StudyQA — Master: Specialized Journalism — University of Southern California

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism is a program geared toward experienced journalists seeking subjectmatter expertise and toward experienced professionals in other fields seeking journalism skills to advance their expertise. The program is also open to recent School of Journalism graduates with records of excellence in their university classes and internships and a demonstrated aptitude and commitment to developing an expertise in a specialized field of reporting.

Students must begin the program in summer term, enrolling in a required 4-unit, intensive session course focused on journalism and society and on digital media. In addition to the formal classes, the course includes multimedia skills workshops. This gateway course provides the master's students with a working knowledge of the specialized journalism and the multimedia storytelling skills necessary for study in the program. It sets the stage for two semesters of access to courses as substantively broad as a major research university such as USC makes available and for advanced courses in the School of Journalism's graduate program.

In the fall semester, students will enroll in two courses in the School of Journalism, including a critical thinking course for journalists and a specialized reporting course. With the advice of their academic adviser and faculty mentors, students will select elective course work totaling 8 units appropriate to their fields of specialization. These courses will be drawn from regular graduate and 400-level courses taught across the university. Students also will begin research for their master's professional project. Thesis topics must be approved in advance by faculty. These projects will be extended works of journalism, such as a full-length magazine article, similar radio, television or multimedia treatments or the equivalent in their professional field.

In the spring semester, students will enroll in a journalism seminar focused on the reporting and analysis of decision-making and typically an approved elective in the Annenberg School. Students will also enroll in elective course work totaling 8 units, chosen again from offerings across the university and in consultation with their faculty mentors. Finally, students will complete their master's professional project.

The nine-and-a-half-month program has been designed for a fall and spring semester enrollment cycle; however, students may also elect to complete the program on a part-time basis, but must start with the intensive summer course.

Studies toward the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism require 34 units of prescribed courses and approved electives. No more than 10 units of 400-level course work may be applied toward the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism.

MA in Specialized Journalism students normally enroll in JOUR 594a (2 units), JOUR 594b (2 units) in their single year of study.

Course Requirements (34 Units)

JOUR 580 Introduction to Specialized Journalism Units: 4
JOUR 582 Specialized Journalism: Reporting Decisions Units: 2
JOUR 594a Master's Thesis Units: 2
JOUR 594b Master's Thesis Units: 2
JOUR 595 Critical Thinking: The Art and Science of Not Getting Fooled Units: 3

One course from:

JOUR 571 Advanced Sports Reporting Units: 3
JOUR 572 Reporting on Entertainment and Popular Culture Units: 3
JOUR 578 Reporting on Globalization Units: 3
JOUR 584 Specialized Reporting: Education, Youth and Learning Units: 3
JOUR 585 Specialized Reporting: Religion Units: 3
JOUR 586 Specialized Reporting: Science Units: 3
JOUR 588 Cities, Climate and Risk Units: 3
JOUR 589 Specialized Reporting: The Changing U.S. Population Units: 3
JOUR 596 Follow the Money: Business and Economics Reporting Units: 3
Plus 18 units of approved elective courses Units: 18*

Note:

*One elective course must be taken from an Annenberg School program in COMM, CMGT, JOUR or PUBD.

Upload official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (including USC) to the Academic History section of the application.

Include the legend for domestic institutions and the grading scale for international institutions.
International transcripts should include the original language and the English translation as one document.
Do not upload transcripts from your student portal.

Upload the following documents before submitting your application:

CV/ Résumé
Personal Statement
Writing Sample
Copy of your official passport (International Applicants only)
Proof of Financial Support (International Applicants Only)

Official Transcripts

After receiving your USC ID*, mail official transcripts (original language and English translation) from all colleges and universities attended and any study abroad programs to:

University of Southern California
Office of Graduate Admission
3601 South Flower St., Room 112
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915

*USC Graduate Admission will send your USC ID via email 2-3 days after you submit your online graduate admission application.

All program materials must be submitted online with the application in English. Once the application has been submitted, you may not upload or change any program materials. Once submitted, all materials and documents become the property of USC and will not be returned.

Recommendations

Create online profiles in the Program Materials section of the application by providing names and email addresses of your recommenders. Your recommenders will be sent instructions on how to submit a recommendation. USC Annenberg only accepts online recommendations.

Testing Requirements

Valid test scores must be reported electronically from the testing agency to USC (code 4852 for GRE and TOEFL. For IELTS, select University of Southern California Graduate Programs).

GRE scores are valid if taken July 2012 or later.
International applicants must submit valid TOEFL or IELTS scores; scores are valid if taken July 2015 or later.
International applicants who completed their entire undergraduate degree in the United States or another Anglophone country where English is both the language of instruction and the only official language of the country are exempt from submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores. Completing a graduate degree in an Anglophone county does not exempt you from submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Complete all admission testing as early as possible and no later than one month prior to the application deadline.