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MS Degree in Journalism
General Assignment Concentration

Students who prefer to focus their MS degree broadly by choosing general assignment journalism will be expected to complete 12 courses designed to achieve three major goals:

  1. Mastery of the basics of journalism and an understanding of the history, principles, ethics, laws and practices of the profession;
  2. Working knowledge of several of the mainstream specialties in journalism;
  3. The ability to work in more than one format.

Students in this concentration expect to be generalists and can take courses in a cross-section of course offerings and should expand their knowledge and ability as well by learning to work in at least one other format, such as magazines, electronic media, radio or television. Familiarity with other journalistic formats increases versatility and is designed to take into account the many formats used to convey news and informed opinion.

The subject area and format electives may be chosen from the lists to the right, or from the University catalogue with permission of your advisor.

Any request to vary from the requirements must be petitioned for approval by your advisor and the Department Chairman.

General assignment concentrators who want to participate in the Washington or Statehouse programs should consult with their advisors about waiving an elective.

Find the complete listing of graduate course descriptions in the COM bulletin.

Core Requirements (4)
  • JO 525 Media Law & Ethics
  • JO 721 Journalism Principles & Techniques
  • JO 722 Advanced Journalism Seminar
  • Choose one from the following
    • JO 503 Basic Journalism Research Methods (or)
    • JO 807 Advanced Journalism Research
Subject Area Requirements
Chose three from the following:
  • JO 501 Intro to Business and Economics Reporting
  • JO 516 Foreign Reporting
  • JO 526 Covering International Terrorism
  • JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
  • JO 514 Sports Journalism
  • JO 724 Science Newswriting II

  • JO 502 Political reporting (Washington)
  • JO 737 JO Washington Internship
  • JO 954 Washington Newsroom 8 cr

  • JO 511 Covering Politics (Statehouse)
  • JO 546 Filing for Newspapers (Statehouse) 8 cr
Electives - Formats
Choose three from the following:
  • JO 513 Advanced Photojournalism
  • JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
  • JO 537 Digital Fundamentals
  • JO 538 Feature Writing
  • JO 540 Multimedia Journalism
  • JO 519 Advanced Radio
  • JO 506 Columns and Editorials
Other Print Electives (2 or 3)
  • JO 535 Investigative and Project Reporting
  • JO 502 Writing Profiles
  • JO 500 Media Criticism
  • JO 504 Arts Criticism
  • JO 509 Literary Journalism
  • JO 703 Magazine Writing