USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
School of Journalism
Graduate Degrees
The School of Journalism offers one Master of Science degree program in Journalism, one certificate in Journalism and three Master of Arts degree programs in Specialized Journalism, Specialized Journalism (The Arts) and Strategic Public Relations. Students enrolling in the M.S. in Journalism will be given a list of recommended courses to take if they are interested in specific careers such as Long-Form Video, News Video, Audio, Text or Digital. Long-Form Video is for students interested in video documentary production. News Video is for students interested in television news and other video news environments including the Web. Audio is for students interested in radio production, both news and long-form, or any other audio news environments. Text is for students interested in any form of print or electronic publication including newspapers and magazines, or any other text news environment. The Specialized Journalism degree is designed for experienced professionals and recent journalism graduates interested in developing specialized reporting expertise.
The professionally oriented Strategic Public Relations degree is designed to train both recent graduates interested in the PR/communication field and young professionals considering transitions into, or seeking to advance their careers in that field, for management-level positions in all types of organizations. In their first year all students take a core group of courses focusing on strategic problem-solving, research-based actionable insight, business acumen and skills, and in their second year they choose from a wide variety of highly specialized electives.
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites
An applicant must have the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university for the M.S. or M.A. degree. This is not required for the graduate journalism certificate.
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; or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 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; TOEFL and IELTS are 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 internship experience is expected for the M.S. in Journalism and required for the nine-month degree program in Specialized Journalism. A professional work bibliography and samples must be uploaded to the online application. No professional public relations work experience is required for the M.A. in Strategic Public Relations.
Procedure
Applicants must complete and submit the online USC Graduate Admission Application. Refer to the Annenberg graduate application guidelines on the Annenberg Website for details before initiating the application. In addition, international students must submit official TOEFL or IELTS 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 supporting materials to the online USC Graduate Admission Application: statement of purpose, unofficial copy of all transcripts, writing sample and résumé. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Official GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores must be reported electronically from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to USC (institution code 4852). Paper copies of score reports are not required or accepted in lieu of the official ETS report. Official transcripts must be mailed to USC Graduate Admission.
The Annenberg School admits new students to the M.A. in Strategic Public Relations degree programs for the fall semester only. Refer to the Annenberg Website for application filing dates.
New students are admitted to the M.S. in Journalism, 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
All course work applied toward a degree must be approved by the School of Journalism and the Graduate School.
Master of Science and Master of Arts
Studies toward the Master of Science in Journalism require 36 units of prescribed courses and approved electives in the student’s field of study. Studies toward 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 Science 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. Students who earn a GPA of 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 Science in Journalism can complete the program in two semesters, plus the three-week summer immersion before classes start. Normally, full-time students in 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 three-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 36 units and a master’s degree in strategic public relations requires 40 units. To graduate, journalism students must complete a professional capstone project. To graduate, strategic public relations students may elect the thesis or comprehensive examination option. Students electing the professional project must enroll in JOUR 598 Journalism Capstone Project (2 units). 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) and pass the GSP test before the end of the fall semester of their first year. Students who fail to complete the GSP tutorial and pass the test within the stated time frame will not be allowed to progress in the program and will be dismissed from the School of Journalism. Specialized journalism graduate students are not required to take this online tutorial or the GSP test.
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 two forms: (1) a professional project presenting the results of an extensive public relations 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 chair must be a full-time faculty member in the School of Journalism. The second member will usually be a full-time Journalism faculty member but may be a person connected with USC in other positions who has specific knowledge of the student’s topic. In the latter case, the chair of the committee will submit for the director’s approval a detailed presentation of the qualifications of the proposed committee member that justify his or her inclusion. In exceptional circumstances, this committee member may come from outside USC. A detailed presentation of qualifications will be required. The third committee member should be a full-time USC faculty member from outside the School of Journalism. The committee is ultimately subject to the approval of the school dean.
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 journalism or specialized journalism degree program.
Journalism Curriculum
Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Journalism are required to take 4 units in the summer and 16 units of required journalism courses in the spring and fall. 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 four required journalism courses in the summer and fall are:
JOUR 528 Summer Digital News Immersion enables students in a three-week intensive course to learn the basics of newswriting, news judgment and technology skills for text, video-audio, and digital environments. Students also learn the fundamentals of journalism ethics, law and covering a diverse society.
JOUR 531L Fall Digital News Immersion gives students a more in-depth experience in digital journalism by providing direct instruction about reporting and writing across multiple platforms and placing them in Annenberg’s Converged Media Center to produce professional stories and packages.
JOUR 505 The Practice: Journalism’s Evolution as a Profession gives students an appreciation for and an understanding of the relationship between journalism’s past and the present, linked by the evolution of journalism as a profession. A special emphasis will be placed on ethics and changing standards and practices in the digital age.
JOUR 560 Seminar in Mass Communication Law gives students the opportunity to study the key legal issues facing journalists today. Students are expected to learn the basic workings of the legal system in the United States, the legal rules that apply to journalists in the United States, how to avoid being sued, and how to write clearly about legal issues.
The three required journalism courses in the spring are:
JOUR 547 The Business of News teaches how the business model of news organizations has evolved over time and how it is being reinvented for the future. The course also explores different strategies for monetizing content.
JOUR 546 News and Numbers provides an overview of the basic quantitative analysis tools and techniques essential to give perspective to a story or to put it in context.
JOUR 598 Journalism Capstone Project guides students through the production of a journalism capstone project with multimedia elements for a master’s degree. Projects can be single stand-alone pieces, or series of pieces.
Master of Science in Journalism
| Course requirements (36 Units*) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 505 | The Practice: Journalism’s Evolution as a Profession | 2 |
| JOUR 528 | Summer Digital News Immersion | 4 |
| JOUR 531L | Fall Digital News Immersion | 8 |
| JOUR 546 | News and Numbers | 2 |
| JOUR 547 | The Business of News | 2 |
| JOUR 560 | Seminar in Mass Communication Law | 2 |
| JOUR 598 | Journalism Capstone Project | 2 |
| Students interested in specific journalistic platforms are encouraged to select an emphasis and complete the recommended courses for that emphasis: |
| Long-Form Video | ||
| JOUR 521 | Documentary Pre-Production | 2 |
| JOUR 522 | Video Documentary Production | 4 |
| JOUR 575 | Converged Media Center | 4 |
| News Video | ||
| JOUR 524 | Advanced Broadcast Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 552 | Television Reporting and Production | 2 |
| JOUR 575 | Converged Media Center | 4 |
| Audio | ||
| JOUR 523 | Public Radio Reporting | 2 |
| JOUR 525 | Public Radio Documentary | 4 |
| JOUR 575 | Converged Media Center | 4 |
| Text | ||
| Any two advanced reporting and writing courses | ||
| JOUR 539 | Introduction to Investigative Reporting | 2 |
| JOUR 575 | Converged Media Center | 4 |
| Digital | ||
| JOUR 533 | Web Journalism and Editorial Site Management | 2 |
| JOUR 551 | Intermediate Online Publishing | 4 |
| JOUR 553 | Coding and Programming for Storytelling | 2 |
| JOUR 555 | Multimedia and Graphics in Online Publishing | 4 |
| JOUR 575 | Converged Media Center | 4 |
Certificate in Journalism
The certificate program requires students to complete a three-week, four-unit course in August, and then complete 16 units during the fall semester, for a total of 20 units.
| Course requirements (20 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 505 | The Practice: Journalism’s Evolution as a Profession | 2 |
| JOUR 528 | Summer Digital News Immersion | 4 |
| JOUR 531 | Fall Digital News Immersion | 8 |
| JOUR 546 | News and Numbers | 2 |
| JOUR 547 | The Business of News | 2 |
| JOUR 560 | Seminar in Mass Communication Law | 2 |
| Plus four elective units from the following list:* | ||
| JOUR 521 | Documentary Pre-Production | 2 |
| JOUR 523 | Public Radio Reporting | 2 |
| JOUR 533 | Web Journalism and Editorial Site Management | 2 |
| JOUR 539 | Introduction to Investigative Reporting | 2 |
| JOUR 552 | Television Reporting and Production | 2 |
| JOUR 553 | Coding and Programming for Storytelling | 2 |
Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations
| Course requirements (40 Units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GSBA 520 | Business Fundamentals for Non-Business Professionals | 3 |
| JOUR 504 | Strategic Public Relations Research, Evaluation and Insights | 3 |
| JOUR 508 | Introduction to Strategic Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 510 | Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Strategic Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 527 | Multimedia Content Creation for Strategic Public Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 535 | Writing for Strategic Public Relations | 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 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 | Cities, Climate and Risk | 3 |
| JOUR 589 | Specialized Reporting: The Changing U.S Population | 3 |
| Plus 19 units of approved elective courses | 19* | |
The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism is a program geared toward 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 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 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)
| COURSE REQUIREMENTS (34 UNITS) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 580 | Introduction to Specialized Journalism | 2 |
| JOUR 582 | Specialized Journalism: Reporting Decisions | 3 |
| JOUR 591 | Arts Writing Practicum | 3 |
| JOUR 592 | Specialized Journalism: Reporting the Arts | 3 |
| JOUR 593 | Arts Criticism and Commentary | 3 |
| JOUR 594ab | Master’s Thesis | 2-2 |
| Approved elective courses* | 16 | |
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, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Fine Arts and Music.
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 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 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.
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 further information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276, email ascintl@usc.edu or visit annenberg.usc.edu/international.
Academic Integrity Policy
Since its founding in 1971, 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 sanctions ranging from an “F” on the assignment to dismissal from the School of Journalism.