programs in the autumn semester only. Applications for admission to the professional programs may be obtained from the Office of the Dean, School of Journalism. Applications must be received no later than March 1st preceding the autumn semester for which admission is requested.

A non-refundable application fee must be submitted with the application. Admission for one academic year cannot be deferred to another academic year. Official transcripts of all academic courses taken must be forwarded directly to the School of Journalism.

Students transferring from other accredited programs in journalism or radio-television may be admitted with advanced standing, determined on the basis of credits transferred. Transfer credit for professional courses taken at other institutions is accepted only for those courses which are deemed equivalent and in which a letter grade of C or better is obtained.

Academic Progression

See the UM catalog online for the general University academic standing requirements.

Students enrolled in the professional journalism and radio-television programs must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students in the professional programs who have a cumulative or professional grade point average less than 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation must achieve at least a 2.0 grade average for the semester and raise their overall grade average or face suspension from the University. Because the professional programs are intensive, employment beyond minimal part-time is not recommended.

Students dismissed from the program for substandard performance will not be readmitted, except in cases where substantiation is made to the faculty, by written petition, that the substandard performance was the result of circumstances that no longer exist, or that the student has demonstrated the capability and desire to perform satisfactory work since his or her dismissal from the program.