Graduate Program Curriculum

Boston University’s Center for Science and Medical Journalism offers an intense curriculum leading to a Master’s of Science Degree, in which students develop the skills necessary to succeed in the competitive and rapidly evolving science journalism industry. Although our emphasis is on writing and reporting — the heart of all insightful and precise communication — students learn a variety of forms, from newspaper and magazine, to television and radio, to the latest Internet-based media.

The Degree, awarded by the College’s Journalism Department, comprises 48 credit hours taken over three semesters, starting in the fall. In addition to courses required within the Program, students may take electives elsewhere in the College of Communication, such as in radio reporting, literary journalism or screen writing. They may also take science courses in other departments of the University or under special arrangement, at other academic institutions in the Boston area. The classes within the Program tend to be small — usually nine to 12 students — with an emphasis on professional level reporting and writing.

During the summer between the second and third semesters students participate in a professional internship — a journalism position at a newspaper, magazine, radio or television station. The internship is an integral part of the Program, providing experience, contacts, and a body of work. Recent graduates have landed positions at Time, Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, Discover, Science, Science News and PBS’s NOVA documentary series.

First Semester

COMJO705 – Science Unbound-Writing at the Edges of Science and Society

COMJO721 – Journalism Principles and Techniques

COMJO723 – Science Newswriting I

One elective – Many students take COMJO881 Broadcast Science News as their elective.

Second Semester

COMJO724 – Science in the Crosshairs

COMJO735 – Broadcast Journalism II

Two electives – Students may take a writing course in the College of Communication or a graduate level science or science policy course at Boston University or other institution in the Boston area.

Internship

Each of our master’s degree students is required to seek and serve a professional internship during the summer between their second and third semesters. All internships are supervised and must be approved by our program directors. Interns are expected to do meaningful work that develops their skills in research, writing or editing.

In recent years students have served as interns at the following:

• TIME magazine
• The Los Angeles Times
• Science News
• The Dallas Morning News
• National Public Radio
• The Boston Museum of Science
• The Christian Science Monitor
• The Boston Globe
• NOVA
• Scientific American
• Popular Science
• Canadian Geographic Magazine
• CNN
• Harvard Medical School Health Letter

Third Semester

COMJO502 – Journalism Special Topics

COMJO702 – Advanced Science Writing

COMJO954 – Directed Study: Broadcast Journalism

One elective – Students may take a writing course in the College of Communication or a graduate level science or science policy course at Boston University or other institution in the Boston area. Students are encouraged to avail themselves of the College’s broad course selection, ranging from literary journalism to multimedia, television, radio and film production. Courses are also available in press and government, journalism history and ethics, communications law, and research methods for journalists.