Lawrence Campus

Edwards Campus

The University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers graduate programs that lead to the Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ) and the PhD.

Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ)

The School offers both academic and professional experiences.  On the Lawrence campus, the School offers only the thesis track. On the Edwards Campus in suburban Kansas City, the School offers the Marketing Communications program, which serves students wanting strategic communications skills.

Both programs lead to a Master of Science in Journalism and build on the School’s strong professional and academic reputation.

The professional MSJ is the School’s Marketing Communications course of study that emphasizes the integration of marketing communication specialties. The curriculum is an advanced series of courses requiring a at least two years of professional experience in marketing communications or other media-related fields. It is offered on the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas, and is designed for part-time, evening study to accommodate working professionals or full-time students.  For more information about Marketing Communications visit our blog at kumarcomm.wordpress.com.

The Lawrence-based Mass Communications MSJ program is a thesis-only course of study emphasizing the study of real-world media issues, critical thinking skills, and media use.  Students learn the discipline’s theory and methods to explore the causes and effects of media issues.  Students take advanced seminars and a concentration of their own choosing.  Students then complete a thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor.

The Journalism School and the School of Law offer a joint MSJ and JD degree program that combines three and one-half years of full-time study for the Master of Science (M.S.) in Journalism and the Juris Doctor (J.D.). The joint degree program in journalism and law is designed to offer students academic grounding in both disciplines to prepare them for the professional practice of journalism, law or a combination of media law.

Those students seeking only professional skills in news and information may want to complete a Journalism minor or second major in Journalism on their Bachelor’s degree. See www.journalism.ku.edu/academics/ugcurric.shtml for more information.

Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication

The School’s PhD program offers intensive rigorous education in research skills leading to original research and the creation of knowledge.  The program of study leads to the student’s dissertation proposal and dissertation.  PhD students work closely with the School’s publishing faculty members, creating original research examining real-world issues.  Students take a core of theory and research methods courses; 12 hours in a concentration in an academic unit outside of the J-School; a comprehensive exam, and then complete an acceptable dissertation. 

For more information on the School’s graduate programs, please contact Jammie Johnson, the School’s graduate advisor, and/or Tom Volek, the School’s Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. 

The information presented here represents the most current, official guidelines and policies for the School of Journalism's graduate program.