MA in Journalism & Mass Communications Professional Journalism
Explore Graduate Admissions Apply by March 1, 2023
A Big Ten master's degree in professional journalism reinforces your credentials while making you a more marketable job candidate. Learn how to produce and analyze multi-platform news in an ever-changing media landscape.
Your Masters.
Your Way.
Online. In-Person. You Decide.
Customize
Your Experience.
COJMC FELLOWSHIPS
Whether it's based on financial need, professional promise or impressive scholarship, there are College of Journalism and Mass Communications fellowships for anyone.
NEBRASKA FELLOWSHIPS
Find fellowships for newly admitted grad students beyond the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
COJMC GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
Gain experience and increase your employment opportunities through these selective assistantships.
Admissions Process & Requirements
Items Required by Office of Graduate Studies
- Online Application for Graduate Admission
- $50 non-refundable application processing fee
- One (1) set of official transcripts
- If your native language is not English: verification of English proficiency
- CoJMC requires minimum English proficiency: TOEFL Paper-600, Computer-250, Internet-100 or ILETS 6.5
- To send your TOEFL scores to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln use institution code 6877
- If you are not a US citizen and you expect to hold an F or J visa: financial resource information
Items Required by Journalism and Mass Communications in the online Graduate Application
After you begin your application, you will need to submit these departmental requirements:
- Statement of goals and objectives
- Resume
- Portfolio of work that demonstrates your ability to gather, analyze and communicate information
- Three professional or academic letters of recommendation
Acceptance Details
Graduate students will notified of their acceptance into the master's program in Journalism and Mass Communications from the graduate chair and receive a certificate of admission from the Graduate Admissions office.
Before First Semester
- Students will be notified of the name of their faculty advisor and their grad program coordinator by the graduate chair
- Students should connect with both these individuals to discuss their goals for the program and the best way these contacts can help them succeed
During the first half of the program
- Meet with your grad program coordinator and complete your memorandum of courses
- Meet with your faculty advisor to discuss ideas for your professional project or thesis, if applicable
Additional Information
- The College of Journalism and Mass Communications master’s degree programs are built with your life in mind.
- Students are welcome to sample up to 6 credit hours of courses before they are formally admitted to the program. Sampled courses can count toward your degree as long as they fall with the program requirements as detailed in the graduate bulletin.
- Life happens! If students need to take a break in their program, they can. Students who don’t take classes in three consecutive sessions (fall, spring, summer) will be considered inactive. To request reinstatement, email graduate@unl.edu.
- Students have up to 5 consecutive calendar years to complete the program.
Start Preparing for Your Future
Provide your information and we'll send you what you need to know about earning a graduate degree at Nebraska.
If you have immediate questions, contact our graduate student services coordinator at 402-472-2055.
January 2023 Start
Apply by October 1, 2022
May 2023 Start
Apply by March 1, 2022
August 2023 Start
Apply by July 1, 2023
Class Schedule
Overview
- Minimum of 36 credit hours
- At least 18 of the total 36 credit hours must be in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts)
- 18 credit hours must be taken within the major
- A 6 credit hour professional project is required in the last two semesters of the program
Required Courses (15 hours)
| JGRD 901 | Ethics and Issues in Mass Communication* | 3 cr. hr. | |
| JGRD 902 | Multi-platform Journalism* | 3 cr. hr. | |
| JGRD 903 | Entrepreneurial Journalism* | 3 cr. hr. | |
| JGRD 992 | Professional Project* | 6 cr. hr. |
Elective Courses (21 hours)
- Students are encouraged to work closely with the faculty advisor and grad program coordinator to select electives.
- Students can select from any graduate level courses offered in the College of Journalism and Mass communications with prefixes
- ADPR - Advertising & Public Relations
- JGRD - Journalism Graduate
- JOUR - Journalism
- JOMC - Journalism & Mass Communications
- BRDC - Broadcasting
- SPMC - Sports Media & Communication
- Courses outside the College of Journalism and Mass Communications may count toward the master’s degree with the permission of the faculty advisor.
Contact Bridgett with Questions
Bridgett Grant
Graduate Adviser
402-472-3042
bgrant2@unl.edu