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MS Degree in Journalism
Magazine Concentration

Students who focus their MS degree on magazine journalism will be expected to complete 12 courses designed to achieve three major goals:

  1. Mastery of the basics of journalism and a full understanding of the history, principles, ethics, laws and practices of the profession;
  2. Working knowledge of major elements of writing for magazines;
  3. The ability to work in more than one format or medium.

Magazine students expect to be generalists as well as experts in one form of print journalism (magazines) and should take courses as well in a cross-section of courses that expand their knowledge and ability by learning to work in at least one other format, such as the Internet, radio or television. Familiarity with other journalistic formats increases your versatility and is designed to take into account the many formats used to convey news and informed opinion.

The subject and format electives may be chosen from the lists to the right or from other offerings in the University catalog with permission of your advisor.

Students who want to participate in the Statehouse program need to enroll in JO 511 (Covering Politics) and JO 546 (Filing for Newspapers.) These courses will substitute for their subject-area electives. JO 722 is waived. A similar approach is used for the Washington Program.

Any request to vary from the requirements must be petitioned for approval by your adviser and the department chair.

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
Concentration Courses (5)
  • JO 509 Literary Journalism (or)
    JO 703 Magazine Writing
  • JO 506 Writing Profiles (or)
    JO 538 Feature Writing
  • JO 500 Media Criticism
  • JO 535 Investigative and Project Reporting
  • JO 718 Magazine Workshop
  • JO xxx Magazine Management
Electives - Formats (1 or 2)
  • JO 506 Columns and Editorials
  • JO 513 Advanced Photojournalism
  • JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
  • JO 540 Multimedia Journalism
Electives - Subject Area
Chose two from the following:
  • JO 501 Intro to Business and Economics Reporting
  • JO 504 Arts Criticism
  • JO 511 Covering Politics
  • JO 514 Sports Journalism
  • JO 516 Foreign Reporting
  • JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
  • JO 724 Science Newswriting II
  • JO 737 Internship
  • JO xxx Narrative Journalism (or)
    JO xxx Arts Criticism