Journalism and Media
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
For More Information
Campus address: Belo Center for New Media (BMC) 3.340B, phone (512) 471-5933, fax (512) 471-7979; campus mail code: A1000
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program, School of Journalism, 300 West Dean Keeton Stop A1000, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: cnailor@austin.utexas.edu
URL: https://journalism.utexas.edu/graduate/graduate-programs-journalism
Facilities for Graduate Work
With a mix of national and international scholars, former news media executives, and journalists, the School of Journalism and Media faculty is one of the best and most balanced in the country. Students have access to excellent labs and facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, as well as several special resources. Within the College, The Center for Journalism in the Americas, the Center for Media Engagement, and the Technology & Information Policy Institute, and the Institute for Media Innovation collaborate with students and faculty in Journalism and Media by providing research opportunities and internships. The Harry Ransom Center houses such collections as the Watergate papers of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, as well as the world’s first photograph; and the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History houses a variety of archived papers from such journalism icons as Walter Cronkite and Molly Ivins. These facilities and resources support graduate study in journalism and media that is designed to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers in the professional, scholarly and public domains.
Areas of Study and Degree Requirements
The School of Journalism and Media supports a doctoral program and a Master of Arts (MA) program. Multiple areas of emphasis are available in both degrees. For MA students, the professional track, designed for students seeking professional journalism careers, is intended for multiple constituencies of students. The first type of student has an undergraduate journalism degree and/or professional journalism experience and is already familiar with journalistic techniques and can broaden and advance their job qualifications through master’s level study. The second type of student has little experience in journalism but seeks professional training to supplement an undergraduate degree in another field, including engineering or political science. The third type of student has journalism experience outside the United States and seeks to develop an understanding of the purpose, principles, and process of American journalism. The professional track requires completion of 30 semester hours of coursework.
The MA program also offers a research-and-theory track designed for students who seek a general conceptual foundation for media-related careers or who plan to pursue doctoral study in journalism and media. The research-and-theory track requires completion of 30 semester hours of coursework, including a thesis.
A professional research hybrid MA track combines courses from the professional and research-and-theory master’s tracks. The hybrid program will appeal to professionals with significant experience who seek to update their skills, especially in multimedia, or build a research-and-theory foundation for pursuing an academic career. The hybrid track requires completion of 30 semester hours of coursework, including a thesis.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in journalism and media emphasizes the interdisciplinary study of media systems, including journalism, digital media including platforms and technologies, and global media ecosystems. It cultivates expertise in multiple research methodologies Working with the faculty and the graduate adviser, each student develops an individual Program of Work. All students develop mastery of journalism and media research and theory. The program offers a variety of courses that focus on concepts, models, and theories, and includes opportunities for research and internships.1
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2020 semester.
GSC list updated fall 2020 based on spring 2020 appointments. |
|
Rosental C Alves Mary A Bock Gina Chen Wenhong Chen Hsiang Chyi Renita Beth Coleman Tracy S Dahlby Donna De Cesare Thomas Jerrold Johnson Kathleen Oveta McElroy |
Dhiraj Murthy Paula M Poindexter Stephen D Reese Mary Magdalen Rivas-Rodriguez Amy K Sanders Joseph Straubhaar Natalie J Stroud Sharon L Strover Samuel C Watkins Samuel Christopher Woolley |
Admission Requirements
Admission to the graduate program in journalism and media is competitive, and a number of criteria are carefully considered in admissions decisions. Students admitted to the Master of Arts program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Students admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy program must hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution.1
Dual Degree Programs
The School of Journalism and Media offers the following dual degree programs in cooperation with other divisions of the University. Each dual-degree arrangement requires completion of a master's report or thesis that applies to both fields of study and is supervised or co-supervised by a faculty member from the School of Journalism and Media. More information is available from the graduate adviser in each program.
| Field(s) of Study | Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Business administration | Master of Business Administration |
| Latin American studies | Master of Arts |
| Global policy studies | Master of Global Policy Studies |
| Middle Eastern studies | Master of Arts |
| Public affairs | Master of Public Affairs |
| 1 | Added fall 2020.
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