I. The Department of Journalism offers the Master of Arts degree in Journalism. In addition to the residential master’s program, the Department offers its MA in Journalism online to distant students.

II. MA Degree Program

Students in the MA program may take courses in advertising, journalism, and public relations in keeping with their needs and interest. The programs are designed for practicing professionals and those who anticipate completing doctoral programs. The residential program can accommodate those who are planning a career change. The on-line program is for mass communication professionals who are already working in the field. Students should consult with the coordinator of graduate studies and with faculty advisors in designing individual curricula.

Program objectives are: (1) understanding and application of First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice, the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications, and the diversity of groups in relationship to communications; (2) understanding the concepts and being able to apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information; (3) developing the ability to work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity; (4) developing the ability to conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work; and (5) cultivating the ability to write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, their audiences, and the purposes they serve.

A. Program Admission and Prerequisites

Applicants to the program are evaluated three times a year on or around March 1, October 1, and June 1. Students may be admitted for the fall or spring semesters or for the summer session. All applicants must meet admission requirements of the Graduate School plus the following admission standards set by the Journalism Department:

1. An undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 (A=4.0) in all course work. Exceptions to this requirement will be considered.
2. An undergraduate degree in journalism from an accredited postsecondary institution or another degree from an accredited institution plus significant professional experience in advertising, broadcasting, journalism, or public relations.
1. Candidates who lack the degree or significant professional experience will be required to complete undergraduate coursework to remedy their deficiencies.
2. Journalism master’s students may apply up to nine hours of graduate credits earned while in non-degree seeking status at the University of Memphis.
3. A score of 480 on the Verbal component and a score of 420 on the Quantitative component of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or a score of 396 (40 on old scale) on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Applicants with lower test scores may be considered.
4. In addition, applicants will submit to the department:
1. A statement of 500 to 1000 words indicating the academic program for which the individual is applying and specifying his or her career goals
2. A resume

B. Program Requirements

1. Courses and credit hours. Students may complete their degrees with (a) a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit including a thesis, or (b) a minimum of 33 hours of graduate credit including a professional project, or (c) a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit with the acceptance of a paper for publication in a refereed scholarly journal or for presentation at a refereed academic or professional conference. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the graduate faculty of the department. Student work must be completed at a level of performance satisfactory to the graduate faculty. Students must complete all journalism courses with a grade of 3.0 or better. Course work taken outside the department must be approved by the student’s advisor. Residential students are required to take two courses (6 hours) outside the department. Exceptions are considered for residential students who alredy possess adiverse background or who lack an undergraduate degree in journalism or media-related field.

Students with a strong background in journalism may elect to add a cognate area to their journalism degrees to prepare themselves for speciality areas of the journalism profession, e.g., biomedical journalism or journalism administration. Students must submit wirtten program plans to the graduate faculty for approval before the speciality courses are taken. The cognate will consist of not more than four courses (12 hours) within the specialty. The MA with specialty may not be combined with the project or thesis option.

Students with graduate credit earned at another institution may petition to have it applied toward their degree requirements at the University of Memphis. Such credit is not transferred automatically and must be approved by the graduate faculty. A maximum of nine semester hours, including up to six hours of journalism credits, earned at another regionally accredited university may be applied toward the master’s degree requirements at the University of Memphis. The Graduate School will not accept courses that have been used to earn a previous degree.

2. Required Courses. All students are required to complete a 12-hour core consisting of JOUR 7025, 7050, 7075, and 7100 plus additional course work approved by the student's advisor to meet specified credit hour totals. No more than three hours in either JOUR 7700 or JOUR 7800, but not both, may be applied to the degree. All requirements for the degree must be completed in eight years. Courses older than eight years will not be allowed as credit toward the master's degree.
3. Comprehensive Examination. Students may satisfy this requirment by doing one of the following options:
1. successfully completing and defending a thesis;
2. successfully completing and defending a professional project;
3. successfully completing and defending a paper that has been accepted for publication by a refereed journal or accepted for presention at an academic or professional conference.
4. Master’s Thesis. Students who anticipate continuing with doctoral study should complete an independent research project culminating in a master’s thesis. Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write the thesis. On completion of a thesis, a student will take an oral examination with a three-person faculty committee that assesses the thesis and the student’s broader awareness of theoretical and empirical issues in his or her field.
5. Professional Projects (JOUR 7998. Professional Project). Practicing professionals seeking master’s degrees to enhance career progress may complete a professional project under the direction of a faculty committee. On completion of a professional project, a student will take an oral examination that assesses the project and the student’s broader awareness of theoretical and empirical issues in his or her field.
6. Each student is responsible for obtaining a copy of the Master of Arts in Journalism Student Handbook from the coordinator of graduate studies or the department Website. The document answers most questions about the program.

6120. Reporting Public Issues. (3). Analyzing and writing news reports about government, courts, energy, economy, taxes, education, environment, medicine, and science; emphasis on relationship between current issues and public’s need to be informed; and on topics vital to large, urban society. PREREQUISITE: JOUR 3120, or permission of instructor.

6124. Computer-Assisted Reporting. (3). Advanced use of computer technology and investigative techniques to access, analyze, and develop database information in combination with traditional news reporting. PREREQUISITE: JOUR 3120 or permission of instructor.

6140. Publication Design and Production. (3). Basic principles of design and production for newspapers and magazines, including typography, story and page design, and graphics; dealing with copy, images, and infographics and presenting them in a clear, well-organized way; learning to write headlines, titles, subheads, captions, and other copy. PREREQUISITES: JOUR 3130 and 3526, or permission of instructor.

6328. Strategic Advertising Campaigns. (3). Development of creative strategy and its execution to include layouts, audio tapes, slide shows, storyboards, and sales promotion application. NOTE: Offered only in spring semester. PREREQUISITES: JOUR 3324, 4326, 4327, or permission of instructor.

6440. Public Relations Campaigns. (3). Application of theory, research data, and problem-solving techniques in development of comprehensive public relations strategies. PREREQUISITES: JOUR 3400, 3421, 3410; JOUR 4420 recommended, or permission of instructor.

6500. Mass Media Web Site Management I. (3). Creation and development of journalism/mass media organization Web sites; incorporation of target audience analysis and Web usability; and application of information products' conceptualization and layout.

6550. Mass Media Web Site Management II. (3). Creation and development of journalism/mass media Web sites; focus on Web multimedia, animation, and interface design; and command of Flash techniques. PREREQUISITE: JOUR 6500.

6560. Online Journalism Presentation. (3). Collaborative development of large-scale journalism/mass media Website projects; creation of original content, including stories, pictures, audio, and video; involvement in the entire process of online news and information creation and presentation. PREREQUISITE: JOUR 6500, 6550.

6702. Current Issues in Journalism. (3). Advanced study of recent critical problems affecting the mass media, with exploration of complexities that cause them.

6708. Mass Media Professional Ethics. (3). Classical approaches to ethics presented with their application to the day-to-day considerations that journalism, public relations, and advertising professionals must face in working with employers, local publics, and a larger society dependent on a free flow of accurate information.

6712. Mass Media and Cultures. (3). International communication, flow of news and propaganda; role in national development and international affairs; growth and impact of global journalism, television news, advertising, and public relations; comparison of media systems.

6716. History of Mass Communication. (3). Major events, stories, personalities, and issues shaping development of mass communication from advent of printing to age of the Internet, with special emphasis on history of American journalism.

6800-09. Special Topics in Journalism. (3). Intensive study of a single critical issue or current topic. Topics may vary. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

6900. Multimedia Mass Communication. (3). Developing command of computer software in graphic design and multimedia editing by creating a CD or DVD to convey information appropriate for journalism/ mass media organizations. PREREQUISITE: JOUR 3900 or permission of instructor.

7000. Media Writing and Editing. (3). Information gathering, writing, and editing skills necessary for any field within journalism and mass communication through lectures, discussions, and exercises that meld theory to technique; both laboratory writing and field assignments.

†7001-8001. Workshop in Journalism for Graduate Assistants. (3). Presentation of research methods and scholarly work by faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars. Required of all graduate assistants.

7015. Precision Language for Journalists. (3). Designed to help students become more precise as well as versatile writers by diagnosing their writing, polishing their grammar and editing skills, and teaching them to write with clarity, cohesiveness, and conciseness.

7025-8025. Law of Mass Communication. (3). Laws and regulations affecting mass media with attention to social and political forces that shape the law; exploration of First Amendment theories as well as the constitutional framework of the legal system; in-depth legal research in the student’s selected area of interest.

7050-8050. Mass Communication Theories. (3). Key concepts and development of theories offered to explain operation and effects of mass communication media; multidiscipline overview of theories dealing with advertising, broadcasting, print, and public relations messages, media, and effects.

7075-8075. Mass Communication Research Methods. (3). Familiarization with content analysis, survey research, data analysis, and field studies as practiced by reporters, editors, and public relations decision makers; modern research techniques and class project using computer analysis.

7100-8100. Mass Communication Administration Methods. (3). Administration of advertising, news, and public relations enterprises; systems analysis exploration of classic management principles in organization, assessment of environment, planning and strategy, budgeting, staffing, decision-making, and other functions in advertising, news, and public relations.

7200-09–8200-09. Special Topics in Journalism. (1-3). Topics are varied and announced in online class listings.

7300-8300. Mass Communication Literature. (3). Review of scholarly publications, books, periodicals, and databases in advertising, public relations, and news media.

7320-8320. Mass Media and Diversity. (3). Research and analysis of the relationship among mass media, women, and minorities.

7340-8340. Advanced Advertising Practices. (3). Planning and design of advertising campaigns and tactics with primary emphasis on implementation.

7350-8350. Advanced News Practices. (3). Recent research findings in news reporting, writing and editing principles; practical experience in preparing finished news reports suitable for publication or dissemination in professional-level mass medium.

7375-8375. Integrated Communication. (3). Integration of advertising, direct mail, public relations, and other strategic communication tools to produce a singular message that reaches every target audience segment; emphasis on application of theories to a particular case study.

7400. Public Relations Principles and Issues. (3). Contemporary social trends, public relations roles and responsibilities, and applicable public relations theory.

7420. Public Relations Programming and Production. (3). Design and implementation of public relations programs in response to contemporary issues.

7440. Organizational Public Relations. (3). How organizations maintain rapport with their publics and the mass media by effectively communicating long-range goals.

7450-8450. Public Relations Management. (3). Development and management of public relations practice, department, or consultancy through study of planning and decision-making techniques; aspects of public relations practice that differ significantly from other enterprises; development of proposals and presentations; and management of financial and human resources.

†7600. Media Internship. (3). Work in practical assignments at a media organization under supervision of qualified practitioners. PREREQUISITE: Permission of the department's coordinator of graduate studies.

†7700-8700. Directed Individual Research. (3). Projects on non-thesis related topics of special interest to the student, ending in a completed research article or report. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

†7800-8800. Directed Individual Readings. (3). Preparation of literature review for master’s thesis with extensive bodies of writing in topic areas. May be taken to prepare scholarly papers on subjects of individual interest. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

†7998. Professional Project. (1-6). Completion of supervised professional project in student’s area of expertise. Repeatable to maximum of 6 hours; only 3 hours applicable to degree.

†7996. Thesis. (1-6).

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.