CoJMC Graduate Studies

The M.A. in journalism and mass communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was first offered in 1974 when the Nebraska Legislature approved an amendment to a bill directing the School of Journalism to begin offering graduate courses by 1976. At the present time, the M.A. in journalism and mass communications has three areas of specialization:

• Advertising (Option I: 30-hour program with thesis)
• Broadcasting (Option I: 30-hour program with thesis)
• News-editorial (Option I: 30-hour program with thesis)
• Marketing, Communication, and Advertising (Option II: 36-hour program with two minors; no thesis required)
• Professional Journalism: News-editorial or Broadcasting (Option III: 36-hour program with professional project; no thesis required)

Applicants must specify on their applications which specialization they intend to pursue.

Information About the Graduate Program

• The following specializations are available entirely online: advertising, broadcasting, news-editorial, professional journalism.
• Students entering the program without a bachelors degree from an accredited program in journalism and mass communications may be admitted with a provisional status and will be required to complete some undergraduate journalism coursework in addition to the graduate courses. These courses may not be available online.
• An applicant's professional experience will be considered by the Journalism and Mass Communications Graduate Committee in determining the specific courses required to provide a background necessary to qualify for study in the master of arts.
• Admission to a degree program must be gained prior to the accumulation of six hours required under each of the degree options.
• Some of the graduate-level hours taken by non-degree students with post-baccalaureate status prior to admission to the degree program may be included in the program at the discretion of the Director of Journalism Graduate Studies.
• Students are responsible for meeting requirements as stated in the NU Graduate Studies bulletin at the time of admission to the program.
• The work required for a master's degree must be completed within 10 consecutive calendar years.
• A student not registered for at least one hour of graduate credit in at least two or three consecutive sessions (fall, spring and a summer session) will be considered inactive and must request reinstatement by Graduate Studies.
• A student must be registered in the session in which he or she plans to graduate.