This program offers a specialization in the study of mass communication phenomena and emphasizes communication research, theory and methodology. It prepares students for doctoral studies. Students take foundation courses in common with beginning Ph.D. students.
Given the interdisciplinary nature of the field, students are expected to take courses outside the school. The nature and extent of this work is determined by students in consultation with their advisers. The course work should prepare students both theoretically and methodologically for the completion of the thesis. The media communication program requires 32 s.h. and completion of a thesis.
The following courses are required for the media communication thesis (MAT) program.
| 019:231 Media Communication Theory I | 3 |
| 019:232 Media Communication Theory II | 3 |
| 019:235 Media Communication Research Methods I | 3 |
| 019:236 Media Communication Research Methods II | 3 |
| 019:220 Master’s Seminar (1 s.h. for 2 semesters) | 2 |
| Advanced methods, at least 3 s.h. | 3 |
| Electives, at least 6 s.h. in Journalism and Mass Communication | 12 |
| Master’s Research (thesis) | 3 |
| Minimum total credits for M.A. thesis degree | 32 |
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the College of Law offer a joint degree program to M.A. and Ph.D. students. To participate, students must be admitted to both the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the College of Law. Some law credits will count towards degrees in the School, and some journalism and mass communication credits will count towards a law degree. Students who complete the program will earn two degrees.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication moved into the new 65,000 square foot Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building in January 2005. The building has computer laboratories for audio, video, design, writing and web publishing. Photography and typography laboratories are located nearby. Housed in Adler are a resource center, the offices of the Iowa High School Press Association and the Quill and Scroll, an international honor society of high school journalist, as well as the University’s award-winning student newspaper,The Daily Iowan.
The center encourages and facilitates student and faculty research in the field of communication. It also sponsors publications and oversees editing of two periodicals, the Journal of Communication Inquiry and the online periodical, The Iowa Guide: Scholarly Journals in Mass Communication and Related Fields http:iowaguide.uiowa.edu.
More than $110,000 in scholarships is disbursed to undergraduate and professional
master’s journalism majors each year. Information and applications
for journalism scholarships are available from the school each spring. Research
and teaching assistantships are available for graduate students, with preference
given to doctoral students. Journalism and mass communication students have
been successful in winning competitive fellowships open to all graduate students.
Fellowships require nomination by the Graduate Committee. The school also
has a program of modest financial support for undergraduate and graduate
student research projects.
The school encourages professional students to complete at least one internship during their studies. The school's internship and placement coordinator helps students find appropriate internships. Undergraduate students may take one internship for credit, registering with appropriate faculty sponsorship for the course 019:099 Journalism Internship. This internship credit does not fulfill requirements for the major, but it does count toward the maximum 40 s.h. of journalism and mass communication credit an undergraduate student may apply toward the degree. Students may take additional internships for no credit through 409:019 Internship in Journalism. M.A. professional students may also work with the internship coordinator to find opportunities. In addition to internships, student-operated media--including The Daily Iowan and KRUI-FM radio--provide students with opportunities for journalism experience on campus.
The school's internship and placement coordinator helps students seeking career guidance and employment opportunities. The school posts notices of professional jobs open to journalism students and graduates and publicizes them on its electronic mailing list. It cooperates with the University's Career Center in providing career guidance and placement services as well as workshops and programs on job-seeking skills.
The school engages in a variety of activities for the enrichment of students, faculty, and the entire campus. Speakers visit campus each year under lectureships funded by the John F. Murray and Leslie G. Moeller Fund. In addition, guest speakers are funded through the Hearst Visiting Professionals Program and the Hageboeck Daily Iowan Visiting Professionals Program. Campus organizations for students include Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA), a national society honoring scholarship in journalism), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association (RTNDA).
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Updated March 27, 2005