The master’s programs within the Department of Journalism require a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours, and students typically enroll in two or three classes per term. The programs include a group of required courses, graduate-level research or thesis work, and a series of electives.
Master of arts in journalism requires:
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JOURN 601—Journalism and Communication Studies
- JOURN 606 ― Newspaper Management
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JOURN 612—Journalism Writing Seminar
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JOURN 613—Seminar in Literary Journalism
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JOURN 615—Investigative Reporting and Writing Journalism
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JOURN 680—Journalism and Communication Research Methods.
Another required course may be chosen from a list of several possibilities, along with 3 to 6 hours of graduate research or thesis work, and enough electives to obtain the required minimum credit total. Many students will benefit from an internship.
Master of arts in public relations requires:
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JOURN 601—Journalism and Communication Studies
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PR 605—PR Management
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PR 660—PR Theories and Applications
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PR 662—PR Case Studies
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PR 664—PR Evaluation Techniques
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PR 665—PR Campaigns
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JOURN 680—Journalism and Communication Research Methods
Another required course may be chosen from a list of several possibilities, along with 3 to 6 hours of graduate research or thesis work, and enough electives to obtain the required minimum credit total. Many students will benefit from an internship.
If your bachelor’s degree is not journalism or public relations:
If you don't have an undergraduate degree in journalism, you will be required to take up to 12 hours of study at the undergraduate level. These classes will provide a minimum level of professional development necessary to successfully complete the graduate-level study in journalism or public relations.
If you are pursuing a master’s degree in journalism, courses include visual communication, news writing, news reporting, and opinion writing. If you are pursuing a master’s degree in public relations, courses include visual communication, news writing, public relations writing, and public relations publication design and production.
If you have significant experience, you may receive a waiver of one or more of the course requirements by submitting a portfolio of professional work samples.