Journalism Master of Science in Journalism: News-Editorial (Thesis and non-thesis options)
Master of Science in Journalism: Advertising/Public Relations (thesis and non-thesis options)
Admission Requirements
Graduate Assistantships
Courses of Instruction

Overview

The Schieffer School of Journalism offers two degrees designed primarily for working media professionals: The Master of Science in Journalism: News-Editorial (print, broadcast, and Internet journalists) and the Master of Science in Journalism: Advertising/Public Relations.

Master of Science in Journalism: News-Editorial (Thesis and non-thesis options)

The Master of Science degree in Journalism: News-Editorial is for those students seeking to broaden their professional and intellectual growth, and to develop a critical understanding of the institutions, processes, and effects of mass communication while enhancing their skills in print, broadcast and media management. The degree is recommended for media professionals and others seeking a more extensive foundation for work in today's growing media markets.

The degree requires 36 hours, including Proseminar in Journalism and Mass Communication (50123), Research Methods (60113), Media Ethics (60133), and Mass Communication Theory (60123); 15 additional hours of Journalism courses; and 9 hours of approved graduate courses from other academic units. There are two tracks, one requiring a project and the other a thesis. The thesis track is for students who plan to pursue a doctorate. The Proseminar and Research Methods courses must be taken in the first year after admission to the program. The non-thesis option requires the completion of a project (60153 Project in Broadcast Journalism or 60163 Project in Print/Internet Publications). The thesis requires completion of JOUR 70980 and 70990. All course work must be completed before registering for either the project or the thesis. The project will require the submission of a CD and/or hard copy, including photographs of exhibits, if used.

Master of Science in Journalism: Advertising/Public Relations (thesis and non-thesis options)

The Master of Science in Journalism: Advertising/Public Relations is designed for practitioners seeking a broader understanding of research techniques, communication theory, ethics and law, as well as those who want to enhance their understanding of nuances in the practice, of advertising/public relations audiences and issues, and the processes and effects of mass and specialized communication.

The program helps students to develop advanced skills and knowledge in problem-solving and in dealing with management issues in a global society, as well as understanding the theoretical underpinnings of communication efforts that build better relationships with an organization's publics.

The degree requires 36 hours, including Proseminar in Journalism and Mass Communication (50123), Research Methods (60113), Media Ethics (60133), and Mass Communication Theory (60123); 15 additional hours of Journalism courses; and 9 hours of approved graduate courses from other academic units. There are two tracks, one requiring a project and the other a thesis. The thesis track is for students who plan to pursue a doctorate.
The Proseminar and Research Methods courses must be taken in the first year after admission to the program.
All course work must be completed before registering for either the project or the thesis. The project will require the submission of a CD and/or hard copy, including photographs of exhibits, if used.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet general University requirements as specified in the graduate catalog, as well as having completed 15 semester hours (five courses) in undergraduate journalism or have substantial professional experience in a mass communication discipline as determined by the journalism graduate faculty. The application must also include:


  • An application form.
  • Two official transcripts from all
    colleges or universities you have
    attended.
  • A statement of no more than 250 words
    describing your academic and/or
    professional objectives.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • GRE General Test scores.

    An applicant who does not meet the admission requirements will have to take up to 15 semester hours of undergraduate journalism or advertising/public relations courses that will not count toward the graduate degree. The number of semester hours needed will be determined by the graduate journalism faculty.

    Graduate Assistantships

    Graduate Assistantships are available for students pursuing either the M.S. in news-editorial journalism or the M.S. in advertising/public relations. These assistantships, which provide remission for tuition or remission for tuition plus a stipend, are typically made for a full academic year.

    Courses of Instruction

    JOUR 50123 Proseminar in Journalism and Mass Communication. Seminar devoted to the analysis and discussion of significant issues in journalism and mass communication with a focus on related literature, research areas and policy developments.

    JOUR 50133 Management of Public Relations and Advertising Departments/Firms or Agencies. The course will examine management techniques, tactics, concerns and issues in handling public relations and advertising departments within organizations, corporate and nonprofit, and agencies or firms, from small independent operations to subsidiaries of larger entities.

    JOUR 50143 Social and Cultural History of the Media. Seminar designed to explore the history of mass media. Issues discussed in this class will improve historical knowledge about the mass media and give a foundation for understanding the professional development of journalism and mass communication.

    JOUR 50163 Issues and Crises in Public Communication. The course covers the way issues of public concern are detected by news media and by public relations and advertising strategists as the issues develop, and it examines how communication of government policies as well as corporate and non-profit organization's concerns affect perceptions and subsequently public opinion.

    JOUR 50173 International Reporting. Prerequisite: JOUR 30203, or permission of instructor. The course will critically analyze the coverage of international affairs by U.S. and other media. It will help the student develop competency in researching, analyzing and reporting about international issues, including the impact of international communication.

    JOUR 50183 Media Management and Leadership. Dramatic changes in technology and in the media's role in converging technologies require new management and leadership techniques and paradigms. Students will discuss existing case studies examining these changes. This course will give students a survey of some of the latest management and leadership theories, including a new sense of social responsibility. They will apply these theories to a number of different competitive, structural, motivational, strategic, and organizational problems of the media, primarily by solving problems in existing case studies and by writing original case studies.

    JOUR 50193 Economics and Finance of the Media. The course will examine the economic environment and financial practices of the mass media, including the World Wide Web. The course will also examine how the media are affected by advertisers, competition, financial markets, and other economic forces. Understanding and structuring debt and equity, valuing media companies, and writing a business plan are included in the course work.

    JOUR 60113 Research Methods in Journalism and Mass Communication. Introduction to quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in the study of mass communication, including surveys, content analyses, experimental designs, historical research and case studies.

    JOUR 60123 Mass Communication Theory. An introduction to the theoretical aspects of how people communicate, investigating the purpose of communication, the variables involved in communicating and the effects---successes and failures of the communicative act.

    JOUR 60133 Media Ethics. Principles of ethical journalism from the articulated ideals, codes and practice in the field. Examines the moral dilemmas facing media professionals from the approach of thinking through ethical problems, considering differences of judgment, and evaluating the performance of the media.

    JOUR 60143 Literature of Mass Communication. Examination of literary works in journalism and mass communication. The course is designed to connect a journalism education to broader social science concepts in a manner that should stimulate critical thinking about the role of the media in American and international societies.

    JOUR 60153 Project in Broadcast Journalism. This course will allow the student to take a real-world problem or opportunity that has a strong research component and develop it for course credit and for application on the job. The course is designed to afford students interested in broadcast journalism the opportunity to identify and extensively research a community or a broadcast issue or problem.

    JOUR 60163 Project in Print/Internet Publications. This course will allow students the opportunity to take a workplace problem that has a strong research element and develop it for application on the job. Such a project could be developing a proposal for a series of stories on a major issue, preliminary work on an investigative series using social science research techniques, performing a management case study, conducting research on readership, or identifying the type of sources used in stories.

    JOUR 60173 Project in Advertising/Public Relations. This course will allow students an opportunity to take a workplace problem that has a strong research component and develop it for course credit and for application on the job. Projects could be creating a campaign, developing a program for a special public, such as an ethnic group or a particular age group, exploring new policies to solve workplace difficulties or potential problems, studying the way different publics view the organization with the idea of placing that opinion more in line with management objectives, planning a Web site or any other workplace assignment that lends itself to research and writing a proposal

    JOUR 60183 Public Relations and Advertising in International Practice. An in-depth look at determinants that affect the way both nonprofit and profit-making organizations must function based on elements such as government, media ownership, culture and social structures. The course also examines commercial free speech as it functions in the USA and how communication efforts and persuasive strategies must be changed or adapted for other countries and regions.

    JOUR 60193 Global Cases and Campaigns. A study of persuasive cases and campaigns that are international in scope. Documented cases will be reviewed for insight into elements that contributed to the effectiveness of the effort, and campaigns, such as some United Nations health campaigns that will be studied for their tactics and strategy as adjusted for different cultures.

    JOUR 60203 Integrated Marketing Communications. This course provides an introduction to the components and considerations involved in integrated marketing communications (IMC) strategy decisions. The course will consist of an overview and discussions of assigned readings and cases, guest speakers, and either a research project or applied project for a client.

    JOUR 60970 Special Problems: Journalism and Mass Communication. A conference course designed to give an individual student or group of students opportunities for additional specialized work in a particular area of concentration. (Maximum of 3 hours credit per semester may be repeated for maximum of 6 hours credit.)

    JOUR 60980 Special Problems in Advertising/Public Relations. A conference course designed to give an individual student or group of students opportunities for additional specialized work in a particular area of concentration. (Maximum of 3 hours credit per semester; may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.)

    JOUR 70903 Graduate Seminar. Graduate capstone seminar that introduces the concepts used in developing a thesis or professional project. Includes guidance on formulating a proposal, necessary theoretical concepts and organizational structure of the project or thesis.

    JOUR 70980 Thesis. Thesis.

    JOUR 70990 Thesis. Thesis.

Texas Christian University