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School of Communications and Theater

316 Annenberg Hall,
Philadelphia, PA 19122

www.scat.temple.edu

Graduate Degree Programs:
isc.temple.edu/grad/programs/
ctgrid.htm
scatgrad@blue.temple.edu

Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media
--Areas of Concentration
--Graduate Faculty
--Admission Requirements
--Course Descriptions

Mass Media and Communication
--General Statement
--Graduate Faculty
--Admission Requirements
--Course Descriptions

Journalism,Public Relations and Advertising
--General Statement
--Graduate Faculty
--Admission Requirements
--Course Descriptions

Film and Media Arts
--General Statement
--Graduate Faculty
--Admission Requirements
--Course Descriptions

Theater
--Areas of Concentration
--Graduate Faculty
--Admission Requirements
--Course Descriptions



 

 

Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising

For information, direct inquiries to: Chair, MJ Committee, Annenberg Hall, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, (215) 204-8791.

Graduate Faculty

Patricia Bradley, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., University of Texas; Jean L. Brodey, Associate Professor, Ed.D., Temple University; Thomas Eveslage, Professor, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University; Edward Lordan, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Syracuse University; F. T. Marquez, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin; James Marra, Professor, Ph.D., Texas Tech University; Michael Maynard, Associate Professor, M.S., University of Iowa; Priscilla Murphy, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Brown University; Edward J. Trayes, Professor, Ph.D., University of Iowa; Karen Turner, Associate Professor, J.D., Northwestern University; Linn Washington, Jr., Assistant Professor, M.A., Yale University.

General Statement

The Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising Program offers the Master of Journalism degree (M.J.). The M.J. is designed for students who expect to work in a mass communications area that requires writing skills. The program’s academic and professional course work covers newspaper reporting, editing, public relations, magazine writing and editing, advertising, broadcast journalism, media management, and the Internet.

The program is designed for liberal arts or communications graduates seeking a mass communications career. Practicing professionals – particularly those in the print media and public relations – will be able to refine their writing and editing skills and solidify the academic foundation of their careers.

Application Deadlines

Applicants should have their completed credentials on file by March 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

Financial Aid

The department has a limited number of graduate assistantships that cover up to nine credit hours of coursework each semester and require 20 hours a week of service or teaching assistance to the department. Graduate students already enrolled are eligible for a small number of scholarships or awards within the department. The awards are made in April.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a statement of goals, official transcripts (including Temple University) scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and two letters of recommendation. Writing samples and a record of professional experience also may be submitted.

Degree Requirements

The program requires 40 semester hours of graduate-level course work. All M.J. students are required to take the following:

n JPRA410 (News Reporting)

n JPRA411 (News Editing)

n JPRA621 (Communication History), and

n JPRA622 (Communication Law).

A maximum of eight semester hours (20% of the total) of graduate credit from another institution may be applied toward graduation, with the approval of the M.J. committee.

Most M.J. students may enroll in one or two elective courses (up to eight credits) outside the School of Communications and Theater. Courses outside the department are selected by students in consultation with their academic advisers. An exception is made for students who follow an interdisciplinary track – one in Journalism/Religion that includes Religion Department courses or a Business Communications track with courses from the Fox School of Business and Management.

Each student must conclude the program by passing a comprehensive examination covering his or her field of study, including communication history or law.

Students also must complete, with a grade of B- or better, at least one of the following:

n JPRA412 (Public Affairs Reporting)

n JPRA424 (Public Relations Case
Problems and Management)

n JPRA431 (Nonfiction Writing)

n JPRA432 (The American Magazine)

n JPRA511 (Advertising and Public
Relations Research),

n JPRA585 (Media Management).

To graduate, a student’s overall GPA must be a 3.0 (B average) or better.

Full-time students should be able to complete this program in two years or less. The time limit on the completion of all requirements is five years from admission to the program.

A document detailing current regulations and practices pertaining to the M.J. program is available from the Graduate Office in the School of Communications and Theater and constitutes an official supplement to this Bulletin.

Course Descriptions -Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising

With permission of the Dean of the Graduate School, a limited number of JPRA courses numbered 300-390 may be applied to the M.J. in JPRA. See the undergraduate catalog for full descriptions of 300-level courses.

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