Take your education a step further with a Master of Arts in Journalism designed to advance your skills and prepare you for careers in teaching, management, or research.
“College only lasts a few years. Take advantage of that time. As a French student, I can tell you there are so many more opportunities I got while studying here than I would have had in France, in terms of student life, academics and work opportunities.”
Elise-Joelle Denoulet
M.A. Journalism, ‘22
It would be hard to imagine a better place for a journalist to study the art of storytelling at the graduate level than the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. This fabled place that William Faulkner once called his personal “postage stamp of native soil” was indeed fertile soil for writers even before Faulkner began penning his stories and novels.
Famed theater critic, journalist and novelist Stark Young lived and taught here at the turn of the last century. A long list of other writers and journalists—from legendary Harper’s editor Willie Morris to CBS News White House correspondent Randall Pinkston–have contributed to the mystique of this unique and special place where storytelling, whether written, spoken or seen in vivid images, is the very core of our mission as a journalism program.
The priority deadline to apply is February 1 and the final deadline is March 15.
M.A. in Journalism
30
Master's Program
2 years
While enrolled in the graduate program, Taylor Tucker began working with local news station WTVA. After graduation, she landed a full-time role. You can now find Taylor on the news each morning.
“News has earned my heart, and I plan to continue my journey as a news anchor and reporter. It’s comforting to know I now have my master’s and plan to utilize it in my career.”
Broadcast Journalist, M.A. Journalism '22
Below is a selection of some of the coursework that students in the M.A. in Journalism program will take. View the courses catalog for a full look at course offerings.
GR
3 credits
Development of skills in conceiving, documenting, recording, and presenting information at broadcast standards as mini-documentaries in television newscasts or as 30-minute and 60-minute documentary programs.
GR
3 credits
This course will teach journalists how to communicate effectively using graphical content, multimedia, and interactive elements. They will learn how to create a deliberate blend of these elements in order to add value to their storytelling. They will acquire new "hard" skills but also cultivate critical "soft skills" -- adjusting their news sensibilities to accommodate an unceasing news cycle and to think of journalism in terms of an ongoing process.
GR
3 credits
In-depth, non-fiction narrative writing course for print, radio and online, consisting of features, profiles, personal essays, travel writing and sports analysis. Considers the practice of narrative journalism within the context of American journalism-literay history and within the context of daily news, giving student writers an expansive platform to explore topics of interest.
GR
3 credits
An analysis of politics in the southern United States; examination of the role of the press in covering social issues; techniques used to inform the public about phenomena such as protest movements and their impact on social, political, and economic change.
GR
3 credits
Formulation and discussion of professional ethics for journalists. Analysis of social forces affecting media performance.
GR
3 credits
The course deals with the role of media in promoting peace. Factors such as culture, religion, history, myth making, stereotyping, and insecurity will be examined.
Meet Dr. Smith, the graduate dean who helps guide future journalists through this rich tradition and toward careers shaped by craft, voice, and vision. If you have any questions about the Master of Arts in Journalism program, she’s happy to connect and help you learn more about opportunities in the program.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Media and Communication
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?
