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Journalism Education - M.A.

The M.A. in Journalism Education is designed for high school teachers and transitioning media professionals. Course content focuses on what teachers and media advisers need to know to be effective journalism educators in the digital age: from the latest technology for multimedia storytelling to strategies to protect students’ First Amendment rights.

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The Master of Arts degree in Journalism Education prepares individuals to teach journalism and advise student media in K-12 and higher education settings. The program is affiliated with Kent State's Center for Scholastic Journalism.

This one-of-a-kind program offers current educators and media advisors formal training and continuing education in journalism and is ideal for high school teachers who are currently teaching journalism or yearbook, or who are advising student media and wish to earn graduate credit in journalism.

It also prepares journalists and media practitioners to transition from professional newsrooms to student newsrooms, and to journalism classrooms in colleges, high schools and middle schools. Media professionals who wish to take graduate coursework to facilitate teaching in the post-secondary space will also find these flexible programs to be a great fit. 

 

Upcoming Events to Learn More

Curious about graduate school? Join the College of Communication and Information on Thursday, October 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to get your questions answered, hear firsthand from current graduate students and connect with the people and resources who can help you take the next step. This event will feature a resource fair where you can learn more about our programs and panels from graduate students and staff talking about the graduate student experience at Kent State University! To learn more and register for the event, please visit the Kent State University Graduate Fair 2026 page.

Considering applying to Kent State University as a domestic student? From Monday, October 19 through Monday, October 26, all domestic graduate applicants can apply to graduate programs for free. We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of the opportunity and consider applying to the program(s) that interest you. For information about your program's application criteria, please visit the program's catalog page.

 

 

Program Information for Journalism Education - M.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Journalism Education is intended for those seeking to teach or advise student journalists. The program is affiliated with Kent State's Center for Scholastic Journalism, and faculty include some of the most-recognized high school journalism educators in the country.

The program provides continuing education opportunities to high school teachers who are responsible for teaching and advising an array of student media content, including school social media channels, yearbook, school newspaper, video and photography. The program also serves practicing journalists who are transitioning to teaching in the higher education arena.

The curriculum focuses on foundational knowledge in media and journalism, as well as pedagogical practices that students can apply to secondary and post-secondary teaching environments. The program highlights the core concepts of First Amendment press freedom, media literacy and the role of media in society — scaffolding that knowledge with content creation skills across an array of media platforms. Interwoven with those knowledge areas and skillsets are best practices in the teaching of scholastic media to high school and college students.

Students complete a culminating integrated learning experience through designated course assignments from each of the six core courses. Each of the six assignments give the student the opportunity to create a deliverable suitable for use in a classroom setting such as a lesson plan, class activity, handbook or instruction manual or other asset.

Admissions for Journalism Education - M.A.

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)
  • Résumé or vitae
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 50 PTE score
    • Minimum 100 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

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

On This Page

Program Requirements
Major Requirements
MDJ 60011THEORY AND SOCIETAL ROLE OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 60012MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS 3
MDJ 60701ADVISING STUDENT MEDIA 3
MDJ 61001PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF DIGITAL MEDIA 3
MDJ 66011REPORTING, WRITING AND EDITING FOR MEDIA 3
MDJ 67067TEACHING MEDIA LITERACY 3
Major Electives, choose from the following: 112
MDJ 67075
MEDIA CONTENT CREATION
MDJ 67087
ADVISING YEARBOOK
LIS 60030
PEOPLE IN THE INFORMATION ECOLOGY
LIS 60510
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES I: DATA FUNDAMENTALS
LIS 60511
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES II: INTERNET FUNDAMENTALS
LIS 60512
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES III: INFORMATION SYSTEMS FUNDAMENTALS
LIS 60617
INFORMATION LITERACY FOR YOUTH
LIS 60630
REFERENCE SOURCES AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH
LIS 60652
FOUNDATIONS OF RECORDKEEPING IN SOCIETY
LIS 61095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN INFORMATION STUDIES
UX 60504
ACCESSIBILITY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30
1

This is not an exhaustive list of courses. Students may choose other courses with consultation from their faculty advisor to identify the electives most relevant to their professional goals.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Evidence of the creation of a digital portfolio to showcase students' deliverables and to capture their reflections as they complete the program as approved by graduate coordinator.
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

  • Delivery
    • Fully Online

What does delivery mean?

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries for Journalism Education - M.A.

Communications teachers, postsecondary

2.1%

slower than the average

35,800

number of jobs

$77,800

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* 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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