Master's Programs in Journalism

Master's programs in journalism teach skills in specialty areas such as print journalism.

Master's programs in journalism are available to aspiring journalists as well as those with experience in the field, and many take just one year to complete. Graduate-level programs teach students the advanced reporting and editing skills and ethics necessary for careers in print, broadcast and digital journalism.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications offers master's degrees in several areas of journalism, including arts journalism, broadcast journalism and magazine, newspaper and online journalism. Newhouse master's programs give students a background in the theory of journalism, as well as field training as reporters or editors. While broadcast journalism students take courses in television news anchoring and the television business, aspiring arts journalists take courses in criticism and an arts writing workshop. Internships give students experience that helps them get jobs after graduation; for example, Newhouse broadcast journalism graduate students spend a month working in Washington, D.C. Graduates go to work as reporters and editors at newspapers, magazines and television and radio stations.

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University
215 University Place
Syracuse, NY 13244
315-443-4039
newhouse.syr.edu

Columbia University

The master of science program in journalism at Columbia University affords students the opportunity to take advantage of the diverse media resources in New York City while completing their studies. Students focus in print, broadcast or digital media, and have the option to enter the program on a part-time basis. All students in Columbia's M.S. program in journalism take a core reporting and writing course that teaches how to research, write leads and properly structure stories. Additional required courses include advanced reporting and writing, and journalism essentials. Degree candidates must complete a master's project consisting of a "substantial piece of journalism" that demonstrate a student's ability to write clearly and produce a high-quality piece over the course of several months. Working journalists who wish to develop expertise covering a specific subject area, such as business, science or the arts, can apply to Columbia's master of arts journalism program, which offers coursework in journalism and the subject area of choice. M.A. students complete an extensive reporting thesis project, just as their counterparts in the M.S. program.

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
2950 Broadway (at 116th Street)
New York, NY 10027
212-854-8608
journalism.columbia.edu

Northwestern University

The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University offers a master of science in journalism degree that takes about 12 months to complete. However, an optional fifth quarter can be spent reporting in Washington, D.C., or abroad. Students can select a reporting concentration such as business, health and science, or public affairs, or develop mastery in a technique such as videography, interactive publishing or magazine writing and editing. Additionally, students select from electives including investigative reporting, sports reporting, covering the environment and blogging. Journalists with at least seven years' experience can apply to Medill's master's program for experienced professionals and select from concentrations in marketing, content creation or media management.

Medill School of Journalism
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
847-467-1882
medill.northwestern.edu

References

• Newhouse School of Public Communications: Arts Journalism :
• The Journalism School, Columbia University: M.S. in Journalism
• Medill at Northwestern University: Graduate Journalism