Today's journalism programs focus not just on print and broadcast journalism, but also on the different demands of online journalism, which can include photographs, graphics, sound and video. In addition to looking for programs that emphasize modern aspects of journalism, aspiring students may consider approximate program costs and coursework when making a school decision.
10 Schools with Journalism Graduate Programs
The following table provides details about the sorts of institutions offering graduate programs in journalism, as well as recent tuition statistics for each school.
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Degree Levels | Tuition (2015-16)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American University | Washington, D.C. | 4-year, Private | Master's | $27,468 |
| Columbia University (New York) | New York, NY | 4-year, Private | Master's, Doctoral | $42,280 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 4-year, Private | Master's | $47,422 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 4-year, Public | Master's, Doctoral | $10,934 (In-State) |
| University of Colorado-Boulder | Boulder, CO | 4-year, Public | Master's, Doctoral | $10,530 (In-State) |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | 4-year, Public | Master's, Doctoral | $10,728 (In-State) |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 4-year, Private | Master's | $48,624 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 4-year, Private | Master's | $17,190 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 4-year, Private | Master's | $41,832 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center | New York, NY | 4-year, Public | Master's | $9,060 (In-State) |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
Choosing a Journalism Graduate School
Students might want to consider the following when looking for a journalism graduate school:
- Schools with a faculty of current or former journalists, columnists, magazine editors, digital media specialists and documentary filmmakers, and firsthand industry experience may be very helpful.
- Students who are particularly interested in online journalism may want to select a program that emphasizes computer science, graphic design and business skills.
- Students may want to enroll in broad programs that cover a wide range of topics, including writing, marketing, business tactics and graphics creation.
- Prospective master's degree students who want to get real-world experience should consider the internship opportunities offered by the school.
Master's Degree Programs
The most common graduate-level degree for aspiring journalists is the master's degree. Students can earn either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science, depending on the school. They are often encouraged or required to choose a particular track or concentration, such as investigative journalism, broadcast journalism, international journalism, sports journalism or media innovation. Many schools require students to get practical training in the field through an internship at a news organization. Depending on the school and the study format, master's-level journalism programs can take between 11 months and two years to complete.
Doctoral Degree Programs
Although doctoral degree offerings in journalism are less common, a few schools provide Ph.D. programs in the journalism, mass communications and/or media studies. These programs are intended for students who want to conduct advanced scholarly research in the field of journalism, leading to a final dissertation in a particular area of interest. Possible research subjects include media history, law, ethics, policy or sociology. Upon graduation, most students find careers in academic research and teaching.
Both private and public institutions across the country offer graduate-level programs in journalism. Some of the things aspiring graduate students might want to think about when searching for a school are the faculty, technical training, marketing skills, and specialized areas of study that a program provides.
