MASTER OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM

                The MA in Journalism focuses on the social responsibility of journalists in the new converged, online world of information gathering and dissemination. Students will be given the theoretical grounding and the skills they’ll need to tell stories in this new digital landscape. Mac and PC labs, along with a state-of-the-art studio, control room, and integrated high-end editing suites, located in Chicago’s South Loop, will be staffed by experienced professionals drawn from the city’s major media. Graduates will learn how to add value to stories citizens access on the web, contributing to the flow of information that makes democracy, self-governance, and social justice possible.

ADMISSION TO MA IN JOURNALISM

Students seeking admission to the Masters in Journalism program must:

• Fill out an application form
• Have earned a Bachelors Degree from an accredited college
• Submit an official undergraduate transcript in which the student achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale
• Provide a statement of purpose of 750 words, explaining why the student is seeking admission to the program
• Submit a writing sample or project that demonstrates the applicant’s journalistic ability.
• Submit two letters of recommendation
• Submit a resume
• GRE scores are not required, but are strongly encouraged of each candidate seeking admission to the program

For students who completed their undergraduate education outside the United States and who are not native speakers of English, a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) is also required along with an oral interview with two members of the program’s faculty.

ADMISSION TO FIVE-YEAR BA IN COMMUNICATION/MA IN JOURNALISM

Students seeking admission to the five-year BA in Communication/MA in Journalism must:

• Apply for the program in their junior year. However, during the program’s inaugural year, students may apply for admission to the program in the summer after their senior year.
• Apply only after completing the three core College of Communication requirements
• Take three graduate courses in their senior year. These courses cannot be used to replace their core requirements but can be used to replace Communication electives, open electives, or Journalism track electives. These three graduate courses will then be double-counted for the applicant’s BA and MA degree
• Fill out an applicant form
• Submit an official transcript with a minimum grade point average of 3.25 in Communication courses and an overall GPA of 3.00 on a four-point scale
• Provide a statement of purpose of 750 words explaining why the student is seeking admission to the program
• Submit a writing sample or project that demonstrate the applicant’s ability in journalism
• Submit two letters of recommendation

Applications will be reviewed and admission decisions made by the program director and program advisory board. The program director and advisory board will be able to consider special circumstances of individuals petitioning for admission to the program.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Arts in Journalism requires 12 courses---three core courses, a minimum of six elective courses in journalism, and a maximum of three cross-listed electives. Students must maintain a 3.0 average in their graduate work to remain in good academic standing. Students who drop below this average will be put on academic probation and will be expected to attain the minimum requirement within two quarters. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

I.         THREE CORE COURSES

JOUR 501  The Social Responsibility of Journalism

JOUR 502  News Now: Journalism in the Information Age

JOUR 503  Reporting for Converged Newsrooms

I.         JOURNALISM ELECTIVES

JOUR 504  Backpack Reporting

JOUR 505  Advanced Television Reporting

JOUR 506  Newscast Practicum

JOUR 507  Visual Communication

JOUR 508  Niche Journalism

JOUR 509  The Press, the Law, and Democracy

JOUR 510  Sports Reporting

JOUR 511  Arts and Entertainment Reporting

JOUR 512  Business and Finance Reporting

JOUR 513  Chicago and Urban Affairs Reporting

JOUR 514  Opinion and Column Writing

JOUR 515  Special Topics in Journalism

JOUR 516  Independent Study

II.        CROSS-LISTED ELECTIVES

PRAD  535  Health Communication

CMNS 545  Communication and Technology

CMNS 552  Strategic Communication

CMNS 561  International Media

PRAD  562   Media Relations: Special Topics

CMNS 563  Multicultural Media Representations

PRAD  575 Communication Law and Ethics

MCS   530   New Media and Culture

MCS   534   Documentary Studies

NMS   502  New Media, Old Media

NMS   520  Web Design I

NMS   521  Web Design II

DC      420  Advanced Non-linear Editing

DC      471  Documentary Production

ENG   409  Writing and Technology/Online Documentation/Writing for Magazines

CMN   591   Internship

Please visit http://communication.depaul.edu/ for more information about the program, course descriptions, and application materials. If you do not have a password for Campus Connection you may log on as a guest.