Course Planning and Sequencing
Full-time and part-time options to complete an online master’s in American Journalism
The following are required to earn your degree, no matter which pathway you choose:
- The degree requires eight courses totaling 30-32 credits to complete.
- There are five required courses: Reporting the News, Feature Writing, Longform Narrative, Investigative Reporting, and Law & Ethics.
- The following courses must be taken in order: Reporting the News, Feature Writing, then Long-Form Narrative.
- Investigative Reporting should be taken after Reporting the News.
- You will complete three elective courses. The electives are Multimedia Storytelling, Audio Storytelling, The Broadcast Newsroom, Media Startups & News Innovations, and The Working Journalist.
- You may take summers off as long as you complete the program within 5 years.
- Every course is worth four credits, except The Working Journalist which is two credits.
Example Pathways to Graduation
One (3 Semester) Year Track
Fall (1st semester)
- Reporting the News
- Law & Ethics
- Elective 1 (Prerequisites may apply)
Spring (2nd semester)
- Feature Writing (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Investigative Reporting (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Elective 2 (Prerequisites may apply)
Summer (3rd semester)
- Long-Form Narrative (Prerequisites: Reporting the News, Feature Writing)
- Elective 3 (Prerequisites may apply)
One and a Half (3 – 4 Semester) Year Track
Fall (1st semester)
- Reporting the News
- Law & Ethics
- Elective 1 (Prerequisites may apply)
Spring (2nd semester)
- Feature Writing (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Investigative Reporting (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Elective 2 (Prerequisites may apply)
Summer (3rd semester)
- Long-Form Narrative (Prerequisites: Reporting the News, Feature Writing)
- Or take the summer off
Fall (4th semester)
- Long-Form Narrative (if not completed over the summer) (Prerequisites: Reporting the News, Feature Writing)
- Elective 3 (Prerequisites may apply)
Two Year (4 – 5 Semester) Track
Fall (1st semester)
- Reporting the News
- Law & Ethics
Spring (2nd semester)
- Feature Writing (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Elective 1 (Prerequisites may apply)
Summer (3rd semester)
- Long-Form Narrative (Prerequisites: Reporting the News, Feature Writing)
- Or take the summer off
Fall (4th semester)
- Investigative Reporting (Prerequisite: Reporting the News)
- Elective 2 (Prerequisites may apply)
Spring (5th semester)
- Long-Form Narrative (if not completed the previous summer) (Prerequisites: Reporting the News, Feature Writing)
- Elective 3 (Prerequisites may apply)
Complete in 2+ years (Part-time)
Students going part-time can take one course per semester or go at their own pace, as long as they honor prerequisites and graduate within 5 years.