Required Graduate Courses

The information provided here is for students enrolled in the academic M.A. and Ph.D. in Mass Communication programs in the SJMC.

(Students in the M.A. in Professional Strategic Communication and M.A. in Health Journalism should visit those Web sites for information on required courses for those degrees.)

All M.A. and Ph.D. students in Mass Communications must include four required core courses in their degree programs, beginning with Journalism 8001 and Journalism 8002, which examine the logic, values, pivotal literature, predominant theoretical orientations, and general methodology of the social sciences and the humanities.

Further core courses, chosen in accordance with students' research interests, explore social science or humanities methods and content more deeply and involve hands-on research experience. All M.A. or Ph.D. degree coursework must be 5xxx-level or 8xxx-level; inclusion of 4xxx-level courses on degree programs is subject to adviser and Director of Graduate Studies approval.

Social Science Methodology Core
Jour 8001: Studies in Mass Communication I
Jour 8002: Studies in Mass Communication II
Jour 8501: The Process of Quantitative Mass Communication Research
Jour 8502: Mass Communication Research Design

Humanities Methodology Core
Jour 8001: Studies in Mass Communication I
Jour 8002: Studies in Mass Communication II

And two of the following:

Jour 8601: Methods in Mass Communication History Research
Jour 8679: Research Methods in Media Ethics and Law
One complementary methodology course offered inside or outside the SJMC

Foreign Language
For the master's program, foreign language study is recommended for students in international mass communication. Doctoral students pursuing international study are expected to have or obtain high language proficiency in an appropriate area. Doctoral students in other areas are encouraged to consult with their advisers in their chosen specializations.