Graduate Bulletin
Journalism, M.J.
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THEATER
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 1
Applications are processed shortly after the deadline date. Applications are evaluated by the Program Director and members of the Master of Journalism Committee, which is composed of faculty in the program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
No specific courses are required for admission, but a professional background is highly recommended.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
No.
Statement of Goals:
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your focus in the program; and your talents and achievements.
Standardized Test Scores:
The GRE is required. A score in the 65-75% range on the verbal and quantitative sections is expected.
Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted:
620 paper-based or 260 computer-based test.
Resume:
A resume is required.
Writing Sample:
Professional, published articles or papers are preferred as a writing sample.
Transfer Credit:
Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be
transferred into the M.J. program but must be a "B" or better
in order to transfer. The maximum number of credits a student
may transfer is 8.
Program Requirements
Campus Location:
Main Campus, Center City
Courses are primarily offered at the well-equipped and professional facility of Temple University Center City campus (TUCC), a location across from the Philadelphia City Hall and appropriate for a professional news training program. Some classes are also offered on Main campus, fifteen minutes away by subway, bus or automobile. Parking is available at both sites.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m.
General Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 40
Required Courses:
JPRA410: News Reporting
JPRA518: Contemporary Issues in Journalism
JPRA411: News Editing
JPRA460: Computer Assisted Reporting and Research
JPRA622: Communication Law
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Additional Requirements:
Students must pass an examination in three fields of study. Students have a week to complete three questions submitted by faculty members in separate fields. Students cannot graduate without a 3.00 overall average.
Culminating Events:
Comprehensive Exam:
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate competence in three areas of study in the Master of Journalism Program. Students request three major professors to submit three separate questions for exam. Students have a week to complete the exam. Students must take Communication Law or Communication History as one area of the exam, but may choose two other areas from subjects studied. The examination is taken during or after the last semester of work. The graduate faculty in the Master of Journalism Program participate based on the student's choice and that of the M.J. Director.
The graduate faculty members who write the questions also evaluate the answers. Each examination is evaluated by two faculty members, each voting to pass or fail the student. If the members are not in agreement, a third faculty member reads and evaluates the examination and determines the outcome. The student must answer every question on the examination in order to be evaluated. Students must successfully pass all questions on the exam in order to qualify as satisfactorily completing the requirement. Comprehensive examinations are administered at various times during the year.
Contacts
Program Contact Information:
http://mj.temple.edu
Department Information:
Master of Journalism Program
307 Annenberg Hall
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA l9122
dolores.stanley@temple.edu
215-204-8791
Department Contacts:
Admissions:
Dolores Stanley
dolores.stanley@temple.edu
215-204-8791
Program Coordinator:
Patricia Bradley, Ph.D.
patricia.bradley@temple.edu
215-204-5023
Graduate Chairperson:
Patricia Bradley, Ph.D.
patricia.bradley@temple.edu
215-204-5023
Chairperson:
Professor Karen M. Turner
karen.turner@temple.edu
215-204-8386
About the Program
The Master of Journalism program provides both introductory and advanced study for students who wish to begin or advance their careers in news and information, including broadcast and print reporters, magazine editors and writers, media managers and those working in online news and information. Students receive instruction from award-winning media practitioners from the Philadelphia region and have the opportunity to study under a well-regarded faculty at a Research I institution. Students may find many freelance and internship opportunities in the nation's fourth largest media market.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years
Campus Location:
Main Campus, Center City
Courses are primarily offered at the well-equipped and professional facility of Temple University Center City campus (TUCC), a location across from the Philadelphia City Hall and appropriate for a professional news training program. Some classes are also offered on Main campus, 15 minutes away by subway, bus, or automobile. Parking is available at both sites.
Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m. Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).
Department Information:
Master of Journalism Program
307 Annenberg Hall
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA l9122
dolores.stanley@temple.edu
215-204-8791
Ranking:
The Master of Journalism Program at Temple University is the only one of its kind in the state and one of just a handful of programs in the United States. The program is proud that it provides professional training within a University liberal arts context appropriate for individuals who seek to be leaders in their field.
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas of Specialization:
Coursework is offered in the following areas: news reporting for print, broadcast and online distribution; magazine writing; news and magazine management; law and ethics; communication history; and specialized classes in sports writing, documentary photography, electronic information gathering, computer-assisted reporting, Web design, and other areas.
Job Placement:
The program is dedicated to training professional practitioners in mass media, newspaper and broadcast reporters, magazine writers, and professionals in emerging fields such as Web design and the Internet. The program also emphasizes critical thinking, ethical concerns, historical context, and the development of specialized knowledge bases.
Affiliation(s):
Not applicable.
Interdisciplinary Study:
The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework for students who may find appropriate coursework in areas outside the Master of Journalism Program. Students are encouraged to select courses from other university departments if those courses are appropriate to the student's career goals.
Study Abroad:
M.J. students may participate in the London Program offered by the School of Communications and Theater in the summer and fall semesters.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
Non-Degree Student Policy:
Non-matriculated students may apply up to four credit hours to the program requirements with the permission of the Master of Journalism Program Director and/or the Master of Journalism Committee. Non-matriculated students may choose to take JPRA 410: News Reporting and JPRA 516: Contemporary Studies on a space-available basis. Students may also transfer up to eight hours into the program with appropriate permissions.
Financing Opportunities
The program offers limited teaching and/or research assistantships. Applications for the assistantships should be made at the time of application. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis that includes consideration of, among other things, scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Assistantships carry a stipend and full-tuition remission (up to 9 credits each semester). Applications should include: a statement of experience, areas of interest, and future goals; transcripts; and a curriculum vitae.
Other Financial Opportunities
|
