Degree Requirements

Lang’s General Degree Requirements

In addition to the requirements outlined here, Lang has specific requirements, including a minimum number of credits in liberal arts courses as well as college residency requirements. All students should read Lang’s General Degree Requirements and consult with both their Student Success advisor and their departmental faculty advisor each semester to ensure that they are on track to graduate.

Degree Works

To be sure their Degree Works account reflects the information in this worksheet, students should forward any approved exemptions from the following requirements to their Student Success advisor.

Bachelor’s-Master’s Program

Undergraduates in the BA-MA program can earn up to 18 credits (depending on the master's program) in New School master's courses and apply those graduate credits to both their BA and their MA. Submission of the Bachelor’s-Master’s application is required (members of the direct-entry cohort do not have to submit an application but do have to declare the Bachelor's-Master's combination they wish to pursue). Students should consult their departmental faculty advisor and their Student Success advisor if they are pursuing a BA/MA, including those offered in Journalism + Design:

• BA Journalism + Design - MA Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism

Requirements for the BA in Journalism + Design

As of fall 2020, students declaring the major in Journalism + Design must take 12 courses, outlined as follows. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses to meet the requirements for the major in Journalism + Design. Students may, with their Departmental Faculty Advisor's permission, substitute up to two courses in related social science fields at equivalent levels.

Declare your major by following the process outlined in Declaring Your Major. Students who declared the major in Journalism + Design before fall 2020 but wish to follow the fall 2020 curriculum can consult their Student Success advisor about submitting a Change of Catalog Year request.

Only specific courses satisfy the major requirements, including electives. Courses should be chosen carefully, in consultation with the departmental faculty advisor and your Student Success advisor. Review the Journalism + Design Program Guide and track your progress using the program worksheet (below). See the university course catalog for spring 2025 Journalism + Design courses that fulfill these requirements, and consult our 4-Year Lang Career Pathways Map (PDF) for helpful steps and resources to link your academic journey to your future plans.

Major Requirements 

Introductory Courses (3–4 credits):

• LLSJ 2001 News, Narrative, and Design I (3–4 credits)

Other Required Courses (30–40 credits):

• LLSJ 3001 News, Narrative, and Design II (3–4 credits)
• LLSJ 3505 Data Storytelling (formerly Visualizing Data) (3–4 credits)
• 2 Form electives (see list of courses under "Cross-Reference filter" in the University Course Catalog) (6–8 credits)
• LLSJ 2010 Ethics and History of Journalism (3–4 credits)
• 3 Area electives: 1 Reporting and Craft elective (see list of courses under "Cross-Reference filter" in the University Course Catalog) and 2 general electives (9–12 credits)
• 2 Liberal Arts electives (6–8 credits)

Senior Capstone (4 credits):

• LLSJ 4991 Senior Capstone (4 credits)

Total Credits: 37–48

To be sure you are on course to graduate, read the Journalism + Design Program Guide and track your progress using the Journalism + Design worksheet for the year in which you declared your major:

• 2024-25 Journalism + Design Worksheet
• 2023-24 Journalism + Design Worksheet
• 2022-23 Journalism + Design Worksheet
• 2021-22 Journalism + Design Worksheet (PDF)
• 2020-21 Journalism + Design Worksheet (PDF)
• 2019-20 Journalism + Design Worksheet (PDF)