Program Overview

Stony Brook’s MS in journalism focuses on coverage of health, science, the environment and technology. It offers a small, student-centered program designed to serve a wide range of people, including those with journalism backgrounds and those with science or health backgrounds who are seeking other career options. Teachers with real-world experience, working in an up-to-date $1.3 million newsroom, help students build their skills in print, video, broadcast, and multimedia. Proximity to New York City gives our students access to valuable internships and a wide range of visiting lecturers.

The Master of Science in journalism is a new, 40-credit program that started in July, 2011. It can be completed by full-time students in three semesters and one summer, although students may choose to take more time. In most cases, students will enter the program in the summer semester. As the only journalism masters degree program in the State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook’s program charges less than comparable programs in private universities.

Our students will learn to cover the issues shaping our future — issues like climate change, health care policy, stem cell research, food safety, clean energy sources and computer security. We take advantage of the rich resources in science and health at Stony Brook and its affiliated institutions, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. But although we focus on coverage of science and related fields, the skills learned will serve our graduates well no matter what kind of journalism they pursue.

• Introduction to News Media Concepts and Institutions( 3 credit)
• Basic Reporting and Writing for Journalism( 3 credit)
• Television Reporting and Editing( 3 credit)
• Techniques for Online Multimedia( 3 credit)
• Health, Environment, Science and Technology Reporting ( 6 credit)
• The Big Story: Science Issues Seminar( 3 credit)
• Reporting in New York City( 3 credit)
• Advanced Multimedia Reporting( 3 credit)
• Investigative Reporting Techniques( 3 credit)
• Ethics, Law and Journalistic Judgment( 3 credit)
• Advanced Television and Video Reporting( 3 credit)
• Television Production (3 credit)
• Independent Study( 0-6 credit)
• Graduate Internship(0-6 credits)
• Journalism Workshops(1 credit)
• Journalism Without Walls Prep (1 credit)
• Long-Form Reporting: Master’s Project( 4 credit)
• Journalism Without Walls
( 3 credit)

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelors degree with a 3.0 GPA or better from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools.
• Official GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) scores. Applicants can submit scores from the MCAT, DAT, or GMAT instead of the GRE. This requirement is waived for applicants who have a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three references that can address the applicant’s capacity to succeed in the field of health and science journalism or related fields and complete a course of graduate study. If the applicant is a student or has graduated within the last two years, at least one letter must be from a faculty member with whom the applicant has studied. If the applicant has been working as a journalist, at least one letter must be from an editor or supervisor familiar with the applicant’s work.
• Portfolio of journalistic work (3-5 samples of your work) or a 500-word essay on an issue of current interest in science, health, the environment or technology, explaining why you think this issue is important.
• Interview, if requested by the Admissions Committee. We expect to interview candidates whenever possible.
• Licensed health professionals need proof of licensure and good standing

Additional Requirements for International Students

• International students who trained in non-English-speaking schools and live in a non-English-speaking country are required to take the TOEFL exam. The expected minimum score is 100 for the Internet-Based Test, 250 for the Computer-Based Test and 600 for the Paper-Based Test.

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Financial Opportunities 

1) GRADUATE COUNCIL FELLOWSHIP 

Graduate Council fellowships are available for exceptionally qualified incoming doctoral students. These fellowships are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. GCF candidates are nominated by their respective graduate program. The Graduate Council Fellowships and Awards Committee reviews and ranks candidate files. Typically, 45 fellowships are awarded each academic year; each fellowship is renewable for up to five years.

Typically, a Graduate Council fellowship supplements the program’s offer of support with a $50,000 fellowship (over the five-year support period). These awards also provide a full tuition scholarship and subsidized health insurance coverage.

 2) TURNER FELLOWSHIPS 

The W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship is a Graduate Fellowship Program for qualified underrepresented students whose immediate academic plans include obtaining graduate or professional degrees in a variety of disciplines including the biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine, humanities, engineering, and the arts.

3)  EXTERNAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Graduate School compiles and updates information received from various funding agencies and private foundations that offer funding opportunities to graduate students and/or post docs. 

4)  CHILD BIRTH ACCOMODATION POLICY