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M.A. in Journalism

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The course of study for the M.A. in Journalism degree is challenging and requires full-time attendance.

Students complete 43 credits of course work in as few as 16 months, or they can extend their studies over a longer period to accommodate work and family obligations. All students work at a required summer internship that we guarantee will be paid and can take free January Academy enrichment workshops between the fall and spring semesters.

The curriculum is built upon a core of seven common courses, followed by a wide range of classes in different media formats and subject matter. All students must also complete a capstone project. (Please note that we do not accept transfer credits from other schools.)

The core courses stress the foundation skills and knowledge that all good journalists must have, including reporting, writing and editing skills, and analytic thinking needed to deal with complex subjects. Other core courses cover journalistic ethics and legal issues, broadcast fundamentals, and fundamentals of interactive media such as data journalism, multimedia presentation, web site design, and audience engagement strategies.

Students studying for the M.A. in Journalism may concentrate in one media format — print, video, broadcast TV, documentary, photo, audio, or data — or may choose courses across formats, depending on interests and career goals.

We also offer a bilingual variation of the M.A. in Journalism for students fluent in Spanish and English.

how to apply

Curriculum Highlights

Subject
Concentrations

Specialties

Summer
Internship

January
Academy

Sample Curriculum

Students may complete a master’s degree in three semesters (16 months), or they have the flexibility to customize their schedule over four, five, or more semesters, depending on their work and family obligations. Here are three sample course loads. Any adjustments in curriculum sequence should be made with academic advisement.

Three Semesters

Semester 1  (Fall)

  • Craft of Journalism I
  • Legal and Ethical Issues
  • Fundamentals of Multimedia Storytelling – Audio & Video
  • Fundamentals of Data Journalism

Semester 2  (Spring)

  • An advanced reporting class (3+ credits) 
  • Advanced research techniques
  • One course in student’s subject concentration
  • Two electives, including media courses

Summer

  • Summer Internship

Semester 3 (Fall)

  • Two courses in student’s subject concentration
  • Two electives, including media courses

Four semesters

Semester 1 (Fall)

  • Craft of Journalism (6 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Multimedia – Audio&Video (3 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Data Journalism (3 credits)

January Session

  • Legal & Ethical Issues (3 credits)

Semester 2 (Spring)

  • Advanced Reporting, in any medium (3-4 credits)
  • One subject concentration course (3 credits)

Summer

  • Summer Internship (3 credits)

Semester 3 (Fall)

  • One subject concentration course (3 credits)
  • Second subject concentration course (3 credits)
  • One elective (3 credits)

Semester 4 (Spring)

  • One elective (3 credits)
  • One elective (3 credits)
  • Capstone

Five Semesters

Semester 1 (Fall)

  • Craft of Journalism (6 credits)
  • Choice of Fundamentals of Multimedia – Audio/Video (3 credits) OR Fundamentals of Data (3 credits)

January Session

  • Legal/Ethical issues (3 credits)

Semester 2 (Spring)

  • Advanced reporting (3-4 credits)
  • One subject concentration course (3 credits)

Summer

  • Summer Internship (3 credits)

Semester 3 (Fall)

  • One subject concentration course (3 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Data OR Fundamentals of Multimedia – Audio/Video (3 credits)
  • One elective (3 credits)

Semester 4 (Spring)

  • One elective (3 credits)
  • One elective (3 credits)

Semester 5 (Fall)

  • One subject concentration course (3 credits)
  • One elective (3 credits)
  • Capstone

Award-Winning Special Reports

Check out some notable multimedia projects produced by our students.

Climate Countdown

This package explores the effects of global warming and what is being done about it, with a focus on New York City.

This picture shows a grid of six different school cafeteria lunch trays. The food in the different trays includes, fries, empanadas, apples, bread, etc.
Food Plight

An investigation of tainted food and unsanitary conditions in New York City’s public school cafeterias.

Rikers and Beyond

An in-depth look at the present and future of incarceration in New York City.

Bingo board with numbers and icons on the boxes.
Sex, Apps — and Bingo

A student project that explores the world of online dating for seniors.

Navigating Trump

A series of interactive guides to life under the 45th president.

Breakdown

Our reporters reveal how fractured treatment system leaves New York City’s mentally ill with little place to turn – sometimes with tragic consequences.