ACADEMIC Regulations:

Students should be familiar with the General Information section of the Drake University catalog, which covers academic requirements that affect all Drake University students. A student is placed on probation if either the cumulative grade point average or the average in journalism-mass communication courses falls below 2.00 (a C average) during any semester in which a student has earned less than 60 total credit hours. A student may be placed on probation for failing to meet the University’s standards for satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements. (See Probation, Suspension and Satisfactory Progress in the General Information section of the Drake University catalog.) 

To remain in the school and to continue progress toward a BAJMC degree, a student must have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point average and a 2.25 GPA in JMC courses at the end of the academic term in which the student completes the 60th credit hour.  For transfer students, the 60th-hour GPA must be based either upon at least 15 credit hours earned at Drake.  Students who achieve the 2.25 GPA at the 60th-hour level are placed on probation if their GPAs fall below 2.25 in a subsequent semester. If the GPA is not raised to 2.25 or better after the probationary semester, the student may not continue in SJMC or re-enroll later. 

An academic load of 18 or more credit hours in a semester requires a 3.00 cumulative grade point average, or a 2.75 average and permission of the faculty Academic Adjustment Committee. Students employed full-time or part-time should carry lighter class loads.  At least 40 of the 124 credit hours required for graduation must be in courses numbered 100 or above. The last 30 hours of a student’s program must be taken at Drake University. Twelve hours of credit may be earned on a credit-no credit (no letter grade) basis in courses that are not part of the basic requirements or part of the major and related courses, including courses in the area of concentration. (See the Credit-No Credit Program in the General Information section of the Drake University catalog.) A JMC student may not take a JMC course on a credit-no credit or audit basis, unless the course is only offered credit/no credit.  To enroll for any JMC course requiring a prerequisite, the student must have earned a grade of C or higher in the prerequisite course(s).  To enroll in any JMC senior-level writing, production or capstone course, a student must have a declared JMC major. Students without appropriate prerequisite courses may be admitted to classes, if there are compelling reasons, by obtaining the consent of the instructor and/or the approval of the Academic Adjustment Committee.

Although assigned an academic adviser, the student is responsible for being familiar with academic regulations and for selecting appropriate courses in the proper sequence to complete degree requirements.

DOUBLE MAJORS AND DOUBLE DEGREES 

With careful planning, JMC majors can earn a double major at the University. If the second major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, requirements for both majors can usually be satisfied within the 124 hours required to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students interested in completing two majors should consult with the associate dean and their JMC faculty adviser as early as possible.  A second major in the schools or colleges other than the College of Arts and Sciences — including a second major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication — usually requires JMC students to complete more than 124 credit hours. Most require students to earn at least 30 additional hours, which qualify students for a double degree — the B.A. in JMC and a B.A. or B.S. from the other school or college. Students interested in completing two degrees should consult with the associate dean and their JMC faculty adviser as early as possible in their college career.