College of Communication and Information
School of Media and Journalism
www.kent.edu/mdj

About This Program

The M.A. in Journalism Education is designed for high school teachers and transitioning media professionals. Course content focuses on what teachers and media advisers need to know to be effective journalism educators in the digital age: from the latest technology for multimedia storytelling to strategies to protect students’ First Amendment rights. Read more...

Contact Information

• Emily Metzgar | mdj@kent.edu | 330-672-2572

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery
  • Fully Online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or vitae
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: March 15
• Spring Semester
  • Application deadline: November 15
• Summer Term
  • Application deadline: March 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Requirements

¹

This is not an exhaustive list of courses. Students may choose other courses with consultation from their faculty advisor to identify the electives most relevant to their professional goals.

Graduation Requirements

• Evidence of the creation of a digital portfolio to showcase students' deliverables and to capture their reflections as they complete the program as approved by graduate coordinator.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Recognize and advocate for the importance of journalism education to the future of journalism.
2. Employ best practices in journalism education.
3. Articulate the role of media in a democratic society.
4. Demonstrate fundamental journalism skills through the production of media content.
5. Analyze and engage with the dynamics of the changing contemporary media environment.
6. Discuss the fundamentals of media literacy and relate them to the context of journalism education.

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Journalism Education is intended for those seeking to teach or advise student journalists. The program is affiliated with Kent State's Center for Scholastic Journalism, and faculty include some of the most-recognized high school journalism educators in the country.

The program provides continuing education opportunities to high school teachers who are responsible for teaching and advising an array of student media content, including school social media channels, yearbook, school newspaper, video and photography. The program also serves practicing journalists who are transitioning to teaching in the higher education arena.

The curriculum focuses on foundational knowledge in media and journalism, as well as pedagogical practices that students can apply to secondary and post-secondary teaching environments. The program highlights the core concepts of First Amendment press freedom, media literacy and the role of media in society — scaffolding that knowledge with content creation skills across an array of media platforms. Interwoven with those knowledge areas and skillsets are best practices in the teaching of scholastic media to high school and college students.

Students complete a culminating integrated learning experience through designated course assignments from each of the six core courses. Each of the six assignments give the student the opportunity to create a deliverable suitable for use in a classroom setting such as a lesson plan, class activity, handbook or instruction manual or other asset.