Journalism (JOMJ)

Graduate Degree Program
College: Journalism

abstract

The Master of Journalism degree is a nonthesis program that requires 30 to 37 credits, depending on students' experience and whether they are invited to spend an extra semester working on a multidisciplinary team with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.

This program is intended for students who want to work as professional journalists after graduation. M.J. students’ degree program culminates in a review of their journalism portfolio by a panel of faculty and professionals. There is no thesis requirement for M.J. students.

Broadcast journalism students will complete their program deeply prepared for a career as a broadcast news reporter. Students may also choose to take electives in studio production, investigative journalism, sports journalism or other areas. Multiplatform journalism students may take a sequence of courses in data journalism, investigative journalism, sports journalism, visual journalism, radio/podcasting, audience engagement or other areas. Or, students may choose to take courses in multiple areas.

In their final required semester, M.J. students enroll in a six-credit capstone course in one of the Capital News Service (CNS) bureaus on campus, in Annapolis or in Washington, D.C.

For more information about the program, visit go.umd.edu/MasterJournalism.

contact

Serap Rada, Ph.D.
Philip Merrill College of Journalism
Knight Hall
7765 Alumni Dr.
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.2513
Email: sdrada@umd.edu

Website: http://www.merrill.umd.edu

Courses: JOUR

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• CV/Resume
• Writing Samples (3)
• Portfolio PDF Upload (optional)
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
• Supplementary Application (optional, contact dept. for details)

For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

Application Deadlines

Other Deadlines: Please visit the program website at http://www.merrill.umd.edu

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, consistently ranked among the world's top journalism schools, develops journalists and media scholars with rigorous reporting, research and analytical skills, a commitment to ethics, and an appreciation for the First Amendment’s key role in a free society.

Located a few miles from the United States capital, Washington, D.C., the college employs acclaimed researchers and repeat winners of journalism’s top awards —  including the Pulitzer, Peabody and Emmy awards — and prepares students to join a dynamic profession.

Merrill College students — who enjoy small classes but also have access to the resources and opportunities available at one of the nation's top public universities — leave Maryland with strong writing and visual skills, a command of technology, and a nuanced understanding of data analysis and audience engagement.

Several online services rank Merrill College among the top journalism schools in the country, including No. 2 by Course Advisor (2023), No. 3 by College Rank (2024), No. 4 by Universities.com (2024), No. 5 by CollegeVine (2024), No. 5 by Transizion (2024), No. 6 by CollegeRanker (2024), No. 6 by Successful Student (2024), No. 7 by AP Guru (2021), No. 8 by College Transitions (2024) and No. 8 by College Factual (2024). 

What To Expect

• A focus on fundamentals combined with 21st-century video and digital storytelling skills and an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that journalists need to succeed in a changing world
• Access to real-world internships in the best regional media market in the world
• An opportunity to work in the hands-on, teaching newsrooms in Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore that we call Capital News Service
• The chance to do important work with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, a nationally decorated center that publishes journalism with worldwide impact, or The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, a national leader in preparing the next generation of sports journalists
• Small class sizes that ensure one-on-one interaction with some of the best in journalism education today
• A full-time and part-time faculty that includes a prestigious mix of journalists and scholars who have won Pulitzers, Emmys and other awards
• An education that will prepare you for success in numerous careers. Many alumni have successful careers in journalism. Others have gone on to law school, started their own businesses or used their communications skills to work for corporations and nonprofits. The skills students learn here are a valued asset in the real world

Merrill College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. 

https://merrill.umd.edu/about

To view faculty information, please visit https://merrill.umd.edu/about/faculty-and-staff