The M.A. in Journalism requires the completion of 40 units, 18 of which must be completed by all students:
- JOUR 500 – Media and Society (3) Analysis of major theories on the role of communication media and society with special emphasis on the role and responsibility of the news media.
- JOUR 501 – Newswriting: Print, Broadcast, Online (3) Basic newswriting and news judgment in print, broadcast and online journalism. Social responsibility and ethical framework for new media journalists. Typing ability required.
- JOUR 502 – Production: Print, Broadcast, Online (3) Basic broadcast studio and field production, copyediting and newspaper production, database creation and management, online production. Social responsibility and ethical framework involving new media production.
- JOUR 503 – Reporting: Print, Broadcast, Online (3) Basic print reporting techniques, broadcast field reporting, computer assisted reporting and statistics. Social responsibility and ethical framework for new media journalists.
- JOUR 505 – American Media History Seminar (3) A seminar surveying the history of the news media in the United States, and their sociopolitical impact, with emphasis on the 20th century.
- JOUR 560 – Seminar in Mass Communication Law (3) Analysis of major elements of mass communication law, legal issues in contemporary mass communication, and the impact of legal trends on professional journalists.
Broadcast Journalism students must also complete:- JOUR 517 – Advanced Investigative Reporting (3) Advanced reportorial and analytical skills and techniques required for evaluating newsworthy events. Group research and publication of stories on important current topics.
- JOUR 521 – Broadcast Documentary (3) Pre-production of the television documentary; ethical problems, research, reporting, interviewing, writing, legal issues, economics, aesthetics. Problems of balanced presentation, selection of topics.
OR
- JOUR 526 – Advanced Broadcast News Production (3) Production of television news programs; preparation and treatment of form and content; procedures, problems and practice in planning and producing broadcast news materials.
Broadcast students electing the Comprehensive Examination Option must also complete 16 units of approved elective courses. Students electing the Thesis Option are required to enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units) and must complete 12 units of approved elective courses.
Print Journalism students must also complete:- JOUR 517 – Advanced Investigative Reporting (3) Advanced reportorial and analytical skills and techniques required for evaluating newsworthy events. Group research and publication of stories on important current topics.
Print students electing the Comprehensive Examination Option must also complete 19 units of approved elective courses. Students electing the Thesis Option are required to enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units) and must complete 15 units of approved elective courses.
Online Journalism students must also complete:- JOUR 551 – Intermediate Online Publishing (3) Advanced concepts in online publishing; focus on databases, editing, scripting and authoring applications for news Web sites.
- JOUR 555 – Multimedia and Graphics in Online Publishing (3) Focuses on the process of creating multimedia, images and graphics for news storytelling on the Web; integration of interactive content, animation and video.
- JOUR 556 – Online Journalism Seminar (3) Writing and reporting for the Internet and other technology platforms; computer-assisted reporting; multimedia storytelling.
Online students electing the Comprehensive Examination Option must also complete 13 units of approved elective courses. Students electing the Thesis Option are required to enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units) and must complete 9 units of approved elective courses.