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Graduate Degrees
The School of Journalism offers three Master of Arts degree programs: Journalism, Specialized Journalism and Strategic Public Relations. Students completing the M.A. in Journalism will choose one of three emphases: print, broadcast or online. The Print Journalism emphasis is for students interested in newspaper and magazine journalism. Students may develop their special areas of interest through the selection of elective courses. The Broadcast Journalism emphasis is for those students interested in television news, public affairs and documentary programming. The curriculum is similar to the Print Journalism emphasis with the focus shifted to the development of writing and production skills for the broadcast media. The Online Journalism emphasis is for students interested in online journalism and new media. The Specialized Journalism degree is designed for mid-career professionals and recent journalism graduates interested in developing specialized reporting expertise. The Strategic Public Relations degree is designed to train students for management-level public relations and communication positions in all types of public and private sector organizations.
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites
An applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Criteria
Minimum criteria for consideration are a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work and all graduate work, and a score of 550-verbal and 1000-cumulative (verbal and quantitative) on the GRE General Test. International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and should receive a score of at least 650 on the paper-based exam or a score of 280 on the computer-based exam or 114-115 on the Internet-based exam. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examinations prior to November 1.In addition, applicants are judged on a statement of purpose explaining why they wish to pursue graduate studies in journalism or public relations, an essay and three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. Professional experience in journalism and/or communication is also considered. Applicants must submit a résumé and one sample of their writing for review.
Procedure
Applicants must submit the following materials to the USC Office of Admission: USC application for graduate admission with a non-refundable application fee, official GRE scores and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. In addition, international applicants must submit an affidavit of support and official TOEFL scores.In addition, applicants must submit the following materials: statement of purpose, one writing sample, a journalism or public relations essay, a résumé and three letters of recommendation. International applicants must submit TOEFL test scores.
The School of Journalism admits students to the M.A. in Journalism and the M.A. in Strategic Public Relations degree programs for the fall semester. The application deadline for admission and department scholarship/assistantship consideration is January 15. Students usually receive notification of the Admission Committee's decision by March 31. The School of Journalism admits students to the M.A. in Specialized Journalism degree program for the summer session. The application deadline for summer admission is May 1.
Degree Requirements
These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School for general regulations. All course work applied toward a degree must be approved by the School of Journalism and the Graduate School.
Master of Arts
Studies toward the Master of Arts in Journalism and the Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations require 40 units of perscribed courses and approved electives in the student's field of study. Students may take, with prior approval, two of their electives outside the school. No more than 12 units of 400-level course work may be applied toward the master's degree in journalism and the master's degree in strategic public relations. Studies toward the master's degree in specialized journalism require 34 units of prescribed courses and approved electives. No more than 10 units of 400-level course work may be applied toward the master's degree in specialized journalism. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for all work. Students who fall below a 3.0 grade point average will be placed on academic probation and must improve according to established terms if they are to remain in the school. In the case of courses offered on Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis, faculty review of competence will be substituted for grades.
Residence
The School of Journalism will accept only 4 units of approved transferred graduate credit. Normally, full-time students in the Master of Arts in Journalism and the Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations can complete the program in four semesters. The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism can be completed in a 10-month summer session, fall and spring semester enrollment cycle. These programs may be attended on a part-time basis.
Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirements
There is no foreign language or research tool requirement for the master's degree.
Course Requirements
A master's degree in journalism requires 40 units and a master's degree in strategic public relations requires 40 units. To graduate, students may elect the thesis or comprehensive examination option. Students electing the thesis option are required to enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units). A master's degree in specialized journalism requires 34 units. Specialized journalism students must complete the professional project thesis option and enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units).
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Examination (GPSE) Requirement
Journalism and strategic public relations graduate students are required to take a diagnostic exam at the Journalism Graduate Student Orientation in August to prepare for the Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Examination (GPSE). Journalism and strategic public relations students will take the GPSE in their first semester of enrollment during final examination week.Graduate students who do not pass the GPSE may retake the exam the following spring semester. The GPSE will be offered on two dates in the spring term -- the first week in February and the week of spring final examinations. (Students will be notified of the exam dates at the start of the spring semester).
Graduate students must pass the GPSE by the completion of their second semester of enrollment or they will not be allowed to progress in the program and will be dismissed from the School of Journalism.
Note: Students with disabilities may register with the Disabilities Services and Programs office (DSP) so the DSP staff can assess the nature of the students' disabilities and recommend the appropriate accommodations to be provided for each student.
Thesis/Comprehensive Examination
The thesis option will take one of two forms: (1) a professional project presenting the results of an extensive print, broadcast, public relations or new media project completed by the student; or (2) a research thesis presenting the results of primary research undertaken by the student. In either case, students must establish a guidance committee of three tenure-track members, chaired by a faculty member from the School of Journalism. At least two of these members must be on the faculty of the School of Journalism; one may be a faculty member from another school or department. Students must secure approval of the professional project or thesis prior to enrollment in JOUR 594a. Students who elect the thesis option are required to enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units), normally during their second year of study. The 4 units will count toward the approved elective units.The comprehensive examination option allows students to complete the degree by passing a comprehensive examination in their last semester of course work. The comprehensive examination option is not available to students in the specialized journalism degree program.
New Media Core Curriculum
Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Journalism are required to take 9 units of New Media Core courses (JOUR 501, JOUR 502, JOUR 503) in their first year. These courses provide intensive preparation considered necessary for graduate studies in journalism at USC. At the end of each New Media Core course, students will be given a comprehensive skills test that must be passed.In the 21st century it is imperative that all journalists understand the basic techniques of writing, reporting and production for all the new media in print, broadcast and online journalism. Upon graduation, students will be routinely expected to function in all new media, being able to report and write stories for a media corporation's newspaper, Web site, and radio and television broadcasts, and to do this while covering a single story. The 9-unit New Media Core ensures every student has a background in all media before completing the more advanced courses in the 40-unit Master of Arts in Journalism. The three courses are:
JOUR 501 (3 units) is designed to teach the student basic newswriting and ethical framework for print, broadcast and online. The print segment includes basic newswriting, news judgment, construction of print news stories. The broadcast segment includes an introduction to broadcast newswriting with the emphasis on the ear and eye, creation of audio statements and creation of video elements. The online segment includes an introduction to online writing with an emphasis on context and relationship of topics and subjects to the story.
JOUR 502 (3 units) is designed to teach the student basic production and ethical framework for print, broadcast and online. The print segment includes copyediting and newspaper production layout, headline and caption writing and design. The broadcast segment includes studio and field production for radio and television and use of tape recorders and camcorders to produce simple field pieces. The online segment includes database creation and management, online journalism production and Web production.
JOUR 503 (3 units) is designed to teach the student basic reporting and ethical framework for print, broadcast and online. The print segment includes basic reporting techniques, public records reporting and beginning pieces of investigative journalism. The broadcast segment includes field reporting, radio and audio media, TV and other visual media. The online segment includes computer assisted reporting and precision reporting including statistics.
Master of Arts, Broadcast Journalism Emphasis
| Course requirements (40 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 500 | Media and Society | 3 |
| JOUR 501 | Newswriting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 502 | Production: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 503 | Reporting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 505 | American Media History Seminar | 3 |
| JOUR 517 | Advanced Investigative Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 521 | Broadcast Documentary, or | |
| JOUR 526 | Advanced Broadcast News Production | 3 |
| JOUR 560 | Seminar in Mass Communication Law | 3 |
Plus 16 units of approved elective courses* | ||
Master of Arts, Print Journalism Emphasis
| Course requirements (40 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 500 | Media and Society | 3 |
| JOUR 501 | Newswriting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 502 | Production: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 503 | Reporting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 505 | American Media History Seminar | 3 |
| JOUR 517 | Advanced Investigative Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 560 | Seminar in Mass Communication Law | 3 |
Plus 19 units of approved elective courses* | ||
Master of Arts, Online Journalism Emphasis
| course requirements (40 units) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 500 | Media and Society | 3 |
| JOUR 501 | Newswriting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 502 | Production: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 503 | Reporting: Print, Broadcast, Online | 3 |
| JOUR 505 | American Media History Seminar | 3 |
| JOUR 551 | Intermediate Online Publishing | 3 |
| JOUR 555 | Multimedia and Graphics in Online Publishing | 3 |
| JOUR 556 | Online Journalism Seminar | 3 |
| JOUR 560 | Seminar in Mass Communication Law | 3 |
Plus 13 units of approved elective courses* | ||
Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations
| Course requirements (40 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 504 | Public Relations Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| JOUR 508 | Introduction to Strategic Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 510 | Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 535 | Specialized Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 568 | Critical Thinking and Crisis Management | 3 |
| GSBA 520 | Business Fundamentals for Non-Business Professionals | 3 |
Plus 22 units of approved elective courses* | ||
Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism
| Course requirements (34 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 580 | Introduction to Specialized Journalism | 2 |
| JOUR 581 | Specialized Journalism: Research Methods | 3 |
| JOUR 582 | Specialized Journalism: Reporting Decisions | 3 |
| JOUR 590 | Directed Research | 3 |
| JOUR 594ab | Master's Thesis | 2-2 |
One course from: | ||
| JOUR 584 | Specialized Reporting: Education, Youth and Learning | 3 |
| JOUR 585 | Specialized Reporting: Religion | 3 |
| JOUR 586 | Specialized Reporting: Science | 3 |
| JOUR 588 | Specialized Reporting: Urban Ecology | 3 |
Plus 16 units of approved elective courses | ||
The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism is a reporting program focusing on mid-career professionals who are choosing to specialize in education, religion, science or urban ecology. The program is also open to recent journalism school graduates with records of excellence in their university classes and internships and to other outstanding applicants with demonstrated aptitude and expertise in journalism.
Students must begin the program in early August, enrolling in a required 2-unit, intensive two-week summer session course focused on journalism and society. In addition to the formal classes, the course includes noontime discussions and workshops as integral parts. This gateway course provides the master's students with a working knowledge of the specialized journalism background necessary for study in the program and sets the stage for a year of access to courses as substantively broad as a major research university such as USC makes available.
In the fall semester, students will enroll in a research methods course for journalists and a reporting seminar course in the area of education, religion, science or urban ecology. With the advice of their faculty mentors, students will select elective course work totaling 8 units appropriate to their fields of specialization. These courses will be drawn from regular graduate and 400-level courses taught across the university and will require approval of a three-member committee composed of the faculty mentor in the School of Journalism, another member of the journalism faculty and a faculty member from the relevant discipline. Students will also begin research for their master's professional project. These projects may be full-length magazine (print or broadcast) treatments of issues in their field or similar professional work.
In the spring semester, students will enroll in a journalism course focused on the reporting and analysis of decision making and a directed research course, growing out of the fall seminar in specialized reporting. Students will enroll in elective course work totaling 8 units, chosen again from offerings across the university and in consultation with the mentors and approved by a three-member committee. Finally, students will complete their master's professional project.
The 10-month program has been designed for a summer session, fall and spring semester enrollment cycle; however, students may also elect to complete the program on a part-time basis.
Annenberg International Programs
Graduate Journalism Internships -- United Kingdom, Hong Kong or South Africa
Journalism master's degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in London, Hong Kong or Cape Town during the summer after their first year of graduate study at USC. Students apply to Annenberg International Programs in the fall semester of their first year and accepted students enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I during the spring semester. From mid-May to mid-July, they then enroll in JOUR 542 Foreign Reporting and JOUR 543 Field Study while working full-time at internships with prominent media organizations.For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-2180 or erskine@usc.edu.
Graduate Strategic Public Relations Internships -- United Kingdom, Hong Kong or South Africa
Strategic Public Relations master's degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in London, Hong Kong or Cape Town, during the summer after their first year of graduate study at USC. Students apply in the fall semester of their first year and accepted students enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I during the spring semester. From mid-May to mid-July, they then enroll in JOUR 532 International Public Relations and JOUR 543 Field Study while working full-time at internships with prominent public relations organizations.For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-2180 or erskine@usc.edu.