JOUR 2314 Telling International Stories

NOTE TO JOURNALISM MINORS: THIS COURSE SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN ELECTIVE WITH A " CRITICAL" ORIENTATION. Reporting outside of ones home country presents new perspectives and unique stories, but it also comes with distinct ethical, safety, cultural, and financial considerations, for both international and local journalists. This course outlines the history of international reporting and the essential role it has played not only in shaping American media, but narratives about other countries and cultures. It offers both a critical look at the practice, as well as concrete training for journalists and storytellers who aspire to cover the world. Students will meet international reporters working around the globe, from documentarians and radio journalists to stringers and staffers for major media outlets.

Course evaluations

Response-weighted averages from Boston College’s official course evaluations (Avalanche/Blue).

Course rating
3.83 / 5 · Very Good
6 responses
Instructor rating
4.17 / 5 · Very Good
6 responses
Terms evaluated
1
Most recent: Fall 2025

Scales: overall ratings run from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent); agreement questions from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree); weekly effort from 1 (up to 1 hour) to 5 (10 or more hours).

Evaluations by term and instructor
TermInstructorCourse overallInstructor overallWell organizedClear learning objectivesIntellectually challengingHelpful assignmentsApplicable beyond courseAttendance necessaryWeekly effortResponses
Fall 2025Mara Kardas-Nelson3.84.24.23.54.34.34.74.24–6 hrs/week6 of 9

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-10-09. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · Mara Kardas-Nelson · Stokes Hall 476S Th 02:00PM-04:25PM · Offered