Department of Journalism

Main Departmental Office 
General Academic Building, 
102 P.O. Box 5278
Denton, TX 76203-0278 
(817) 565-2205

Richard H. Wells, Chair

Graduate Faculty: Albright, Busby, Carstarphen, Kim, Land, Rogers,
Wells, Westmoreland.

     The Department of Journalism offers graduate programs leading to the
following degrees:

 -Master of Arts with a major in journalism, and 
 -Master of Journalism.

     Graduate work in the department is designed to prepare those who plan
to teach or who wish to improve their ability to perform in the
professional areas of mass communication. The use of computers in
journalism and mass communication research is emphasized in the
master's program. The department acquaints the students with databases
that can be used in news, advertising and public relations.

     The university library has a strong holding of periodicals that
supports the journalism and mass communication field. Media library
materials include resources on research methods in mass communication
and theories of mass communication.

     Journalism graduate students are required to pass a written
comprehensive examination over journalism courses taken. The
examination should be scheduled near the end of the student's program.

     Journalism graduate students who write a thesis will defend that thesis
in an oral examination with thesis committee members.

Research

     Areas of research interest in the department include the impact of new
technology on journalism and mass communication, the use of computers
by students in professional preparation and to improve writing and
information gathering skills. Research also is conducted on curriculum
studies for journalism education and on defining the outcomes of
journalism education. Other topics of research interest are sexism and
racism in media, ethics, editorial policies of student newspapers,
newspaper design and production, and international communication
issues.

Admission Requirements

     Application for admission should originate in the office of the dean of
the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. The applicant must hold a
bachelor's degree from an approved college or university. Typing
ability is required.

     A satisfactory score on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) must be submitted before admission to the graduate
program in journalism. A student will not be permitted to enroll in any
courses for credit toward the master's degree until the score is
submitted and approved. International students also must submit
satisfactory scores on the TOEFL.

Degree Programs

Master of Arts (MA)

     General requirements for the Master of Arts with a major in journalism
are the same as those listed in the general information section of this
catalog.

     The MA candidate in journalism must complete a minimum of 30 semester
hours, including a thesis of 6 hours and a minimum of 24 hours in
courses numbered 5000 or above. Up to 12 hours may be taken in a minor
field, or the 12 hours may be divided between two minor fields.

     JOUR 5040, Studies in the Mass Media, must be taken in the first
semester of study in the journalism graduate program.

Required courses for the MA follow.

 -JOUR 5040, Studies in the Mass Media 
 -JOUR 5050, Readings in Mass Communication 
 -JOUR 5250, Research Methods in Mass Communication 
 -JOUR 5300, Theories of Mass Communication 
 -JOUR 5950, Thesis (6 hours)

Master of Journalism (MJ)

     The MJ candidate must have completed a minimum of 15 hours in
undergraduate journalism approved by the chair or graduate program
director of the Department of Journalism. The MJ degree has no foreign
language requirement and the 6-hour thesis is optional, but the
candidate must complete a minimum of 36 hours of graduate work,
including 30 hours in courses numbered 5000 and above. A minor of at
least 6 hours in another field is required. If as many as 12 hours of
minor work are done, they may be divided equally between two approved
fields.

     JOUR 5040, Studies in the Mass Media, must be taken in the first
semester of study in the journalism graduate program.

Required journalism courses for the MJ follow.

 -JOUR 5040, Studies in the Mass Media 
 -JOUR 5050, Readings in Mass Communication 
 -JOUR 5250, Research Methods in Mass Communication 
 -JOUR 5300, Theories of Mass Communication

Minor Fields

     Recommended minor fields for the MA with a major in journalism or the
MJ are English, history, library science, political science,
radio/television/film, sociology, economics and business
administration.

Courses of Instruction

     All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of
this catalog.