Master of Arts in Journalism

The Master of Arts in Journalism is a research-oriented, thesis program of 30 credits. The program is intended for experienced journalists, academics, and others who are looking for a more scholarly master’s program. Students in the M.A. program must successfully complete a thesis under the supervision of a graduate advisor. Students must complete a theory class, a methods class, and 6 credits of master’s thesis research.

Sports Focus

The sports journalism focus at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism provides master’s students an opportunity to learn about sports coverage in the modern era while gaining hands-on experience covering teams in the Washington-Baltimore region. The college offers a number of sports-related courses, such as sports reporting, sports broadcasting, and sports media and society. In addition, the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism offers a wide range of learning opportunities with panel discussions, student workshops, and even a summer camp. There are additional opportunities to cover sports with Capital News Service, the Diamondback student news outlet, the student-run WMUC radio, and the Maryland Athletic Department’s TerpsTV. Big Ten Network also provides opportunities for our students to learn by doing.

Investigative Focus

The investigative focus is taught by an experienced faculty of award-winning journalists, including Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporters Dana Priest and Deborah Nelson, and Mark Feldstein, a former Emmy award-winning investigative correspondent at CNN. The concentration offers courses in investigative journalism, data reporting, national security, cybersecurity, urban affairs, and history. The program offers opportunities to travel abroad for research and reporting. Even more, opportunities are available through the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.

Computational and Data Focus

This focus offers the opportunity to develop data-driven reporting, analysis, and visualization skills in the context of journalistic work. Students will advance their knowledge of web development, as well as interactive design and coding in languages such as JavaScript and Python. Courses in computer-assisted journalism, storytelling with data visualization and computational journalism help students develop portfolios of interactive, data-driven projects.

About

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland , consistently ranked among the world's top journalism schools, develops journalists and media scholars with rigorous reporting, research and analytical skills, a commitment to ethics, and an appreciation for the First Amendment’s key role in a free society.

Located a few miles from the United States capital, Washington, D.C., the college employs acclaimed researchers and repeat winners of journalism’s top awards — including the Pulitzer, Peabody, and Emmy awards — and prepares students to join a dynamic profession.

Merrill College students — who enjoy small classes but also have access to the resources and opportunities available at one of the nation's top public universities — leave Maryland with strong writing and visual skills, a command of technology, and a nuanced understanding of data analysis and audience engagement.

In 2019, College Choice ranked Merrill College the No. 6 journalism school in the U.S., and College Factual ranked the college No. 7.

Merrill College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

What To Expect

• A focus on fundamentals combined with 21st-century video and digital storytelling skills and an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that journalists need to succeed in a changing world
• Access to real-world internships in the best regional media market in the world
• An opportunity to work in the hands-on, teaching newsrooms in Annapolis, Washington, and Baltimore that we call Capital News Service
• The chance to do important work with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, a nationally decorated center that publishes journalism with worldwide impact, or The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, a national leader in preparing the next generation of sports journalists
• Small class sizes that ensure one-on-one interaction with some of the best in journalism education today
• A full-time and part-time faculty that includes a prestigious mix of journalists and scholars who have won Pulitzers, Emmys, and other awards
• An education that will prepare you for success in numerous careers. Many alumni have successful careers in journalism. Others have gone on to law school, started their own businesses, or used their communications skills to work for corporations and nonprofits. The skills students learn here are a valued asset in the real world