This is a named option in the Journalism and Mass Communication MA.
The Professional MA program prepares students for careers in news and information production. The program provides a mix of practical communication skills, conceptual knowledge of journalism and mass communication, and an area of specialization.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 15 |
| Spring Deadline | April 15 |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
New students are admitted to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for the fall semester. A committee of faculty members reviews each application. Among the indicators considered for admission are:
- Quality of an applicant’s academic record
- Preparation to pursue an advanced degree
- Clearly defined goals and rationale for graduate education in the field
Applicants must submit the following to the online application:
- Statement of Purpose (750 words maximum) regarding your educational and career goals and your reasons for selecting this graduate program. Discuss those factors — personal, professional, academic — that have prepared you to pursue a graduate degree. All Professional MA applicants should indicate in some detail what kind of specialty they will seek and why.
- Supplemental application questions:
- How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin?
- Unofficial transcripts of prior undergraduate and graduate course completion.
- Resume.
- Writing sample in PDF format (25 page maximum). No CDs, DVDs or other material will be accepted or considered. Writing samples could include news stories, blog posts, white papers, reports or portions of an academic paper. Professionally published samples are preferred but not required. Writing samples must be uploaded to the Supplemental Section of the online application.
- Three letters of recommendation, coming primarily from faculty members who can evaluate your previous academic performance and provide an assessment of your likelihood of success in graduate school. One of the letters may come from an employer or internship supervisor. Letters should come from individuals who have worked directly with you and who are in a position to objectively evaluate your abilities and work productivity.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Information
All applicants who are admitted for graduate studies are automatically considered for scholarship support. No separate application is required.
Our professional master's program does not provide funding guarantees through graduate assistantships, but students may apply for Teaching Assistantships in the department for their second year of the program. This application is open during the Spring semester for students already matriculated in the program.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.25 GPA required for degree conferral. For academic probation and other grading policies, refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Students must earn a B or above in all curriculum coursework. |
| Assessments and Examinations | Students present a portfolio of their work in the last semester. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Skills Courses | ||
| Students must complete the following course: | ||
| JOURN 335 | Principles and Practices of Reporting | 4 |
| Additional Skills Courses | ||
| Complete at least 8 additional credits from the following skills courses chosen in consultation with the program advisor: | 8 | |
| In-Depth Reporting | ||
| Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Multimedia Design | ||
| Science and Environmental Journalism | ||
| Magazine Publishing | ||
| Investigative Reporting | ||
| Video Journalism | ||
| Community-Based Reporting | ||
| Sports Reporting and Writing | ||
| Long Form Video | ||
| Storytelling Through Sound | ||
| Special Topics in Advanced Concepts and Skills | ||
| Concept Courses | ||
| Students must complete the following course: | ||
| JOURN 903 | Professional Master's Colloquium | 1 |
| Additional Concept Courses | ||
| Complete at least 6 other credits from the following concept course list in consultation with the program advisor: | 6 | |
| History of U.S. Media | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Law of Mass Communication | ||
| Media and the Consumer | ||
| Effects of Mass Communication | ||
| Communication and Public Opinion | ||
| Mass Media and Global Communication | ||
| Mass Media and Youth | ||
| Health Communication in the Information Age | ||
| Mass Communication and Political Behavior | ||
| International Communication | ||
| The Impact of Emerging Media | ||
| History of Books and Print Culture in Europe and North America | ||
| Communicating Sports Controversies | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Mass Media and Minorities | ||
| Social Networks in Communication | ||
| Literary Aspects of Journalism | ||
| Topics in Government and Mass Media | ||
| Special Topics in Mass Communication | ||
| Concepts and Tools for Data Analysis and Visualization | ||
| Legal & Ethical Dimensions of Emerging Media | ||
| Mass Communication and the Individual | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Mass Communication and Culture | ||
| Mass Communication History | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Global Communication | ||
| Science and Environment Communication | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Media | ||
| Law and Ethics of Communication and Media | ||
| Journalism Theory | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Mass Communication | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Technology and Society | ||
| News Framing and Social Protest Movements | ||
| Topics in Mass Communication | ||
| Specialization Courses (outside of Journalism Mass Communication) | ||
| In addition to the courses listed above, students must complete at least 6 credits of coursework outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communication numbered 300 or above. | 6 | |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| To satisfy the minimum credit requirement, students complete any elective credits (within or outside department) chosen in consultation with program. | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special student at UW–Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor policy.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Program Information
We offer a career colloquium for all professional MA students and require students to complete an internship during their time in the program. Students receive professional coaching in classes and work with our career advisor who provides support for job and internship search and preparation.