Photo of students editing picture in photo lab.

MS Degree in Journalism
International Reporting Concentration

Students pursuing a Journalism MS degree-International Reporting Concentration are generally preparing for assignments as foreign correspondents. Preparation includes 1. mastery of the basics of journalism and an understanding of the history, principles, ethics, laws and practices of the profession; 2. depth in this chosen area of expertise-possibly language skills and two or more courses focused on a region, country or topic area such as 3rd World Development, Islam, or International Terrorism; 3. the ability to work in more than one format.

Students in this concentration must capture the basics of journalism, take our specialty courses and borrow from course offerings of our Inter-national Relations Department. Try to become expert in a specific geographical area or a global topic like international development or terrorism and polish a language. Employment prospects expand when candidates can also work in at least one other format, be it broadcast, magazines or computer-driven. Students should also take a course unrelated to their foreign affairs studies but of considerable value or great personal interest.

Except for London-bound students, requests to vary from the requirements to take four (4) core journalism requirements, at least five (5) concentration courses and at least one (1) elective focused on formats must be petitioned for approval by the Department chairman.

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 (1) from the following
    • JO 503 Journalism Basic Research Methods (or)
    • JO 807 Advanced Journalism Research
Subject Area Requirements: four or five*
*Students going to London: See below
  • JO 516 Foreign Reporting (required)
  • Chose three (3) or four (4) from the following courses
    • JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
    • JO 501 Introduction to Business & Economics Reporting
    • CM 831 International Communication (alternative to London)
    • CAS-IR (Regional or Topical Course)**
    • CAS-IR (Regional or Topical Course)
    • CAS-IR (Regional or Topical Course)

*A CAS Economics class can substitute for an IR course.

Electives-Journalism Formats (1 or 2)
  • JO 506 Writing Columns and Editorials
  • JO 513 Advanced Photojournalism
  • JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
  • JO 540 Multimedia Journalism
  • JO 703 Magazine Writing
Suggested Other Electives (1)*
  • JO 500 Media Criticism
  • JO 502 Profile Writing
  • JO 509 Literary Journalism
  • JO 514 Sports Journalism
  • JO 523 The Presidency and the Media
  • JO 535 Investigative and Project Reporting
  • JO 724 Science Newswriting II
London Summer Courses (done in 1st and 2nd “sessions”)
  • CM 744 International Mass Media (I)-subs for IR course
  • CM 745 Comparative Political Systems (I)-subs for IR course
  • JO 737 Reporting on Britain (II) subs for IR course
  • JO 739 Internship (II) subs for a JO elective course

London students must do all JO core courses and three (3) concentration courses, plus at least one (1) format course.