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Journalism Education - Graduate Certificate

The Journalism Education graduate certificate is a four-course, fully online pathway to understanding the fundamentals of post-secondary/high school journalism education, from coaching students on media literacy and the role of journalism in a democratic society to advocating for their First Amendment rights. For high school teachers, it’s a potential pathway to school districts’ continuing education requirements.

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New in Fall 2023, the Journalism Education Graduate Certificate at Kent State University is offered entirely online. In as little as two semesters, you can complete the program, and feel confident you understand the fundamentals of journalism education, from coaching students on media literacy and news to advocating for their First Amendment rights.

To learn more about the Journalism Education certificate, please contact JNED@kent.edu

Who is this program for?

  • High School Teachers who are currently teaching journalism/yearbook classes or advising student media who want to earn additional certification
  • Media Professionals who wish to take graduate coursework so they can teach in a post-secondary setting
  • Anyone with a bachelor’s degree seeking further education and professional development at the intersection of media content and journalism training

This graduate certificate program is comprised of four classes (12 credit-hours), offering a quick pathway to school districts’ continuing education requirements or incentives for current teachers. It can also be a pathway to the full Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Journalism Education graduate certificate is for high school teachers who currently work as advisers in scholastic media programs in their high school schools, as well as media professionals seeking to take graduate coursework to facilitate teaching in the post-secondary space. The certificate is offered entirely online and is fashioned using information and guidelines from the School of Media and Journalism’s Center for Scholastic Journalism, a national clearinghouse for information for and about student journalists and their advisers, a research center on issues affecting scholastic media and an advocate for student press freedom, supported by an endowment from the John F. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Coursework in the certificate program combines the pedagogy and media content students need and they can take to their classrooms from day one. From coaching a novice journalism student in news norms and routines, to sharing strategies for protecting students’ First Amendment rights, students will learn what they need to know to be effective journalism educators and advisers at the high school and post-secondary levels. Students can complete this certificate in as little as two semesters.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
    • Minimum 525 TOEFL PBT score
    • Minimum 71 TOEFL IBT score
    • Minimum 74 MELAB score
    • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 50 PTE score
    • Minimum 100 Duolingo English score

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: March 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15
  • Summer Term
    • Application deadline: March 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Recognize and advocate for the importance of journalism education to the future of journalism.
  2. Employ best practices in journalism education.
  3. Articulate the role of media in a democratic society.
  4. Demonstrate fundamental journalism skills through the production of media content.
  5. Analyze and engage with the dynamics of the changing contemporary media environment.
  6. Discuss the fundamentals of media literacy and relate them to the context of journalism education.
Coursework
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Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
MDJ 60012MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS 3
MDJ 67067TEACHING MEDIA LITERACY 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:6
MDJ 60701
ADVISING STUDENT MEDIA
MDJ 66011
REPORTING, WRITING AND EDITING FOR MEDIA
MDJ 67075
MEDIA CONTENT CREATION
MDJ 67087
ADVISING YEARBOOK
Minimum Total Credit Hours:12

Graduation Requirement

Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Communications teachers, postsecondary

3.2%

about as fast as the average

35,600

number of jobs

$71,030

potential earnings

Notice:

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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