Journalism

Master's Degree Program

Graduate opportunities

The Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas is synonymous with excellence.

We offer the state's only nationally accredited journalism master's program (Master of Journalism and Master of Arts degrees) and have produced some of the nation's top storytellers, including winners of eight Pulitzer Prizes.

The program's strength lies in its relevance to the needs of today's media environment and its research opportunities at various levels. With programs in news, strategic communications and narrative and digital journalism, you'll be prepared to work in all communication fields. Fields of study include:

• Broadcast journalism
• Business journalism
• Law and journalism
• Science, health and environmental journalism
• Sports journalism
• Visual communications

You can also pursue graduate certificates in narrative journalism, interactive and virtual digital communication, and public relations.

Our faculty members represent diverse backgrounds, research and professional interests. They've written for notable newspapers and magazines, worked for prominent advertising and public relations firms and are award-winning photojournalists. Their research examines:

• Curriculum studies for journalism education
• The importance of ethics in media
• International communications
• Magazine production issues
• Sexism and racism in media

Most classes are offered in the late mid-afternoon and evenings to accommodate work schedules.

Showcase your talents

The MAYBORN and Ten Spurs literary magazines provide you opportunities to publish your work. These literary magazines are published in association with the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, one of the nation's premiere writing conferences. The event features prominent writers, publishers and literary agents who are devoted to maintaining the narrative craft.

Cash prizes of $15,000 are awarded to nine winners in the personal essay, reported narrative and manuscript categories of the conference's writing competition. The manuscript winner also receives a book contract with the UNT Press.

Other opportunities for you to gain real-world experience are available with the North Texas Daily newspaper, North Texas Daily TV and Denton Live, the tourism magazine for the city of Denton. Agencies for advertising (SWOOP) and photography (Hatch Media) are run by students.

Outstanding student support

A number of resources are available exclusively to graduate students. The Graduate Student Writing Support office offers writing help, and the Toulouse Graduate School offers a wide variety of professional development workshops each semester. Among the workshops is a Thesis Boot Camp. Many of the workshops are available online for your convenience.

Impressive credentials

Our Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism is part of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. Since 1945, the Journalism program has been a major provider of professionals and academics for all forms of media and profit and nonprofit communications organizations.

Our students work around the country in print and broadcast media, public relations agencies and many media communications organizations. The program has been nationally accredited since 1969 by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (1435 Jayhawk Blvd.; Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7575; telephone 785-864-3973).

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements for the graduate school and the following program requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
• Basic courses in journalism, which can be achieved via bridging courses while you're enrolled in the graduate program
• 3.0 GPA or above on the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work or a 2.8 overall, along with GRE scores and acceptable portfolio for unconditional admission

If your GPA on the last 60 hours is between 2.8 and 3.0, you may be admitted conditionally, provided that GRE scores are submitted during the first semester of enrollment.

International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 or 213 from a computerized TOEFL or 79 on the Internet-based test.

Degree requirements

In these 36-credit-hour master's programs, four courses are required for all students. Up to 12 credit hours of undergraduate bridging courses may be required for those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than journalism. A written comprehensive exam is required before graduation. A minor is optional.

Master of Arts

You must complete 30 credit hours of course work, including the four required core courses, plus a 6-credit-hour thesis. The remaining 18 credit hours are selected from courses to help you achieve your career goals. Foreign language competency is required.

Master of Journalism

No foreign language is necessary. You must complete 36 credit hours of course work, including the four required core courses. The remaining 18 credit hours are selected from courses to help you achieve your career goals.

Financial assistance

A limited number of graduate assistantships are awarded each academic year or semester for supervising in reporting, editing and computer laboratories; grading papers; conducting research for faculty members; and working in the director's office on special projects.

Each year, the school awards several $10,000 scholarships to incoming or current graduate students. Scholarship application and deadlines can be found at our website.

You also may complete a paid or unpaid internship to earn 3 credit hours. The institute sponsors a semi-annual career and internship fair where you can meet with internship providers. The program maintains strong ties with industry leaders in the region, which provides graduates with excellent networking opportunities. Additional assistance with internships and jobs is available from the UNT Career Center.

More information about financial assistance is at the financial aid website.