VCU Launching Journalism Grad Program

VCU Fast-Track Master’s Degree in Multimedia Journalism

The VCU School of Mass Communications will launch in summer 2008 a fast-track immersion M.S. degree in mass communications with a concentration in Multimedia Journalism that will prepare students to work in a highly competitive multiple platform news environment. The program is designed for recent graduates who have an undergraduate degree in journalism or a related field, or more veteran journalists who want to upgrade their professional skills.

Classes will meet during 46 intensive Friday evening and Saturday sessions over 14 months, beginning in June. The degree requires 36 credit hours, 30 of those in journalism. Students take an additional 6 hours in a collateral area outside of mass communications, and may specialize through graduate electives, projects and stories in any number of “beat” areas such as health, science, business, the environment or international media coverage.

Students who have not completed journalism undergraduate course work or who have not had the appropriate professional experience will be required to attend an intensive three-week orientation beginning about May 15. Students who enter the program could graduate the following summer. The journalism graduate program is one of the few in the nation with a focus on multimedia (print, broadcast and online/digital).

Applicants must meet all requirements for admission to VCU Graduate Study and the College of Humanities and Sciences, as well as the School of Mass Communications. Specifically:

• Applicants should have at least two years of professional experience in print, broadcast or online journalism or an undergraduate degree in journalism or a related field and have clearly demonstrated professional skills.

• Students who have not completed the minimum baccalaureate course work or who have not had the appropriate professional experience must demonstrate through a portfolio of work that they have the appropriate foundation for advanced study in journalism. Students who have not completed the minimum baccalaureate course work or who have not had the appropriate professional experience will be required to attend an intensive orientation in the summer before beginning the Multimedia Journalism graduate program. This three-week orientation will begin about May 15. This intensive orientation will provide an introduction to basic and advanced multimedia journalism skills. The orientation will include immersion instruction in print writing and reporting, broadcast writing and reporting, audio and video gathering and editing, and online writing and presentation.

• Applicants must present a GRE (general test) score that indicates ability to pursue graduate work. GRE information may be found at:
http://www.gre.org

In addition, applicants must:
Provide a detailed CV showing work experience in journalism or appropriate educational credentials
Provide transcripts of all previous work
Provide three recommendations from persons who are qualified to give information concerning the applicant’s ability for the specific program of study proposed (including both academic and professional recommendations). At least one professional recommendation must come from someone in the field of journalism.
Submit a letter detailing specific journalism career goals
For international applicants (without a university degree with English as the language), TOEFL (or comparable) scores

For more information, contact:
June Nicholson
Associate Director for Graduate Studies
School of Mass Communications
jonichol@vcu.edu
(804) 827-2051
Virginina Commonwealth University
901 W. Main Street
Temple Building Room 1108
Richmond, Va. 23284-2034