M.A. in Journalism & Public Affairs
(Degree Requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2013– 2014) * Subject to change as warranted *
The 33 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required SOC Courses (12 Credit Hours)
COMM-624: Boot Camp for Journalists
Boot Camp introduces students to the MA in Journalism program, to Washington, D.C., and to basic digital
skill sets. The intense schedule focuses on information gathering, writing, reporting and producing for a
variety of media platforms. Emphasis is on fundamentals of critical thinking news judgment, interviewing,
ethics and verification -- all against a backdrop of a changing media industry. Prerequisite: admission to
graduate journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-724: Reporting of Public Affairs
Professional training in news gathering, writing, interviewing, producing and editing on-deadline news
stories -- with a focus on--and--in Washington, D.C., and emphasis on coverage of domestic and
international issues. Students develop research and ethical reporting skills for in-depth assignments across
media platforms, learning the mission of journalism in democracy. Prerequisite: admission to graduate
journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-621: Online News Production
Writing and editing of online news. Students learn basic storytelling, copyediting skills and AP style,
headline writing, good news judgment, story and visual selection, producing multimedia stories, includes
discussion of legal and ethical issues and trends in news coverage and audiences. Prerequisite: admission to
graduate journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-601: Communication Law (Required for all tracks, must earn “B” (3.0) or better)
Practical introduction to the U.S. legal system and to laws, regulations, and current cases involving media.
Includes a broad understanding of libel, copyright, advertising regulation and First Amendment protections
across traditional and emerging media platforms. Introduction to legal writing and research, reasoning and
analytic skills. Prerequisite: admission to graduate journalism program or permission of the division director.
Semester
Grade
Summer 2013
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Specialties – Choose either Investigative, International, or Broadcast
Investigative Journalism Specialty (9 Credit Hours)
COMM-500: Investigative Journalism Practicum This course will involve students working in groups on long-form investigative projects with The Washington
Post and other organizations and institutions, which work as partners with the school. Students will
demonstrate high-level research and journalistic skills while completing in-depth projects.
Prerequisite: admission to the journalism program and permission of the division director.
COMM-607: International Investigative Journalism
This course dives into the history and trends in international investigative reporting, where journalists are
uncovering government and corporate corruption, human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and
threats to health and safety. Students learn investigative techniques and complete a semester-long project.
Prerequisite: admission to graduate journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-501: Data Driven Journalism This course reviews the history and trends in computer-assisted reporting. The course provides students
with basic skills in using spreadsheets, databases, programming, and data visualization in a journalistic
context. Prerequisite: admission to the journalism program and permission of the division director.
COMM-502: In-Depth Journalism Introduces students to the history, purposes, power, and responsibilities of investigative journalism. Also
introduces students to the specialized reporting and interviewing techniques of investigative reporting and
requires students to develop these skills while participating in a group investigative journalism project. Prerequisite: admission to graduate journalism program or permission of the division director.
International Journalism Specialty (9 Credit Hours)
COMM-648: Topics in International Media: Propaganda
The course explores modern and historical, with an emphasis on propaganda in democracies, emerging
media in international relations, and resistance to propaganda. Research projects include documenting soft
power/soft revolution politics, today’s propaganda systems, relevant social science research, intelligence
agencies and self-deception, and exploiting mainstream media.
.Prerequisite: minimum 2.5 GPA.
COMM-607: International Investigative Journalism This course dives into the history and trends in international investigative reporting, where journalists are
uncovering government and corporate corruption, human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and
threats to health and safety. Students learn investigative techniques and complete a semester-long project.
Prerequisite: admission to the journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-548: Global Journalism The critical issues facing journalists and the news media on a global scale. Examines diversity of
international news media and focuses on trends such as the power and influence of global media moguls,
the threats of violence and detention that confront journalists around the world, and the role of the news
media in the process of political change.
Semester
Grade
Fall 2013 or
Spring 2014
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Semester
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Grade
COMM-546: Foreign Policy and the Press The role of the American news media in the coverage of foreign policy issues. Philosophical issues include
whether freedom of the press is adequately exercised in the foreign policy field and whether the national
media sometimes serve as propagandists for the United States government. Students should be prepared to
engage in adversarial debates over key issues.
Broadcast Journalism Specialty (9 Credit Hours)
COMM-721: Digital Audio Production Writing, reporting, interviewing, and digital editing of audio stories. The class emphasizes radio news
production, including commercial and public radio style, and narrative and non-narrative storytelling.
Students work under deadline, creating radio newscasts and/or podcasts, and build an online portfolio of
audio, web stories, and audio-photo slideshows. Prerequisite: admission to the journalism program or
permission of the division director.
COMM-632: Backpack Video Journalism
Instruction in production of video news packages. Techniques of shooting and editing in Final Cut Pro.
Learning to write-to-video, vocal delivery, merging of script, videotape, and graphics into the final product.
Prerequisite: admission to the journalism program or permission of the division director.
COMM-722 Advanced Television and Video Production
Producing, writing, reporting, and non-linear editing of television newscasts and other television news
magazine formats. Field reporting and line producing daily newscasts under deadline. Live production for
television and post-production for Digital platforms. News topics include local, national, and international
news also including health, sports, entertainment and weather. Prerequisite: admission to the journalism
program or permission of the division director.
Capstone (3 Credit Hours – Choose 1 of the following)
COMM-720: Capstone Seminar in Journalism
Examines ethical and economic issues affected the press, looking at understanding the changes sweeping
the media landscape. A critical examination of important issues in contemporary journalism with an
emphasis on confronting and challenging assumptions about the news media and their influence. Can
include communication history, research and methodology. Prerequisite: admission to graduate journalism
program or permission of the division director.
COMM-725: In-Depth Broadcast Production Capstone
Students will create an in-depth video project as part of this course that demonstrates an understanding of
reporting and producing that highlights research, multimedia story-telling skills, and adept use of long-form
journalism techniques. Students will demonstrate advanced writing, videography, and editing skills in this
course. Prerequisite: COMM-632 and COMM-722 or permission of the division director.
Electives (9 Credit hours – Choose 3 of the following)
COMM 503 Broadcast and Multi-Media Journalism Mgt
COMM-504: Journalism Ethics
COMM-509: Politics and the Media
COMM-514: Censorship and Media
COMM-521: Opinion Writing
COMM-522: Writing for Convergent Media
COMM-535: Fundamentals of News Design
COMM-535: Health, Science & Environmental Reporting
COMM-544: Foreign Correspondence
COMM-545: Business & Economic Journalism
COMM-588: Race, Ethnic & Community Reporting
COMM-633: Broadcast Delivery
COMM-637: Multimedia Storytelling
COMM-691: Graduate Internship (One 3 credit internship is allowed in the MA program)
Spring 2014
Semester
Grade
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Semester
Grade
Summer 2014
Summer 2014
Semester
Grade