Journalism and Mass Communication - M.A. Download to print

The Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication consists of seven concentrations: Media Management; Public Relations; Reporting/Editing (Journalism Educators;  Broadcasting; Magazine; Newspaper; Convergence).

The Media Management concentration provides a stimulating and challenging environment in which students can learn the principles of effective management from professors who are accomplished both professionally and academically.

The Public Relations concentration, available both face-to-face and 100 percent online, accommodates the needs of students who wish to pursue a management-level career at an in-house marketing communication or public relations department or at a public relations or integrated marketing communications agency.

The Reporting/Editing: Journalism Educators concentration caters to those who want to teach high school journalism. By offering hands-on, engaging courses (such as reporting public affairs, computer-assisted reporting, online journalism, legal problems for mass media and design for cybermedia), the program readies our students to better prepare their students upon graduation.

The Reporting/Editing: Broadcasting concentration focuses on educating students who want to become reporters or producers of broadcast content. Through such courses as broadcast documentary, advanced broadcast news and online journalism, the program prepares students to be leaders in their chosen field upon graduation.

The Reporting/Editing: Magazine concentration is for students who want to become writers, editors or magazine publishers. Courses in magazine publishing, feature writing, specialized reporting and design will enable students to be competitive in the magazine field.

The Reporting/Editing: Newspaper concentration is for students who want to become writers or editors for traditional newspapers and their online units. This concentration features courses such as reporting public policy, computer-assisted reporting and specialized reporting to prepare students for careers in print journalism.

The Reporting/Editing: Convergence concentration is for students who want to become content providers for traditional and online media companies, across all platforms. This concentration features a combination of elements including reporting public policy, computer-assisted reporting and design, along with online journalism and collaborative online production.

Official transcript(s), three letters of recommendation, GRE, TOEFL (for international students), goal statement and statement of desired concentration, and resume or vitae. The GRE requirement may be waived for applicants with significant professional experience, as determined by the graduate studies committee.  For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies website.

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit. All students complete a common core of conceptual courses in addition to required professional courses for each concentration. Approved electives include theoretical, conceptual and professional courses in journalism and mass communication. Electives from other academic units of the university may be approved through consultation with the student’s academic adviser. Students choose among master’s professional project or thesis option in meeting their capstone requirement. Please note that the thesis option is typically not available in the online-only programs.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Communicate effectively across multiple platforms.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of relevant ethical and legal frameworks in their disciplines. 
3. Ground their professional work in relevant theories. 
4. Represent high levels of professionalism.