Journalism MJ

About the Program

Temple’s one-year Master of Journalism program directly engages with the rich and diverse communities of Philadelphia. Coursework and reporting projects focus on the problems and opportunities of urban life. Hands-on multimedia work is combined with the study of journalism’s evolving roles and practices. Students learn by experiencing what it is like to work in today’s ever-changing media environment. In recognition of the exciting evolution underway in the news industry, the program is designed to help current and aspiring journalists develop into engaged and innovative professionals.

The program benefits greatly from its location at Temple University in the fourth-largest media market in the United States, one ripe with innovation. Philadelphia is full of journalistic initiatives, including startups and nonprofits that are rethinking metropolitan, niche and ethnic media. The city’s daily newspapers are owned by a nonprofit organization, an experiment many hope will represent a path to sustainability for news organizations around the country. Students interact with journalists and innovators from these organizations. The program takes advantage of rich reporting opportunities in the Philadelphia area, a city with a vibrant culture, a highly diverse population, and significant challenges common to other cities, including crime, development controversies, economic inequity, educational equity and race relations. Because these issues are ongoing, they are sometimes underreported in the city’s mainstream news media. The Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab and the capstone reporting project provide opportunities for MJ students to tackle such problems in innovative ways as they pursue their graduate education and seek to make a difference.

The one-year, 30-credit program is designed to provide rigorous training as a cohort experience, encouraging students to work together and learn from one another as well as Master of Journalism faculty, local journalists and other innovators. This process begins with an immersive training experience before the first academic term and ends with a capstone project in the summer term in which students do independent reporting work with the goal of producing a journalistic masterwork.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program is expected to be completed on a full-time basis.

Areas of Specialization: Coursework is demanding and prepares students to work as professional journalists in the media of their choice. Specialized training is available in broadcast journalism, community journalism, entrepreneurial journalism, investigative reporting, podcasting and various forms of digital journalism. Students develop a specialization through an elective course and a self-guided capstone project.

Job Prospects: The program is dedicated to training professional practitioners in journalism and media careers. Former students have also found success as freelancers and entrepreneurs.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are encouraged to begin with introductory and required courses. If accepted to the program, those courses may be applied toward the degree program, provided grade requirements have been met. Consistent with Graduate School policy, students are permitted to take up to 9 credits before deciding whether to apply formally to the program.

Financing Opportunities: The program offers limited scholarships for outstanding applicants.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: February 15

Admission is open for the Fall term only. Applications are accepted after the deadline, but late applications cannot be guaranteed full scholarship consideration.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members, professional supervisors or others familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional competence. At least one letter should be from an academic reference.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required for admission. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in fields other than journalism and communication are welcome provided they can demonstrate sufficient interest in and proficiency with journalistic communication and practice.

Statement of Goals: In approximately 1,000 words, present your strongest statement, which integrates your answers to the prompts below into a coherent essay, to allow us to assess your institutional fit. Toward this end, please review the descriptions of our program, curriculum and faculty, also incorporating this content into your statement. The prompts include:

Your interest in journalism and your view of its place in society;
Your career goals in journalism; and
Your interests, experiences, and academic or professional achievements that you bring to the program.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Optional. Scores submitted are preferred to be at least 65% on the verbal section with a writing score of at least 3.5. If you elect to not submit GRE scores, a writing sample is required.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 105
IELTS Academic: 7.0
PTE Academic: 72

Resume: Current resume or curriculum vitae is required.

Writing Sample: If you elect to not submit GRE scores, you are required to submit a writing sample, which is otherwise strongly encouraged. Published journalistic works (e.g., in professional outlets or college media) are preferred. You may also submit a formal academic paper from your undergraduate studies that represents your best writing. In this case, please indicate on a cover sheet when, for what course, and at which institution the paper was produced.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the MJ program, subject to approval of the Master of Journalism Committee. Requests to transfer credits must be submitted during the first term of matriculation so that the student’s future curriculum can be planned. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Year 1
Summer II
JRN 5301	Introduction to Urban Journalism	3
	Term Credit Hours	3
Fall
JRN 5302	Urban Reporting Lab 1	6
JRN 5303	Journalism Concepts	3
JRN 5304	Editing the News	3
	Term Credit Hours	12
Spring
JRN 5305	Urban Reporting Lab 2	6
JRN 5306	Journalism and the Public Interest	3
JRN Elective		3
	Term Credit Hours	12
Year 2
Summer I
JRN 5307	Capstone Reporting Experience	3
	Term Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours:	30