Journalism
- Master of Arts
- Doctor of Philosophy
Facilities for Graduate Work
As the state capital, Austin offers excellent opportunities for studying major news sources and primary resources of public data. Professional associations in fields of journalism are cooperative in the planning and conduct of research by University graduate students.
Areas of Study
There are two tracks leading to the Master of Arts in journalism: the research and theory track and the professional track. The research and theory track requires thirty semester hours of coursework, including a thesis. The professional track requires thirty-six semester hours of coursework, including a master’s report. Students are required to take twelve of the required hours for either track in an area of concentration, such as Latin American studies, Middle Eastern studies, public policy, media management, or public opinion.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree in mass communication.
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee in the spring semester 2006–2007.
- Rosental Alves
- Lorraine E. Branham
- Gene A. Burd
- Renita Coleman
- Tracy S. Dahlby
- Dennis Darling
- Donna De Cesare
- Mercedes Lynn de Uriarte
- Dustin M. Harp
- Bob Jensen
- Dominic L. Lasorsa
- Maxwell E. McCombs
- Marvin N. Olasky
- Paula M. Poindexter
- Stephen D. Reese
- Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez
- George Sylvie
- Russell G. Todd
- Mark W. Tremayne
Admission Requirements
Entering students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. An applicant with fewer than twelve semester hours of upper-division coursework in journalism or other areas related to mass communications may be required to complete additional undergraduate coursework, to be determined after consideration of the applicant’s college transcript and professional experience.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the general University requirements for the master’s degree and the specific requirements for each track, an additional set of specific journalism skills, theory, and/or issues courses are required. The courses are determined by the student’s chosen track.
Dual Degree Programs
Master of Arts/Master of Arts with a Major in Latin American Studies
This dual degree program allows students to study the relationships between the theories and processes of communication and issues pertinent to an understanding of the histories and current policies of the societies and cultures of Latin America. It is designed to meet the need for specialists with multidisciplinary knowledge of Latin American affairs and mastery of the principles and techniques of communication.
The student must complete thirty-three semester hours of coursework in journalism and thirty hours of coursework in Latin American studies, including a master’s report or a thesis on a topic involving both fields. The journalism program may require additional background work.
To be admitted to the dual degree program, the student must pass a language proficiency examination in either Spanish or Portuguese. A joint committee composed of faculty members from the School of Journalism and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies selects students for admission. Students must be accepted by both programs before admission to the dual program.
Master of Arts/Master of Arts with a Major in Middle Eastern Studies
This dual degree program responds to a need in both the public and the private sector for communication specialists with a thorough understanding of the cultures, economies, geography, history, and politics of the Middle East and North Africa.
The student must complete a total of sixty-three semester hours of coursework in the School of Journalism and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, including a summer internship and a thesis based on original research and co-supervised by a journalism and a Middle Eastern studies faculty member.
Upon completion of the program, students must have proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish equal to that shown by completion of two years of coursework. This requirement may be met either through formal language study or by passing a proficiency examination administered by a University faculty member. Students are encouraged to achieve the required level of proficiency as early as possible. Those with no previous knowledge of a Middle Eastern language are advised to enroll in intensive language courses during the summer before they begin the dual degree program. Students who are native speakers of a Middle Eastern language must demonstrate proficiency in a second Middle Eastern language.
A joint committee composed of faculty members from the School of Journalism and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies selects students for admission. Students must be accepted by both programs before admission to the dual program.
Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration
This dual degree program is designed to develop leaders for an increasingly complex world. The program exposes students both to the issues and principles involved in communication and business and to the skills and techniques needed for efficient and effective management. The student must complete a total of seventy-eight to eighty-one semester hours of coursework in the School of Journalism and the McCombs School of Business. The journalism program may require additional hours of background work.
A joint committee composed of faculty members from both the School of Journalism and the McCombs School of Business selects students for admission. Students must be accepted by both programs before admission to the dual program.
Upon admission to the dual degree program, the student must pay a nonrefundable enrollment deposit to indicate that he or she accepts the offer of admission. The deposit serves to confirm the student’s intention of enrolling in both programs and is applied to the payment of fees when the student enrolls. Students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for assistance to cover the deposit.
Master of Arts/Master of Public Affairs
The purpose of this dual degree program is to allow students to study the relationships among the theories and processes of communication and a variety of public policy issues. It is designed to meet the need for public policy analysts with an understanding of the principles and techniques of communication and to equip communication specialists with an understanding of the public policy process. Students are expected to complete a total of sixty-nine semester hours of coursework in the School of Journalism and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, including a master’s report and a summer internship.
Admission to the public affairs program is considered by an Admissions Committee made up of faculty members and second-year students. Admission to the School of Journalism is considered by the program’s Graduate Studies Committee. After the student has been admitted to each program, a decision on his or her application to the dual program is made by consultation between the two programs.
For More Information
Campus address: Jesse H. Jones Communication Center (Academic) (CMA) A6.144, phone (512) 471-5933, fax (512) 471-7979; campus mail code: A1000
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program, School of Journalism, 1 University Station A1000, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: jgrad@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu