Media and Journalism - M.A.

Kent State's graduate degree in Media and Journalism is an interdisciplinary program that provides a strong foundation to succeed in a rapidly changing media industry. Courses are dynamic and professionally relevant. An optional, fully online concentration in Journalism Education gives current and future educators the tools needed to effectively teach journalism and advise scholastic media at the high school/post-secondary level. 

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Program Information for Media and Journalism - M.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Media and Journalism is designed to give students a solid background in preparation for a professional career. Students are able to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses that allow them to craft a graduate degree that reflects their career interest. Courses are dynamic, challenging and professionally relevant. With small class sizes, students are able to learn from their professors and from the experiences of their fellow classmates, many of whom are working media professionals or nationally recognized journalism educators.

The School of Media and Journalism provides its students with a strong foundation to achieve their goals in the rapidly changing media industry. All students take a series of core courses that provide the foundation for a career in media and journalism and develop a specialization through the selection of elective courses that can be within or outside of the school. One student may choose to hone skills as a multimedia journalist focusing on public affairs, while another may seek to develop expertise as a public relations professional for not-for-profit organizations.

Admissions for Media and Journalism - M.A.

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

Applications to the M.A. degree in Media and Journalism are not being accepted at this time.

  • 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
  • Writing sample1
  • Two letters of recommendation2
  • 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:3
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score
1

A minimum of one writing sample will be required. The writing sample may be a news article, script from a news story, paper submitted for a college course, personal essay about a topics of interest or some other original non-fictional written work.

2

At least one letter must be from a college professor who is familiar with the applicant's work. If the applicant has significant work experience (five or more years), the letter from a college professor may be replaced with a letter from an employer who is familiar with the applicant's work.

3

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

Admission 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

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Communicate effectively across multiple platforms.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of relevant ethical and legal frameworks in their disciplines.
  3. Ground their professional work in relevant theories.
  4. Represent high levels of professionalism.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
MDJ 60011THEORY AND SOCIETAL ROLE OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 60012MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS 3
MDJ 61001PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF DIGITAL MEDIA 3
MDJ 66011REPORTING, WRITING AND EDITING FOR MEDIA 3
Major-Approved Electives, choose from the following:15
Communication Studies (COMM) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Health Informatics (HI) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Knowledge Management (KM) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Library and Information Science (LIS) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Media and Journalism (MDJ) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
User Experience Design (UXD) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Visual Communication Design (VCD) Graduate (50000 level or higher) Courses
Advisor-Approved Courses
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:3-6
MDJ 60199
THESIS I
MDJ 60399
MASTER'S PROFESSIONAL PROJECT
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Minimum 50 percent of coursework must have the Media and Journalism (MDJ) course subject.
  • Maximum 4 credit hours of workshop courses (xxx93) may count toward the degree.
  • 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

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Applications to the M.A. degree in Media and Journalism are not being accepted at this time.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Media and Journalism - M.A.

Communications teachers, postsecondary

3.2%

about as fast as the average

35,600

number of jobs

$71,030

potential earnings

Editors

-7.3%

decline

118,700

number of jobs

$63,400

potential earnings

News analysts, reporters, and journalists

-11.2%

decline

52,000

number of jobs

$49,300

potential earnings

Proofreaders and copy markers

-2.7%

decline

10,300

number of jobs

$41,140

potential earnings

Public relations specialists

7.2%

faster than the average

274,600

number of jobs

$62,810

potential earnings

Writers and authors

-2.3%

decline

131,200

number of jobs

$67,120

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.
Where Brain and Machine Meet

Leigh Hochberg, M.D., Ph.D., gives the keynote address at the 11th Annual Neuroscience Symposium at Kent State University.

Imagine a tiny microsensor implanted in someone’s brain, allowing that person to transfer their thoughts through the sensor and into a computer where they would appear as text on screen – opening a world of communication that previously had been cut off for patients with paralysis or other diseases.  Those types of innovations and medical breakthroughs were the topic of “Brain-Machine Interfaces in Health and Disease,” Kent State University’s 11th Annual Neuroscience Symposium, sponsored by the Brain Health Research Institute (BHRI). The symposium took place on Oct. 26-27, at the ...
EHHS Featured Faculty - Jennifer Ray-Tomasek

Professor Jennifer Ray Tomasek

Jennifer Ray-Tomasek, an assistant professor in the School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration, answered 10 questions for the EHHS Featured Faculty series. Q: What subject(s) do you teach? I’m the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Professional Studies (PROS) program, a degree-completion program serving students in our own college of EHHS, or students who have returned to college after a long while and simply need a good path forward to obtaining a college degree.  I teach several courses for the program, including a Seminar course, a course on Leadership skills, an...

Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate meets the growing opportunity to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

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Apply Now
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Schedule a visit

Program Information for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate provides communication professionals and recent graduates the skills and understanding to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

Certificate graduates will have the practical skills to respond to the dynamism that defines contemporary society. Based on current employment statistics and forecasts, the Communication the Advocacy certificate will position graduates for career advancement in multiple employment sectors.

Admissions for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

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)
  • Goal statement
  • Sample of scholarly writing
  • Three 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 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

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

Application Deadline

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: April 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15

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

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Incorporate theories from the field of communication to address advocacy challenges.
  2. Identify advocacy intervention strategies for a variety of target audiences.
  3. Assess communication needs and evaluate advocacy intervention efficacy.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
COMM 65000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:9
COMM 65070
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
COMM 65662
MEDIA EFFECTS
COMM 65686
GLOBAL CULTURES, INTERGROUP COMMUNICATION AND IDENTITIES
COMM 65851
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 66501
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
Minimum Total Credit Hours:12

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Social and community service managers

17.0%

much faster than the average

175,500

number of jobs

$69,600

potential earnings

Public relations and fundraising managers

9.2%

much faster than the average

88,000

number of jobs

$118,430

potential earnings

Advertising and promotions managers

-1.1%

decline

28,600

number of jobs

$133,460

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.

Grant awarded to Kent State Geauga to provide occupational safety & health training

As part of a $75,000 grant from OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grants Program, Kent State at Geauga is building upon a federally funded, no-cost training program designed to help ensure safe and healthy workplaces in our community. Consistent with its ongoing commitment to lead regional workforce development, Kent State Geauga first offered training sessions in chemical/health hazards safety and workplace violence prevention this past summer.

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