Hussman School of Journalism and Media (GRAD)
The Hussman School of Journalism and Media offers programs leading to three graduate degrees:
- Doctor of philosophy in media and communication (with J.D.-Ph.D. dual-degree option)
- Master of arts in digital communication (online)
- Master of arts in media and communication, with distinct areas of study in:
- Journalism
- Strategic communication
- Theory and research (with J.D.-M.A. dual-degree option)
The school also offers three graduate certificate programs, delivered online for working communications professionals:
In all the school’s graduate offerings, students are taught to examine critically the role of media in society and are provided with a firm grounding in theory and analysis. By setting high standards for both scholarly and professional achievement, the school seeks to prepare graduates to be leaders and critical thinkers, no matter what career paths they might take.
Courses
Numbered 400-999:
Master of Arts in Media and Communication
The master’s in media and communication, UNC Hussman’s on-campus master’s program, prepares students to be leaders and critical thinkers through training in skills, communication concepts, and research and analysis. With high standards for scholarly and professional achievement, the program serves individuals interested in entering media and communication professions, professional communicators who want more education in a specialized field, and individuals interested in communication research and teaching. Annual enrollment in the program totals about 45 students.
The program consists of three areas of study: journalism, strategic communication, and theory and research. The journalism and strategic communication curricula are each designed to be completed in just one year, while the theory and research program of study can be finished in two academic years. A J.D.–M.A. dual-degree program, part of the theory and research area of study, offered in partnership with the UNC School of Law, allows students to earn both degrees in as little as four years.
All residential master's students, regardless of area of study, must pass a test of word usage and grammar. Curricular and thesis/capstone requirements vary by area of study, as outlined below.
Journalism Area of Study
The 30-credit curriculum for the journalism area of study provides students with extensive training for public-service journalism that informs communities and strengthens civic life. It allows aspiring and early-career journalists to — in just 12 months — intensively learn the specialized skills of their craft.
Requirements
Students start with two courses in summer session II to develop foundational skills and examine relevant law, ethics, and other issues. In the fall, students complete two course that focus on real-world reporting and another to build skills to create content across various platforms. Students produce much of the work for a culminating final project during their spring courses and finalize the project during the following summer session I, with guidance from a small panel of faculty members.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEJO 741 | Law, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| MEJO 750 | Fundamentals of Reporting | 3 |
| MEJO 751 | Journalism Methods | 3 |
| MEJO 754 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| MEJO 756 | Investigative and Data-driven Reporting | 3 |
| MEJO 758 | Public Life Reporting I | 3 |
| MEJO 782 | Digital Content Creation | 3 |
| MEJO 992 | Master's (Non-Thesis) | 3 |
Students may take up to two elective courses, both in spring, from related subject fields in other schools and departments of the University or at neighboring universities.
Strategic Communication Area of Study
The strategic communication area of study features a redesigned, one-year curriculum that prepares students for advertising, marketing communication, and public relations positions in agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government. Because the professional master's curricula should prepare students to be leaders in the 21st-century workplace, this area of study seeks a balance between critical thinking and technical communication skills.
Requirements
Strategic communication master’s students complete 33 total credit hours. They take four 3-credit courses and one 1.5-credit course in each of the fall and spring semesters. They then develop a final capstone project during summer I, before finalizing, submitting, and presenting the project in summer II. The summer I course meets virtually in the evenings, to allow time for students to complete daytime internships or practicum experiences. Of the eight fall and spring courses, five are specific required courses and three are electives. Up to three courses may be taken from related subject fields in other schools and departments of the University or at neighboring universities.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEJO 701 | Insights and Analytics | 3 |
| MEJO 730 | Management and Case Studies | 3 |
| MEJO 731 | Campaigns and Clients | 3 |
| MEJO 732 | Strategic Communication Writing | 3 |
| MEJO 777 | Personal Branding and Professional Networking | 1.5 |
| MEJO 782 | Digital Content Creation | 3 |
| MEJO 792 | Capstone Project Development | 3 |
| MEJO 992 | Master's (Non-Thesis) | 3 |
Theory and Research Area of Study
The theory and research area of study is designed for students who are interested in later pursuing a doctoral degree or research positions in industry. The curriculum for students in this area is closely tied to the Ph.D. program curriculum; students do not take professional skills courses.
Requirements
Within this 39-credit-hour curriculum, each student completes the four core courses listed below and works with an advisor to build a specialized program of study based on this foundation. Students also are required to take at least two courses in other schools and departments at the University or at neighboring universities. A research thesis also is required of each theory and research master’s student.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEJO 703 | Mass Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| MEJO 705 | Theories of Mass Communication | 3 |
| MEJO 740 | Media Law | 3 |
| MEJO 900 | Reading and Research | 1-3 |
J.D.–M.A. Dual Degree
The J.D.–M.A. dual-degree program is designed for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in law and media and communication, and who plan to practice media or intellectual property law, pursue academic careers in law and mass communication fields, pursue doctoral study in a related field, or pursue careers in journalism or strategic communication with a law-related emphasis.
Requirements
Admitted students typically complete the required first-year law school curriculum during the first year of study. The M.A. portion of the program requires 39 course credit hours and typically follows the theory and research program of study curriculum described above. In the dual-degree program, a student may count up to 12 credit hours of LAW courses toward the M.A. and up to 12 credit hours of MEJO courses toward the J.D. That accounts for the 24 course credit hours that are "shared." That means that the dual degree requires a total of 101 unique course credit hours, and 27 of those course credit hours are MEJO course credit hours.
All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded, and dual-degree students must apply for concurrent graduation for both degrees the same semester. Students who do not maintain dual-degree status may need to take additional coursework if they pursue either degree separately after being admitted to the dual-degree program.
Master of Arts in Digital Communication (Online)
The master’s in digital communication empowers working professionals to advance their careers and bring immediate impact to their organizations. Students explore the economic drivers and technological changes affecting media and communication. Through a rigorous, project-based curriculum, students learn to find trends, patterns, and stories in data and communicate insights that will drive impactful decision-making. Students collaborate closely with faculty and peer professionals, learning to develop effective content creation and dissemination strategies across platforms, deliver unforgettable user experiences, and lead with strategic and entrepreneurial thinking.
Students complete the program in two years, taking two courses per fall and spring semester and one course in each summer term. Courses follow the University's alternate, 14-week calendar and are taught mostly asynchronously, which means students are not required to gather online for class at specific times every week. Some courses do feature occasional synchronous sessions that are recorded for students to watch at another time if they are unable to attend in real time. Students also are required to attend an on-campus immersion and present their capstone projects at a showcase event at the end of the program.
The M.A.D.C. program admits one group of no more than 20 students each fall, keeping classes intentionally small with an emphasis on interaction between faculty and students. Each entering cohort progresses through the program together over two years.
Requirements
The 30-credit-hour program consists of the following 10 courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEJO 710 | Psychology of Audiences | 3 |
| MEJO 711 | Multi-platform Storytelling | 3 |
| MEJO 713 | Media Analytics | 3 |
| MEJO 719 | Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MEJO 720 | Communication Strategy and Planning | 3 |
| MEJO 722 | The Business of Media | 3 |
| MEJO 723 | Visual Literacy and User Experience | 3 |
| MEJO 724 | Reputation Management | 3 |
| MEJO 725 | Media Innovation in Practice | 3 |
| MEJO 792 | Capstone Project Development | 3 |
Ph.D. in Media and Communication
The doctorate in media and communication prepares students to excel in college teaching and research positions or research careers in communication industries. Advancing the body of knowledge through theory building and testing, faculty work closely with each student to develop a program of study that is both interdisciplinary and tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of the student. The goal of the program is to produce outstanding scholars, effective educators, and highly skilled researchers.
The program is small and selective; no more than five to nine students enter the program each year. Admissions decisions are based not only on standard criteria but also on a determination of whether the applicant's interests and goals fit with those of the program and faculty. For that reason, the statement of purpose that must accompany an application is extremely important, and applicants are encouraged to be as specific as possible in outlining their research interests and career goals.
Requirements
The doctoral program is designed to be flexible and interdisciplinary, but also to ensure that students are equipped to conduct rigorous research and teach or practice in at least one substantive area. The required 48 credits consist of the three core courses listed below, plus 33 credits from additional courses and 6 hours or more of dissertation work. Students typically complete 10.5 credits (three 3-credit courses, plus MEJO 801 for 1.5 credits) each semester of their first year. They take 3-4 courses per semester in the second year. They then spend the remaining year or more enrolled in 3 credits per semester, focusing on completion of comprehensive exams and then the dissertation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEJO 703 | Mass Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| MEJO 705 | Theories of Mass Communication | 3 |
| MEJO 801 | Professional Seminar in Doctoral Studies | 1.5 |
The remaining required credit hours must be arrayed into three groups of courses: 1) a substantive area of study consisting of at least 12 hours of coursework; 2) research methods consisting of at least 12 hours; and 3) 9 hours of additional coursework selected in consultation with the student's advisor, or 6 hours if the student receives transfer credit for one relevant, graduate-level course taken previously.
Substantive areas include:
- Media processes and production
- Legal and regulatory issues in communication
- Media uses and effects
- Health communication
- Political, social, and strategic communication
Other requirements include:
-
At least seven courses, totaling at least 21 credits, of 700-, 800-, and 900-level courses within the Hussman School of Journalism and Media
-
At least four semesters in residence, with a minimum of two semesters in continuous study at UNC–Chapel Hill
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Satisfactory performance on both written and oral comprehensive exams, taken at the end of the Ph.D. coursework
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Successful completion and oral defense of a dissertation
Length of the Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. program can be completed in three years, but funding packages include four years of support. Many students elect to stay a fourth year to compete more effectively for research-intensive positions at Research 1 universities or to pursue more ambitious dissertations. The Graduate School requires students to complete the degree within eight years of first registration in the doctoral program.
J.D.–Ph.D. Dual-Degree Program
The J.D.–Ph.D. dual-degree program is designed for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in law and media and communication and who plan to practice media or intellectual property law, pursue academic careers in law and mass communication fields, or pursue careers in journalism or strategic communication with a law-related emphasis.
Admission to the UNC School of Law and the doctoral program in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media must be gained independently in order to be admitted to the J.D.–Ph.D. program. Admitted students typically complete the required first-year law school curriculum during the first year of study.
Dual-degree students must complete the required 48 credit hours for the Ph.D., of which up to 12 credit hours may be drawn from approved courses in the J.D. curriculum. Dual-degree students also must complete the required 86 credit hours for the J.D. degree, of which up to 12 hours may be drawn from approved courses in the Ph.D. curriculum. This allows J.D.–Ph.D. students to complete the dual-degree program with 110 credit hours over approximately five years, depending on the individual student’s progress and program of study.
All degree requirements from both schools must be completed before the degrees are awarded, and dual-degree students must apply for concurrent graduation for both degrees the same semester. Students who do not maintain dual-degree status may need to take additional coursework if they pursue either degree separately after being admitted to the dual-degree program.
Funding
Funding packages support students’ study over four academic years. They provide students flexibility and breadth of experience by combining three years of school-based fellowship or scholarship funding with one year fulfilling a teaching assistantship, working on a faculty grant, or benefitting from other university funding. The school regularly offers the following fellowships and scholarships:
- Roy H. Park Fellowships
- Orville Gray and Lucille M. Cobbs Memorial Scholarship
- William G. Arey, Jr. Fellowship
While on fellowship funding, each student works as a graduate assistant 15 hours per week for each semester while receiving funding, serving as a research assistant for four semesters and as an instructor of record for two semesters. This balance allows students to develop both their research record and the teaching experience necessary to be competitive on the job market. Each of the above packages provides an annual stipend, payment of tuition and fees, travel support, and health insurance. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for Park Fellowships, but the Cobbs Fellowship and Arey Scholarship can fund international or domestic students.
Ph.D. students are also sometimes funded by external grants supporting UNC Hussman faculty research projects.
Online Graduate Certificates
Admitted online master's students can transfer credit for up to three certificate courses toward the degree program. This allows students to try out online learning before committing to a full degree program and lighten their course loads for part of their time in the master’s program. Certificate students and graduates are not automatically admitted to the master’s program. They complete the same application as other applicants but may seek recommendation letters from certificate instructors and highlight in application materials their successes in the certificate program.
The curriculum for each certificate consists of three courses from the digital communication master's curriculum, focused in a particular area. The certificate areas are:
Professors
Debashis Aikat, Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication; Journalism
Francesca Dillman Carpentier, W. Horace Carter Distinguished Professor; Media Uses and Effects, Health Communication
Nori Comello, Media Uses and Effects; Health Communication; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Patrick Davison, Journalism
Victoria Smith Ekstrand, Legal and Regulatory Issues in Communication
Harsha Gangadharbatla, Political, Social, and Strategic Communication
Rhonda Gibson, James H. Shumaker Term Professor; Media Uses and Effects, Journalism
Kristen Harrison, Richard Cole Eminent Professor; Media Uses and Effects, Health Communication
Daniel Kreiss, Edgar Thomas Cato Distinguished Professor; Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Allison Lazard, Media Uses and Effects, Health Communication, Strategic Communication
Suman Lee, Media Processes and Production; Strategic Communication
Seth Noar, James Howard and Hallie McLean Parker Distinguished Professor; Media Uses and Effects, Health Communication
Terence Oliver, Walter Spearman Distinguished Professor; Visual Communication
Marisa Porto, John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability; Journalism
Raul Reis, John T. Kerr Distinguished Professor, Dean
C.A. Tuggle, John H. Stembler Jr. Distinguished Professor; Media Processes and Production, Journalism
Associate Professors
Shaun Anderson, John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Sports, Race and Media; Strategic Communication
Lucinda Austin, Media Uses and Effects; Health Communication; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Spencer Barnes, Media Uses and Effects, Visual Communication, Health Communication
Andy Bechtel, Journalism
Lois Boynton, Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Meredith Clark, Journalism; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Paul Cuadros, Journalism
Lightning Czabovsky, Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Livis Freeman, Strategic Communication
Barbara Friedman, Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication; Journalism
Chad Heartwood, Journalism
Joe Bob Hester, Media Uses and Effects; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Steven King, Journalism
Trevy McDonald, Media Processes and Production; Political, Social and Strategic Communication; Journalism
Shannon McGregor, Media Processes and Production; Media Uses and Effects; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Amanda Reid, Legal and Regulatory Issues in Communication
Laura Ruel, Journalism
Ryan Thornburg, Journalism
Assistant Professors
Lorra Brown, Strategic Communication
Joshua Carlton, Strategic Communication
Shelvia Dancy, Journalism
Lee McGuigan, Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Erin Siegal McIntyre, Journalism
Renee Mitson, Media Uses and Effects; Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Torod Neptune, Strategic Communication
Xinyan (Eva) Zhao, Political, Social and Strategic Communication
Professors of the Practice
Esther Campi, Strategic Communication
Jules Dixon-Green, Strategic Communication
Rebecca Fish, Strategic Communication
Michelle LaRoche, Hussman Professor of Business Journalism; Journalism
Dana McMahan, Professor of the Practice of Advertising; Strategic Communication
Teaching Professor
Valerie Fields, Strategic Communication
Teaching Associate Professor
Gary Kayye, Strategic Communication
Teaching Assistant Professors
Scott Geier, Journalism
Carl William Kenney, Journalism
Deepti Khedekar, Strategic Communication
Nazanin Knudsen, Journalism
