Department of Journalism
Kimpel 116
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-3601
E-MAIL CONTACTS:
Patsy Watkins, Department Chair
Carol Rachal, Alumni contact
how to apply
Masters Program
Welcome!
Hi! I'm Dr. Jan LeBlanc Wicks, the Journalism graduate coordinator.
Please see the Journalism Master's Student Checklist, which answers most questions current and potential students have about completing the Journalism Master's program.
Thanks for your interest in the University of Arkansas Lemke Journalism Master's program. The answers to most questions prospective and current students have are found in the Master's Program section the Journalism Web page or on the University of Arkansas Graduate School Web page. A full explanation of the application process and admission requirements can be found here.
Journalism Master's Program
The Master of Arts in Journalism program is an interdisciplinary program requiring 24 hours of coursework: 12 hours of graduate credit in journalism and 12 hours in a second field approved by the Journalism graduate coordinator and a student's Master's Advisory Committee. Students write and have an oral defense of a thesis, for which they receive an additional 6 hours credit when completed.
Admission to the Master of Arts in Journalism program requires approval by the Graduate School as well as the Lemke Department of Journalism. Prospective students should note that admission to the Graduate School is prior to and separate from admission to the M.A. program in Journalism. Acceptance by the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Journalism program.
Areas of Concentration: Advanced journalism studies in, or combining courses from, news/editorial, broadcast/documentary or advertising/public relations. Journalism studies are supplemented with graduate-level requirements in a second academic discipline.
The purposes of the interdisciplinary program are to refine the conceptual knowledge and skills of graduate journalism students through advanced writing, production and/or theory and methods courses; to offer comprehensive, media-related courses; and to provide expertise in an additional academic discipline.
Prerequisites to Degree Program: Students must have appropriate professional experience and/or an undergraduate degree in the journalism field that are approved by the graduate coordinator as preparation for graduate study; must have a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.00; and must earn a minimum score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the Graduate Record Examinations (including a minimum score of 500 on the verbal part).
Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree: In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the Master of Arts degree in Journalism requires a minimum of 30 semester hours with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00. Students must complete:
1. 12 hours of graduate credit in journalism. All students must take JOUR 5043 - Research Methods.
2. 12 hours of graduate credit in a single department other than journalism chosen by the student and approved by the Journalism Graduate Faculty Committee. It is recommended that one of these outside courses be a theory course; and
3. a master’s thesis (6 semester hours).
Admission to the Journalism Graduate Program
Applications for admission to the Journalism graduate program are considered once they have been approved by the Graduate School and are forwarded to the department. In addition to the materials submitted to the Graduate School, applicants should send directly to the Lemke Department of Journalism:
An official record of GRE scores; a minimum score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE is required (including a minimum score of 500 on the verbal section). A letter stating the prospective student's interest in the Journalism graduate program and detailing any professional journalism experience. Supplemental information relevant to the application may also be included.
Students who have been admitted to the Graduate School but do not fully meet the requirements for admission to the Journalism program may be considered for provisional or conditional admission subject to certain conditions. In such cases students may be required to complete specified undergraduate Journalism courses and maintain a specified grade average in order to qualify for full admission. Please contact the Journalism graduate coordinator if you have any questions regarding provisional or conditional admission.
Students may also be required to meet certain prerequisites in order to take graduate courses in the second field of study.
A heavy emphasis is placed on writing and students should have strong writing skills.