Everything you need to know about academic requirements.
The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media prepares students for careers in journalism and media by offering an academic program that provides a basic liberal arts education, an understanding of the responsibilities of a free press and the role of free speech in a democratic society, and a fundamental knowledge of journalistic and media techniques and substance.
Two areas of study are offered: a concentration in advertising/public relations and a concentration in journalism.
Students majoring outside the school may earn a minor in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. Priority will be given to students who have previously taken two or more MEJO courses within their desired concentration.
Interested students must apply between November 15 and January 15 of their sophomore or junior years. Preference is given to students with a 3.4 cumulative GPA or higher.
Applicants designate one of two minor concentrations offered within the school: Advertising/Public Relations (APR) and Journalism (JRN). Prerequisites must be met for selected minor courses. MEJO minors who enroll in MEJO 153 will take the school’s Usage & Grammar Test as part of the course but are not required to pass the test with a score of 70 or better as MEJO majors are.
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must:
For specific courses listings, please consult the degree requirements section of the undergraduate catalog.
Requirements:
Total hours: 15
Requirements:
Total hours: 15
The spring 2026 MEJO minor application deadline has passed. Students will be notified of a decision by Feb. 28.
For questions or concerns, please contact hussmanhub@unc.edu.
Academic Worksheets are tools to help students plan their coursework. They should not be considered your official record of degree completion. It’s important to regularly check your Tar Heel Tracker for accuracy. If you notice any discrepancies with your media and journalism requirements, please submit a Tar Heel Tracker Adjustment Form. For other inaccuracies, contact your UNC Hussman adviser.
UNC Hussman’s five focus programs offer students the chance to specialize their experience and develop tangible skills in the most competitive sectors: business, fashion, health, politics and sports.
UNC Hussman’s five focus programs offer students the chance to specialize their experience and develop tangible skills in the most competitive sectors: business, fashion, health, politics and sports.
Special topics courses are developed to cover emerging issues or specialized content not represented in the main curriculum. Not all courses are offered each semester.
The Honors Program is a senior-year experience offered to eligible school majors wishing to pursue an original and substantial research or creative project (a senior honors thesis) under direct supervision of a school faculty adviser. You do not have to be in Honors Carolina to pursue a senior honors thesis in UNC Hussman.
The American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) is the premier college advertising competition. Students in “MEJO 690: Special Topics in Advertising” develop an extensive plan and then pitch their work to advertising professionals at the district, semi-final and national levels. Previous clients have included Coca-Cola, Adobe, Tinder, Meta, Tide, AT&T and more.
The Usage and Grammar Test is a graduation requirement for all UNC Hussman majors and second majors. Students are required to score 70 percent or better on the test before graduation.
The test evaluates word usage, grammar and punctuation competencies based on AP style. It is a timed 60-minute test given electronically that consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Allow about one hour in your schedule for this test.
Hussman minors are not required to score 70 percent or better.
The test is offered multiple times throughout each fall and spring semester and once each summer session. There is no limit to how many times the test is taken. Seats are limited. Availability can be competitive near the end of the semester. Make every effort to fulfill this obligation before your final semester.
Tests are proctored via Zoom and thus require a laptop with an operable camera for completion. Please note that your camera must be on for the duration of the usage and grammar test. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in your score not being counted, and you will have to retake the test. Mozilla Firefox is the recommended browser for all operating systems. Download it to your laptop before test day. Ensure your laptop is fully charged or connected to a power source during testing.
Students who self-identified with ARS must notify us upon seat reservation at the latest.
Reserve your seat beginning one week before each test date via the school’s calendar (see below). If your plans change, cancel your registration.
For cancellations before registration closes: Cancel your test registration by accessing the Mobile Summary via your registration confirmation email. After logging in with your registered email and opening your ticket summary, an option for canceling your order will be available. If you have trouble canceling, please contact us.
For cancellations after registration closes: Please notify us at your earliest convenience.
| Test Date | Registration Opens | Registration Link | Registration Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 14 @ 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. | Thurs., Jan 15 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. | Thursday, Jan. 22 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Jan. 29 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Feb. 5 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. | Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Mar. 6 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Mar. 13 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Mar. 5 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Mar. 27 at 11 a.m. | Monday, Mar. 16 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Mar. 25 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Apr. 10 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Apr. 2 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Apr. 8 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Apr. 17 at 11 a.m. | Thursday, Apr. 9 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Apr. 15 at 3 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, Apr. 22 at 3 p.m. | Monday, Apr. 13 at 8 a.m. | Monday, Apr. 20 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, Apr. 24 at 11 a.m. | Thursday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Apr. 22 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, May 1 at 2 p.m. | Thursday, Apr. 23 at 8 a.m. | Wednesday, Apr. 29 at 3 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, May 6 at 2 p.m. | Tuesday, Apr. 28 at 8 a.m. | Monday, May 4 at 3 p.m. | |
| Friday, May 15 @ 11 a.m. | Wednesday, May 6 @ 8 a.m. | Register for May 15 | Wednesday, May 13 @ 3 p.m. |
| Friday, May 29 @ 2 p.m. | Monday, May 18 @ 8 a.m. | Register for May 29 | Wednesday, May 27 @ 3 p.m. |
| Friday, June 12 @ 11 a.m. | Monday, June 1 @ 8 a.m. | Register for June 12 | Wednesday, June 10 @ 3 p.m. |
| Friday, July 10 @ 11 a.m. | Monday, June 29 @ 8 a.m. | Register for July 10 | Wednesday, July 8 @ 3 p.m. |
If you have any questions or inquiries about the Usage & Grammar Test, reach out to Sergio Valdes, the test administrator, at savaldes@ad.unc.edu.
View all graduation requirements and learn more about commencement.
