DAVID ARANT, PhD
Chair
Room 300, Meeman Journalism Building
(901) 678-2401

RICK FISCHER, PhD
Coordinator of Graduate Studies
(901) 678-2853
E-mail: rfischer@memphis.edu

http://www.memphis.edu/journalism

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.

All graduate students must comply with the general requirements of the Graduate School (see Admissions Regulations, Academic Regulations, and Minimum Degree Requirements) as well as the program requirements of the degree being pursued.

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. Admission to the journalism program is competitive. Multiple criteria are considered and include official GRE or MAT scores, cumulative grade point averages, relevant employment history in the form of a resume, and personal goal statement.

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 already possess a diverse 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 written 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 requirement 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.

JOURNALISM (JOUR)