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. It offers the only nationally accredited journalism master’s program (Master of Journalism and Master of Arts degrees) in Texas and has produced some of the nation’s top storytellers, including eight Pulitzer Prize winners.

With programs in news, strategic communications and narrative and digital journalism, the Mayborn School prepares you to work in all communication fields. The school also hosts the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, one of the nation’s premiere writing conferences, each July.

Fields of study include:

• Broadcast journalism
• Business journalism
• General media studies
• Science, health and environmental journalism
• International communications
• Internet, interactive and virtual digital communications
• Investigative journalism
• Law and journalism
• Management and entrepreneurship
• Mass communication research
• Narrative journalism
• Public and civic journalism
• Race, gender, ethnicity and sexuality communications
• Religion and journalism
• Sports journalism
• Strategic communications
• Visual communications

Gain new perspectives

The program’s strength lies in its relevance to the needs of today’s media environment and its research opportunities at various levels. 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 have written for notable newspapers and magazines, worked for prominent advertising and public relations firms, and are awardwinning 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 afternoon and evenings to accommodate work schedules. Workshops are offered for academic credit in strategic Dallas-Fort Worth locations, such as the Universities Center at Dallas.

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 Conference. 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 with the production of the NT Daily, NT Daily TV and Denton Live, the tourism magazine for the city of Denton. Agencies for advertising (SWOOP) and photography (One Eleven Mediaworks) are run by students.

Impressive credentials

Our graduate institute 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, in public relations agencies and in 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 Toulouse Graduate School® as well as the following program requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
• Basic courses in journalism, which can be achieved via bridging courses while you are enrolled in the graduate program
• • 3.0 GPA or above on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work or a 2.8 overall, along with GRE scores and acceptable portfolio for unconditional admission (More details are at the Journalism website.)

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. Students may substitute successful completion of the Graduate Preparation Course (GPC) offered through UNT’s Intensive English Language Institute for the verbal portion of the GRE.

Degree requirements

In this 36-semester-hour master’s program, only four courses are required for all students. The remaining 24 semester hours may be selected to help students achieve their career goals. Up to 12 semester hours of undergraduate bridging courses may be required for those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than journalism. A written comprehensive examination is required before graduation. A minor is optional.

Master of Arts Degree

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

Master of Journalism Degree

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

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. The application deadline for the fall semester is the last business day of March.

You also may complete a paid or unpaid internship to earn 3 semester hours. The institute sponsors an annual 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.