Master of Science in Journalism Curriculum
Program Overview
The Lawrence-based Journalism and Mass Communications Master's of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications (MSJ) program offers academic thesis courses emphasizing the study of real-world media issues, critical thinking skills, and media use. Our program provides advanced scholarly skills that will allow you to operate at the highest levels of academia. Participants are expected to have basic media knowledge. The Lawrence-based program prepares students to transition from the media profession into an educational career. The program also prepares students to advance toward a Ph.D. program. Students also learn the discipline’s theory and methods to explore the causes and effects of media issues. Students take foundational core courses and electives of their own choosing. Students then complete a thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor.
Foundation Core Courses (16 hours)
JMC 801: Media Communication Theories (3)
JMC 802: Media Communications Methods (3)
JMC 803: Research in Action (3)
JMC 804: Qualitative Research (3) or 805 Quantitative Research (3)
EPSY710/711: Introd to Statistics (4)
Advanced Courses (18 hours)
JMC 851: Professional Skills I or Elective (3)
JMC Elective (3)
JMC Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Thesis/Project (3)
JMC 899: Thesis (3)
MSJ Requirements
All journalism master’s candidates must complete a minimum of 37 graduate credit hours in mass communications with at least a B (3.0) average. In addition, students must complete Core Course requirements and Advanced Course requirements.
Foundation Core Courses (16 hours)
The core graduate courses help student develop research and critical thinking skills.
Courses
Advanced Courses (18 hours)
Enrollment in Elective Courses Outside the School: Up to 9 credit hours of course work may be completed outside the school, with the approval of the graduate director or graduate committee. Students who wish to take a course or courses outside the school must have permission from both the instructor of the course and from the School. The student should submit a written proposal to the graduate director and should indicate how the course contributes to their master’s program.
Courses
Thesis/Project (3 hours)
Students must complete a thesis. The student must present a proposal outlining the thesis and signed by both the student and advisor prior to enrolling. Two seminars on topics of current research help students explore and learn to present research findings.
Enrollment Requirements after Completing Course Requirements: A student must enroll for at least 1 hour of credit in the semester in which they graduate. The student must complete 3 hours of JMC 899 (Thesis).
Courses
Additional Requirements
Five (5) Electives must be taken in addition to the courses listed above.
JMC 851: Professional Skills I OR an Elective (3) may be taken to satisfy Advanced Course requirements.