Journalism, M.A.

Prepare for a career in journalism and media through intensive, hands-on training in reporting, writing, video, studio production, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling.

30 Credits
Earn your M.A. in as Little as 12 Months

Hands-On Training

Develop professional skills in reporting, writing, video, studio production, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling.

Learn in Miami

Report and produce stories in one of the nation’s most diverse, dynamic, and internationally connected media markets.

Professional Facilites

Learn and create in professional broadcast studios, production facilities, and dedicated audio and podcast spaces.

Tell a Story. Change the World.

The program combines rigorous journalism education with intensive, hands-on professional training. Students develop advanced skills in reporting, writing, video and studio production, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling while building a professional portfolio that showcases their work.

The 30-credit curriculum provides a strong journalism foundation while giving students the flexibility to shape their education around their professional goals. Through electives and hands-on experiences, students can explore areas including broadcast and digital journalism, sports media, data and visual journalism, audio storytelling, environmental and science reporting, and emerging media.

Explore some of the featured courses:

An introduction to professional operating practices in multimedia journalism with emphasis on news writing and news production skills.

This course teaches students podcasting concepts and techniques to create podcasts on various topics.

A graduate-level, hands-on course in broadcast news writing, field reporting, and full studio production. Students learn to research and pitch stories, conduct interviews, write across platforms, operate studio equipment, produce live and taped segments, and build a professional demo reel.

A hands-on sports journalism course that will develop students’ skills in sports reporting and sports writing. Discussions range across the entire field of sports reporting, including broadcasting, but the greatest emphasis is concentrated on sports reporting and writing for print, online, social media and media relations. Students will go off-campus to cover professional and college sporting events live on deadline, hear from guest speakers across the industry, and cover on-campus UM sports beats.

An advanced seminar class designed to enhance the knowledge and practice of the visual storytelling narrative. This seminar stresses the importance of converging media, still images, video, and sound. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the creation of a multimedia portfolio.

Build Your Journalism M.A. Around Your Goals

Start with a strong professional foundation, then customize your degree through electives that align with your interests and career goals.

Complete in 12 or 18 months

Choose specialized electives

Finish with a capstone or professional internship

Hands-On From Day One: Journalism Bootcamp
Your graduate experience begins before your first class. August 16-20, 2027

All incoming M.A. students begin with a mandatory, intensive Journalism Bootcamp one week before the fall semester. Students receive hands-on training with cameras, microphones, lighting, reporting, and visual storytelling while working directly with journalism faculty.

Where Can Your M.A. Take You?

  • Broadcast & Television Journalism
  • Digital & Multimedia Journalism
  • Video & Documentary Production
  • Sports Journalism & Media
  • Podcasting & Audio Storytelling
  • Data & Visual Journalism
  • Environmental & Science Journalism
  • Investigative & Long-Form Reporting
  • Social & Emerging Media
Top Journalism School

Ranked #1 for Broadcast Journalism by Niche. Ranked #5 for both Sports and News and #10 for Overall Media Institution by BEA.

Awards

Our students have won awards in prestigious competitions such as ONA, BEA SPJ, AP, NATAS and the Suncoast Emmys.

Alumni Success

Recent graduates have been recruited by renowned organizations such as E News, CNN, BBC, Fox, ESPN and more.

Admission FAQs

Learn more about the M.A. process here. There are 5 steps in the application process:

  1. Sign up for an account on Slate
  2. Send official transcripts
  3. Upload letters of recommendation
  4. Upload your essay
  5. Upload your portfolio

Our program evaluates each applicant holistically including academic interests, professional goals, experience, recommendation letters, and GPA.

The GRE is not required.

International students should review the International Applicant Process page for more information.

Prior training or experience in journalism is preferred, but not required or necessary. Our program is structured to teach you with or without experience in journalism. The program begins with a mandatory boot camp one week before classes begin.

  1. Resume (2 pages): The resume should highlight past journalistic experience and employment.
  2. Personal Essay (500-700 words): The essay should address personal objectives for graduate study, subject matters of interest for future projects, and career goals. May be the same as the “statement of purpose” required in the Graduate School Application.
  3. Portfolio: This could include news media, published works, academic papers, articles, writing samples, etc. The submission must be the applicant’s sole-authored writing.

Learn more about the application process for International Students here.

Click here to learn more about Funding Opportunities.

We have limited department funding for teaching assistantships. To be considered for these opportunities, please apply by February 1, 2025.

Click here to see all FAQs.

Graduate Program Contacts

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu

For questions related to the Journalism, M.A. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Sallie Hughes at shughes@miami.edu

Dates & Deadlines

The priority application deadline for Fall 2027 is Feb. 1, 2027.

The School has limited funding available for the M.A. program. If you want to be considered for funding, submit your application by February 1, 2027.

The final application deadline for Fall 2027 is July 15, 2027.

Project Spotlight

NPR Podcast “White Lies” visits UMiami

Andrew Beck Grace and Chip Brantley, co-creators of “White Lies,” the Pulitzer Prize-finalist NPR podcast, spoke at the University of Miami to discuss the second season of the podcast which revisits the 1991 prison revolt in Talladega, Alabama. Beck Grace and Brantley were joined by a panel of experts including professors and journalists.

Get In Touch

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu.

For questions related to the Journalism, M.A. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Sallie Hughes at shughes@miami.edu