Dear Listers,

I have gotten lots of queries from students about my fall capstone in
international journalism and so, I am sending this note with hopes it
answers your questions.

In the class, students are expected to track with international news events
on a daily basis through the BBC and read, on average, about 100 pages per
week of materials related to international journalism over the past 250
years. These materials, all in English, could include Victor Hugo's coverage
of the French Revolution, William Howard Russell's coverage of the American
Civil War or the reporting efforts of Karl Marx. A solid familiarity with
world history over the past two centuries is a clear advantage.

There are weekly news quizzes -- most likely taken on Blackboard -- for the
first several weeks of the course. And students will be expected to
indentify classic, universal themes of international reporting that
transcend both time and location.

In addition, the course likely will include two trips: One to Atlanta over
labor day weekend for meetings at CNN, a trip to Andersonville Prison, the
Carter Center and then onto Plains to meet the former president. The second
trip is scheduled for the October fall break weekend and includes a trip to
DC and Gettysburg (as part of our section on war reporting). These trips are
optional.

Overall, the course is run as an honors course (though without that standing
for the registrar.)

Students with overseas travel experience have an advantage, as do students
fluent in a second language. In addition, students will produce final
projects or in-class presentations designed to fully explore international
subjects about which they are most passionate in their future professional
lives.

In previous courses, these have ranged from academic research on human
trafficking and the political vulnerabilities of Jordanian women to students
who are navigating journalism internships in foreign countries.

Students graduating in December have priority for placement in the class.

I hope this information is helpful.

Cheryl