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2020-2021 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.
Master of Arts - Journalism & Media Studies
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 Return to: UNLV Graduate Programs
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Plan Description
The Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies offers a graduate program of study leading to a Master of Arts degree. Courses of study are designed both for students with a career orientation - in such diverse arenas as human resources, politics, advertising, education, public relations, broadcasting, and social services - and for those who aspire to continue their education in doctoral programs.
All students are required to take four introductory courses: survey of graduate studies, quantitative analysis, qualitative research methods, and theory. Yet because each student’s goals are unique, the curriculum allows flexibility in developing individual degree programs. Such development aims to balance the discipline’s varied traditions in theoretical, historical, and applied research, with particular attention to the changing culture of the twenty-first century.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
The master’s degree program is designed to meet the student’s professional and/or personal objectives. Although an undergraduate degree in journalism, broadcasting, media studies, or communication is not required for admission to the program, a student without a background in these related fields may be required to complete additional course work at the graduate or undergraduate level in order to satisfy minimum expectations of someone entering a graduate course of study.
- The Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies admits graduate students only in the fall semester.
- Review of applications begins March 15.
- For additional information, check the school’s website.
Students should send application and college transcripts to the Graduate College. In addition, the following should be sent directly to the Graduate Coordinator of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies:
- A copy of your undergraduate transcripts (you must have a GPA of at least 3.00 in the last 90 credits of undergraduate course work).
- Satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- At least three letters of recommendation from people who are able to attest to the applicant’s ability to do graduate-level work. At least one of these letters should come from a former or current professor or college-level instructor.
- A letter of intent detailing the applicant’s goals and expectations as a graduate student in journalism and media studies.
- A writing sample such as a college course term paper.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis Track
Total Credits Required: 30
Required Courses – Credits: 12
Journalism & Media Studies Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits in JMS or other advisor-approved courses.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of 600- or 700-level elective coursework.
Degree Requirements
- Students may elect to present their theses content in traditional or non-traditional formats.
- The non-traditional thesis must be consistent with the overall objectives of the program and be approved by the student’s thesis committee. There content may be written or take the form of a documentary, drama, public relations campaign, film, video, exhibit, script, website, or any combination approved by the student’s thesis committee. In addition, a written research component that follows department and Graduate College formatting guidelines is required.
- Regardless of the option selected, the entire thesis must be approved by the Graduate College for electronic and university library access purposes. An oral examination of the thesis is required.
- The Graduate Coordinator is the temporary advisor for all new, incoming graduate students. Before completing 16 credit hours, the student selects a permanent advisor who mentors the student through the remainder of the program and guides them in the thesis or examination process.
- Students are responsible for determining a program of study with their advisor or Graduate Coordinator.
- A passing grade in any graduate-level course is B- or better. Any course grade of C+ or lower will not be included in the student’s degree program. All grades, pass or fail, are calculated to produce the student’s GPA. Students can repeat a course to try to better a grade. To graduate, the master’s student must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher in his or her accumulated course work.
- A student who fails the oral examination for the comprehensive examination is allowed to reschedule the oral examination no sooner than three months after the first attempt. Student will be placed on probation. Failure on the second attempt results in the student being separated from the program.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Non-Thesis Track
Total Credits Required: 30
Required Courses – Credits: 12
Journalism & Media Studies Courses – Credits: 12
Complete 12 credits in JMS or other advisor-approved courses.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of 600- or 700-level elective coursework.
Degree Requirements
- The 30-semester-hour non-thesis option culminates in three activities: the satisfactory completion of written comprehensive exams, the submission of a Graduate Education Portfolio, and satisfactory completion of an oral examination. The student works with his/her faculty advisor (whom the student selects) to compose a Faculty Committee. The committee administers the written and oral exam. The development and completion of the Graduate Education Portfolio is negotiated between the student and the faculty advisor.
- The Graduate Coordinator is the temporary advisor for all new, incoming graduate students. Before completing 16 credit hours, the student selects a permanent advisor who mentors the student through the remainder of the program and guides them in the thesis or examination process.
- Students are responsible for determining a program of study with their advisor or Graduate Coordinator.
- A passing grade in any graduate-level course is B- or better. Any course grade of C+ or lower will not be included in the student’s degree program. All grades, pass or fail, are calculated to produce the student’s GPA. Students can repeat a course to try to better a grade. To graduate, the master’s student must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher in his or her accumulated course work.
- A student who fails the oral examination for the comprehensive examination is allowed to reschedule the oral examination no sooner than three months after the first attempt. Student will be placed on probation. Failure on the second attempt results in the student being separated from the program.
Plan Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.
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Return to: UNLV Graduate Programs
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