Master of Arts
The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism is a program geared toward experienced journalists seeking subjectmatter expertise and toward experienced professionals in other fields seeking journalism skills to advance their expertise. The program is also open to recent School of Journalism graduates with records of excellence in their university classes and internships and a demonstrated aptitude and commitment to developing an expertise in a specialized field of reporting.
Students must begin the program in summer term, enrolling in a required 4-unit, intensive session course focused on journalism and society and on digital media. In addition to the formal classes, the course includes multimedia skills workshops. This gateway course provides the master’s students with a working knowledge of the specialized journalism and the multimedia storytelling skills necessary for study in the program. It sets the stage for two semesters of access to courses as substantively broad as a major research university such as USC makes available and for advanced courses in the School of Journalism’s graduate program.
In the fall semester, students will enroll in two courses in the School of Journalism, including a critical thinking course for journalists and a specialized reporting course. With the advice of their academic adviser and faculty mentors, students will select elective course work totaling 8 units appropriate to their fields of specialization. These courses will be drawn from regular graduate and 400-level courses taught across the university. Students also will begin research for their master’s professional project. Thesis topics must be approved in advance by faculty. These projects will be extended works of journalism, such as a full-length magazine article, similar radio, television or multimedia treatments or the equivalent in their professional field.
In the spring semester, students will enroll in a journalism seminar focused on the reporting and analysis of decision-making and typically an approved elective in the Annenberg School. Students will also enroll in elective course work totaling 8 units, chosen again from offerings across the university and in consultation with their faculty mentors. Finally, students will complete their master’s professional project.
The nine-and-a-half-month program has been designed for a fall and spring semester enrollment cycle; however, students may also elect to complete the program on a part-time basis, but must start with the intensive summer course.
Studies toward the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism require 34 units of prescribed courses and approved electives. No more than 10 units of 400-level course work may be applied toward the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism.
Residence
The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism can be completed in a nine-month enrollment cycle that includes the four-week summer session, plus the fall and spring semesters. These programs may be attended on a part-time basis.
Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirements
There is no foreign language or research tool requirement for the master’s degree.
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP)
Journalism and strategic public relations graduate students are required to complete an online tutorial about Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP) and pass the GSP test before the end of the fall semester of their first year. Students who fail to complete the GSP tutorial and pass the test within the stated time frame will not be allowed to progress in the program and will be dismissed from the School of Journalism.
Note: Students with disabilities may register with the Disability Services and Programs office (DSP) so the DSP staff can assess the nature of the students’ disabilities and recommend the appropriate accommodations to be provided for each student.
Master’s Thesis
MA in Specialized Journalism students normally enroll in JOUR 594a (2 units), JOUR 594b (2 units) in their single year of study.
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