Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

School of Journalism

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 five tracks: Long-Form Video, News Video, Audio, Text or Digital. The Long-Form Video track is for students interested in video documentary production. The News Video track is for students interested in television news and other video news environments including the Web. The Audio track is for students interested in radio production, both news and long-form, or any other audio news environments. The Text track is for students interested in any form of print or electronic publication including newspapers and magazines, or any other text news environment. The Digital track is for students interested in exploring Website production and other interactive technology environments. The Specialized Journalism degree is designed for experienced 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 the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Criteria

Minimum recommended criteria are a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work and all graduate work, and valid Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test scores; the GMAT is not accepted in lieu of the GRE. International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and should receive a score of at least 114-115 on the Internet-based exam. All completed applications are reviewed by the faculty admission committee even if the applicant’s academic quality is below the minimum recommendations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examinations one month prior to the application deadline. GRE scores are valid for five years and TOEFL is valid for two years.

In addition, applicants are judged on a statement of purpose, résumé, writing sample and three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. Professional journalism or public relations experience is not required for the two-year degree program but will be considered. Professional work experience is required for the nine-month degree programs in Specialized Journalism. A professional work bibliography and samples must be uploaded to the online application.

Procedure

Applicants must complete and submit the online USC Graduate Admission Application. Please refer to the Annenberg graduate application guidelines on the Annenberg Website for details before initiating your application. In addition, international students must submit official TOEFL scores for admission consideration and, after submitting the online graduate admission application, a Confidential Statement for Financing Studies at USC.

Applicants must upload the following materials to the online USC Graduate Admission Application: statement of purpose, writing sample and résumé. Letters of recommendation may be submitted online or mailed to the Annenberg Admissions Office by the applicant’s recommenders. GRE and TOEFL scores must be reported electronically from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The USC institution code is 4852. Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the online application; official copies must be mailed to USC Graduate Admission.

The Annenberg School admits new students to the M.A. in Journalism and the M.A. in Strategic Public Relations degree programs for the fall semester only. The online application deadline for admission and departmental scholarship award consideration is January 2. Students usually receive admission notifications by March 31.

New students are admitted to the M.A. in Specialized Journalism and the M.A. in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) for the summer session only. Refer to the graduate application guidelines on the Annenberg Website for application filing dates.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation 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 prescribed 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 of Arts in Journalism and the Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations. Studies toward the Master of Arts 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 of Arts in Specialized Journalism. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for all work. Students whose grade point averages fall below 3.0 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 nine-month enrollment cycle that includes the two-week summer session, plus the fall and spring semesters. 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, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP)

Journalism and strategic public relations graduate students are required to complete an online tutorial about Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP). Specialized journalism graduate students are not required to take this online tutorial. Students are strongly advised to complete the tutorial over the summer prior to beginning classes. They are required to complete the tutorial before the end of the fall semester of their first year. Students who fail to complete the GSP tutorial within the stated time frame 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 faculty members. The committee must be chaired by a faculty member from the School of Journalism and must include one full-time USC faculty member from outside the School of Journalism, either from the School of Communication or another unit on the USC campus. 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. Specialized journalism students normally enroll in JOUR 594ab (2-2 units) in their single year of study.

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.

Multimedia Journalism Curriculum

Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Journalism are required to take 12 units of multimedia journalism courses (JOUR 506, JOUR 507, JOUR 509, JOUR 514, JOUR 516 and JOUR 518) in their first year. These courses provide intensive preparation considered necessary for graduate studies in journalism at USC.

In the 21st century, it is imperative that all journalists understand the basic techniques of writing, reporting and production for text, video, audio and digital media. Upon graduation, students will be routinely expected to function in all news media whether it be in traditional media such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines, or whether it be in new media such as electronic publications, Websites and new video and audio environments. The 12-unit multimedia journalism curriculum ensures that every student has a background in all media before completing the more advanced courses in the 40-unit Master of Arts in Journalism. The six multimedia journalism courses are:

JOUR 506 Multimedia Journalism I: Text enables students to learn the basics of newswriting and news judgment for text including newspapers, magazines and other publications as well as electronic and new media environments. Students also learn the fundamentals of journalism ethics, how to cover a diverse society, how to pitch stories and how to blog as well as Web aggregation and search optimization skills.

JOUR 507 Multimedia Journalism I: Video and Audio enables students to learn the basics of video journalism for broadcast and the Web. Students learn how to write for the ear and the eye. They learn the techniques of newswriting; shooting and incorporating video with audio into television and Web news reports; and the basics of videography and video editing.

JOUR 509 Multimedia Journalism I: Digital enables students to learn the basics of multimedia literacy including still photography, video and audio. Students learn contemporary digital storytelling as well as the legal, ethical and business implications of digital media and journalism.

JOUR 514 Multimedia Journalism II: Text enables students to refine the skills they learned in JOUR 506, reporting and writing daily news and feature stories on deadline for text. They learn beat reporting and interview skills, sourcing, research, fact checking and Web aggregation as well as developing more news blogging and search optimization skills.

JOUR 516 Multimedia Journalism II: Video and Audio enables students to refine the skills they learned in JOUR 507, reporting and writing for television, radio and the Internet. They learn how to pitch stories, how to shoot, write and produce video and audio news packages; and how to incorporate standups and creative visual storytelling techniques.

JOUR 518 Multimedia Journalism II: Digital enables students to create online story packages with multiple elements including text, visuals, audio, interactivity and navigation. They also learn online ethics and basics of copyright law, design, typography, color and photo usage.

Master of Arts in Journalism

Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations

Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism

The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism is a program focusing on experienced professionals who are choosing to specialize in a field of journalism that requires advanced reporting skills and subject matter expertise.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 summer session course focused on journalism and society and on new media. In addition to the formal classes, the course includes multimedia skills workshops as integral parts. This gateway course provides the master’s students with a working knowledge of the specialized journalism background and the multimedia storytelling skills necessary for study in the program. It sets the stage for two semesters of access to courses as substantively broad as a major research university such as USC makes available and for advanced courses in the School of Journalism’s graduate program.

In the fall semester, students will enroll in two courses in the School of Journalism, including a research methods course for journalists and typically a specialized reporting course. 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 the faculty mentor in the School of Journalism. Students also will begin research for their master’s professional project. These projects will be extended works of journalism, such as a full-length magazine article, similar radio, television or multimedia treatments or the equivalent in their professional field.

In the spring semester, students will enroll in a journalism seminar focused on the reporting and analysis of decision making and typically an approved elective in the Annenberg School. Students will also enroll in elective course work totaling 8 units, chosen again from offerings across the university and in consultation with their faculty mentors. Finally, students will complete their master’s professional project.

The nine-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.

Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts)

The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) is a program for journalists as well as recent graduates holding bachelor’s degrees in journalism or one of the arts or experienced practitioners with a background in the arts who seek to specialize in coverage of the arts and culture. Students will complete 18 units of specialized journalism course work, including a master’s professional project, taken within USC Annenberg’s School of Journalism and 16 units of approved elective course work from faculty-recommended lists in at least two arts schools with at least 8 units from one school. The arts schools are Architecture, Cinematic Arts, Fine Arts, Music and Dramatic Arts.

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 and on new media. In addition to the formal classes, the course includes discussions and workshops as integral parts. This gateway course provides master’s students with a working knowledge of the specialized journalism background and the multimedia storytelling skills necessary for study in the program. It sets the stage for two semesters 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 an arts writing practicum and an arts reporting seminar. 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 arts schools 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 also will 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 an arts criticism and commentary course. Students will enroll in elective course work totaling 8 units, chosen again from offerings across the arts schools and in consultation with the mentors and approved by a three-member committee. Finally, students will complete their master’s professional project.

The nine-month program has been designed for a summer session, fall and spring semester enrollment cycle; however, students also may elect to complete the program on a part-time basis with the approval of the director of the School of Journalism.

Annenberg International Programs

Graduate Journalism Internships — China (Hong Kong or Shanghai), South Africa or United Kingdom

Journalism master’s degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in Cape Town, Hong Kong, London or Shanghai 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. From mid-May to mid-July, they then enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I and JOUR 545 International Internships in the Media while working full-time at internships with prominent media organizations.

For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-2180 or ascintl@usc.edu.

Graduate Strategic Public Relations Internships — China (Hong Kong or Shanghai), South Africa or United Kingdom

Strategic Public Relations master’s degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in Cape Town, Hong Kong, London or Shanghai during the summer after their first year of graduate study at USC. Students apply in the fall semester of their first year. From mid-May to mid-July, they then enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I and JOUR 545 International Internships in the Media while working full-time at internships with prominent public relations organizations. 

For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-2180, go to annenberg.usc.edu/international, or email ascintl@usc.edu.

Academic Integrity Policy

Since its founding, the USC School of Journalism has maintained a commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic excellence. Any student found plagiarizing, fabricating, cheating on examinations and/or purchasing papers or other assignments faces santions ranging from an “F” on the assignment to dismissal from the School of Journalism.

PDF reflects print version of the catalogue