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

About This Program

Kent State's graduate degree in Media and Journalism is an interdisciplinary program that provides a strong foundation to succeed in a rapidly changing media industry. Courses are dynamic and professionally relevant. An optional, fully online concentration in Journalism Education gives current and future educators the tools needed to effectively teach journalism and advise scholastic media at the high school/post-secondary level. Read more...

Contact Information

• School Director: Emily Metzgar | mdj@kent.edu | 330-672-2572
• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online (Journalism Education concentration only)
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Starting spring 2024, applications to the in-person M.A. degree program will not be accepted.

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
• Writing sample¹
• Two letters of recommendation²
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 587 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 82 MELAB score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.

¹

A minimum of one writing sample will be required. The writing sample may be a news article, script from a news story, paper submitted for a college course, personal essay about a topics of interest or some other original non-fictional written work.

²

At least one letter must be from a college professor who is familiar with the applicant's work. If the applicant has significant work experience (five or more years), the letter from a college professor may be replaced with a letter from an employer who is familiar with the applicant's work.

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

Major Requirements

¹

Students in the Journalism Education concentration may take MDJ 60007, which is offered in the summer term, in place of CCI 61000 or CCI 62000.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Journalism Education Concentration Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 50 percent of coursework must be at the 60000 level and must have the Media and Journalism (MDJ) course subject.
• Maximum 4 credit hours of workshop courses (xxx93) may count toward the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Communicate effectively across multiple platforms.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of relevant ethical and legal frameworks in their disciplines.
3. Ground their professional work in relevant theories.
4. Represent high levels of professionalism.

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Media and Journalism is designed to give students a solid background in preparation for a professional career. Students are able to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses that allow them to craft a graduate degree that reflects their career interest. Courses are dynamic, challenging and professionally relevant. With small class sizes, students are able to learn from their professors and from the experiences of their fellow classmates, many of whom are working media professionals or nationally recognized journalism educators.

The Media and Journalism major offers the following optional concentration:

• The Journalism Education concentration 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 coursework focuses on concepts and lessons that can be used in a teacher's classroom right away, with a professional project as the culminating requirement.

Students not selecting the concentration work with their advisor to plan a course of study that meets their professional needs, with the culminating requirement of either a thesis or professional project.

The School of Media and Journalism provides its students with a strong foundation to achieve their goals in the rapidly changing media industry. All students take a series of core courses that provide the foundation for a career in media and journalism and develop a specialization through the selection of elective courses that can be within or outside of the school. One student may choose to hone skills as a multimedia journalist focusing on public affairs, while another may seek to develop expertise as a public relations professional for not-for-profit organizations.