Overview
The Journalism M.A. program is designed to prepare students for professional participation in a wide range of digital and multimedia communication environments, including television, online, data, mobile, social media, magazine, and newspaper. Coursework emphasizes journalistic values, critical thinking, and storytelling, combined with the digital and technical skills needed to create content in today’s dynamic and evolving media landscape. In consultation with faculty advisors, students are encouraged to develop areas of special interest and pursue electives that support their goals.
Journalism M.A. students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at the graduate level with the approval of the Chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Management or Director of the Graduate Program in Journalism. All coursework must be at or above the 600 level. Students with strong prior experience in a particular area may request a written waiver of a required course from the department chair upon demonstrating sufficient expertise in that subject.
The program begins in the fall semester with a mandatory bootcamp one week before classes begin. The program typically takes 18 months to complete, unless the student is attending on a part-time basis. Students also have the option, with advisor approval and appropriate course sequencing, to complete the program on an accelerated one-year timeline.
As the field evolves, the core and list of electives will continue to evolve as well.
Admission Requirements
The following is a list of the required conditions as well as the required documents/fees for your application for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in the School of Communication.
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
- The School's official application
- An $85.00 non-refundable application fee
- Three letters of recommendation
- 500-word typed statement of academic and professional goals
- Official transcripts of all college work, both undergraduate and graduate.
- Note: In addition, international applicants must send an official copy of their diploma for all degrees earned, and all documentation that confers their degree, with English translation for all degrees earned.
- Note: All transcripts must be the original document, forwarded directly from the university: Xerox copies, true copies, notarized copies and other types of copies are not acceptable.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores
- Note: Only for international applicants.
- Portfolio
- Copy of current passport
- Note: Only for international applicants. The name entered on the graduate application must exactly match your name as it appears on your passport.
Contact the Office of Graduate Studies, call 305-284-5236 or email (socgrad@miami.edu), for information.
- Note: Only for international applicants. The name entered on the graduate application must exactly match your name as it appears on your passport.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Communication and Journalism Core Courses | ||
| JMM 605 | Principles of Journalism | 3 |
| JMM 615 | Writing and Reporting Across Platforms | 3 |
| JMM 625 | Advanced Newsgathering and Writing Seminar | 3 |
| JMM 628 | Seminar in Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| JMM 658 | Broadcast Studio Production: From Writing to Wrap | 3 |
| JMM 815 | Multimedia Project 1 | 3 |
| or JMM 609 | Internship in Journalism and Media Management | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Select four elective courses. Suggested electives offered by the Department of Journalism and Media Management include: | ||
| Latin American Journalism and Media Systems | ||
| Law and Ethics in Journalism and Media Management | ||
| Television News Reporting | ||
| Interactive Storytelling | ||
| Reporting and the Internet | ||
| Introduction to Infographics and Data Visualization | ||
| Sports Reporting | ||
| Television News Producing | ||
| Advanced Infographics and Data Visualization | ||
| Programming for Interactivity | ||
| Storytelling with Data | ||
| Social Media | ||
| The Business of Modern Journalism | ||
| Infographics and Data Visualization Studio | ||
| Travel Journalism | ||
| Web Design | ||
| Advanced Audio Video Narratives | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Children and the Media | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Magazine Planning | ||
| Sports and the Media | ||
| 3D Design and Graphics | ||
| Media Entrepreneurship | ||
| Public Affairs Research and Reporting | ||
| Creative Smartphone Photo Illustration | ||
| Advanced Projects and Directed Research | ||
| Sound Design | ||
| Intro to Creative Coding | ||
| Startup Studio: from Idea to Launch | ||
| Collaborative Innovation Laboratory | ||
| Immersive Storytelling | ||
| Theories and Methods for Mass Communication Research | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students will complete a minimum of 3 credits of capstone or internship coursework toward the degree and may apply up to 6 credits of capstone or internship coursework to the MA in Journalism.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| JMM 605 | Principles of Journalism | 3 |
| JMM 615 | Writing and Reporting Across Platforms | 3 |
| JMM 628 | Seminar in Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| JMM 658 | Broadcast Studio Production: From Writing to Wrap | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMM 625 | Advanced Newsgathering and Writing Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| JMM 815 or 609 | Multimedia Project or Internship in Journalism and Media Management | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Mission
Goals
Upon graduation, students are prepared to work in a variety of communication settings and are equipped to gather and analyze information, critically evaluate it, and write and produce material for various media formats, all within the guiding ethical and legal principles.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate the ability to acquire, critically analyze, and present journalistic messages in an appropriate digital format using sound reasoning and journalistic principles.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of contemporary equipment, technologies, and workflows, as well as key theoretical concepts of digital storytelling.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate and practice the values, ethics, laws, social responsibilities, and theoretical and methodological foundations of the profession.
