Non-thesis Option
MASTER OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM NON-THESIS PROGRAM
Non-thesis Option:
Requires 30 graduate credit hours, including Journalism 7305, 7320, and at least 12 additional 7000 level hours.
Application Procedures
Regular admission requires:
* an official transcript from an accredited college or university showing successful completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
* two letters of recommendation evaluating the student’s academic abilities and potential for graduate school
* a letter outlining the student’s professional goals
Transcripts should be sent, with a completed application for admission, to the UALR Graduate School, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204. International students should enclose the specified applications fee. The statement of goals and letters of recommendation should be sent to the UALR Journalism Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Mass Communication, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204. The departmental admissions committee weighs the undergraduate transcript and evidence of professional competence or potential in evaluating each applicant.
In addition to the requirements listed above, international students also must submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score (minimum of 525), and a certified statement of financial responsibility. And, although it is not a requirement for admission into the Graduate School, the journalism graduate program coordinator requests that each international student also submit the official score of the TOEFL Test of Written English.
Financial support:
Foreign applicants must prove they are capable of providing $12,000 per year to cover living expenses. Proof must be in the form of a certified statement of financial responsibility. Graduate assistantships are limited in number and value. Securing an assistantship is not sufficient proof of financial responsibility. The Graduate School normally will request a deposit of $6,000 in a UALR account to guarantee the tuition and living expenses for the first semester.
Health and accident insurance: Each foreign student must be covered by health and accident insurance. Insurance may be purchased on arrival at the university.
Admission Categories
Students may be admitted in one of these categories:
* Regular (degree-seeking):
completed and submitted all admission materials; meet Graduate School and program admission requirements.
* Provisional (degree-seeking):
appears qualified for admission to program; has not submitted all required admission materials. Must have all necessary information by Nov. 1 for the fall semester, March 15 for spring semester.
* Conditional (degree-, non-degree seeking):
supplied all admission materials; does not meet all admission requirements. Will be dismissed after the first 12 graduate hours if GPA is not above 3.0 or satisfactory progress is not being made toward this GPA.
* Transient (degree-seeking):
accepted as a degree-seeking student in another accredited graduate school; has letter of good standing from that graduate school dean. Normally admitted for only one semester.
* Special (non-degree seeking):
meets admission requirements. For persons who want a limited number of graduate hours for professional advancement or personal enrichment.
Advisement
All courses usually are taken in the Journalism Program, however, up to nine approved cognate graduate hours may be taken in other departments. In some instances, courses from another department can form a concentration area.
The journalism graduate coordinator and the student select courses based upon the individual needs of students with consideration for having a well-rounded and complete program so that the graduate is truly a master of the discipline of journalism.
All students in the master of arts program in journalism must complete Journalism 7305, Mass Communication Processes and Effects, and either Journalism 7335, Seminar in Quantitative Research, or Journalism 7340, Seminar in Journalism History.
Students can take a maximum of only 12 hours of 5000-level courses.
Students who have not studied journalism at the undergraduate level or who do not have sufficient professional journalism experience to master basic news writing, reporting and editing skills will be required to successfully complete any or all of:
for undergraduate credit
2350 Techniques of Writing for the Mass Media
3320 Reporting Principles
for graduate credit, two of
5350 Editing, Design and Production
5358 Reporting of Public Affairs
5359 Magazine Journalism
Prerequisites or corequisites also may be required for a concentration in another department.
Students without an undergraduate background in journalism should take Journalism 5352, Mass Communication Law. This class should be completed, either at the graduate or undergraduate level, before taking Journalism 7330, Seminar in Mass Communication Law.
Students without a solid knowledge of mass communications history should consult with the journalism graduate program coordinator about how to overcome that weakness.
Only six hours with grades of C can count toward the degree. A cumulative B grade average is required on an approved course of study. Students who do not achieve a 3.0 GPA within the hours required for the degree may complete up to six additional hours. If the average is not then at least 3.0 the student may not continue in the program.
Incompletes are viewed unfavorably by the graduate faculty, graduate dean and prospective employers. An incomplete (I) grade must be requested by the student and is given when the professor deems that circumstances beyond the student’s control will prevent timely completion of course requirements. A written contract, signed by the instructor and student, sets the date and condition for completing the class. Most I’s can be removed within 90 days, but all must be removed within one year. Students with excessive incompletes may be restricted in the number of hours they may take in a subsequent semester. Generally, graduate students are not permitted to take courses for CR (credit) or NC (no credit). Any exceptions must be approved before the start of the semester.
Transfer Credit: Up to six graduate hours with grades of B or better may be transferred from an accredited institution, if approved by the journalism graduate program coordinator.
At least 30 weeks of study at UALR are required of all students. Each student’s program is subject to the journalism graduate coordinator’s approval.
A student must complete a comprehensive research project. A thesis- option student also must have a thesis proposal approved by the thesis committee before enrolling for thesis credit and must successfully defend the thesis by oral examination.
To satisfy personal needs and career aspirations, a student in the professional option could, with the journalism graduate program coordinator’s approval, petition the journalism graduate program committee to substitute some or all of the professional project hours with 7000-level courses.
Radio-TV Concentration
In cooperation with the Radio, Television and Film Program the Journalism Program offers the M.A. in journalism with a nine-hour concentration in radio, television and film. Students pursuing this concentration are required to successfully complete RTVF 5312, Electronic Media Management; RTVF 5318, Emerging Telemedia Systems; and RTVF 7330, Seminar in Electronic Media, as part of their 30 or 33 graduate hours required for the degree.
Applicants for the M.A. in journalism with concentration in radio, television and film who have not had undergraduate course work and/or sufficient professional media experience to master basic news writing, reporting, broadcast production, and writing for television and radio will be required to successfully complete any or all of these courses (for undergraduate credit): Journalism 2350, Techniques of Writing for the Mass Media; Journalism 3320, Reporting Principles, or Journalism 3365, Radio-Television Journalism; RTVF 2300, Audio and Video Production Practicum; and RTVF 2308, Writing for the Electronic Media.
Advancement to Candidacy
The advancement to candidacy form should be completed by the student, with assistance from the journalism graduate program coordinator, before the last semester of course work. The advancement to candidacy form also is used as an advisement form in selecting courses to take.
Thesis
A student in the thesis option must complete the comprehensive research project before enrolling for thesis credit. Also, the student must have a thesis proposal approved by his or her thesis committee before enrolling for thesis credit.
Thesis option students must successfully complete a thesis and then defend the thesis in an oral examination to the satisfaction of the student’s thesis committee and the Graduate School.
After a thesis has been accepted by the Journalism Program thesis committee and by the Graduate School, the student submits two bound copies of the thesis to the Graduate School. These copies are placed in the Ottenheimer Library and the Journalism Program office, and the thesis is subject to public inspection.
Other Requirements
All material submitted by students as assignments in writing, reporting, editing, photography and electronic news gathering classes is subject to broadcast or publication. The department uses a variety of electronic and print media outlets, including its own statewide news service. Students taking journalism writing courses must have at least minimal typing ability.
Comprehensive Projects
Every graduate student in journalism, regardless of which program track is being followed, must complete a comprehensive project that consists of original research. After earning 24 hours of graduate credit, each student should consult with the graduate coordinator about the comprehensive project, prepare a proposal for the project, and confer with three graduate faculty members about serving on the comprehensive project committee. Each student will notify the journalism graduate coordinator of the faculty members’ agreement to serve on his or her committee. The dean of the Graduate School, upon the recommendation of the journalism graduate coordinator, will appoint a comprehensive project committee for each journalism graduate student. Generally, students will complete comprehensive projects during their last semester of course work. Some students, however, may opt to finish their comprehensive projects after their course work is completed. Each comprehensive project will be evaluated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by each comprehensive project committee member. For the project to be accepted, the committee must unanimously agree that the project is satisfactory.