Lead Faculty: Dr. Sara-Ellen L. Amster
The Master of Arts in Digital Journalism prepares learners to become dynamic new media professionals capable of using emerging technologies to generate, create, and disseminate news and analysis in a competitive, fast-moving global information environment. The program is designed for learners who plan to engage in information gathering and dissemination via multiple media channels: online journalism and news, education, newsletter publishing, business intelligence, marketing and other business research, non-profit organization policy and position paper publishing, and other fact-finding and reporting activities. The changing nature of 21st-century communication requires highly skilled professionals who can respond to today’s 24-hour information-on-demand cycle. Learners will be armed with theoretical and practical approaches to help them and their organizations meet the world’s voracious appetite for news – clear, accessible and relevant knowledge and analysis.
Taught entirely online, the program will link new media practitioners internationally with each other to exchange current experience and practices. It will provide training in backpack video skills, which are in demand in the new media marketplace that now spans every industry. Coursework will marry non-traditional multimedia skills with the proven journalistic foundations, legal underpinnings, and ethics of reporting practice. It will teach students how to find, investigate, gather, analyze, organize, present, and disseminate complex information to intended audiences. Near the end of this 13-month program, students will be matched with mentors in the new media and communications fields. Along the way, they will create an electronic portfolio designed to help them gain employment and build their careers.
The degree requires that students are able to write in English at an advanced level and are flexible enough to learn the latest technological skills that new media professionals need. Students must already possess a bachelor of arts degree. They must prove basic competency in fundamental digital skills or enroll in the tutorials offered in Essential Digital Competencies, JRN 502, as a companion course to their other studies. If a student’s writing skills need improvement, he or she may be required to enroll in a remedial writing class before continuing in the program. Applicants for whom English is a second language are encouraged to take the Accuplacer English as a second language test to estimate their ability to succeed in the program. Consultation with the advisor is required. Essential Digital Competencies, JRN 502, must be taken prior to Video Journalism, JRN 610.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
JRN 502 Essential Digital Competencies Information
These are the ways JRN 502 may be waived. Incoming students may be asked by their advisor to demonstrate knowledge in six key skill areas: shooting photographs, editing photographs, shooting video, editing video, recording audio and editing audio.
Option 1 — If they already possess basic skills in these areas, they will turn in a 90-second video with audio. If the video lacks audio, students must submit a separate digital recording that shows they can record and edit audio. They can upload their video to youtube.com and send the link to the advisor.
Option 2 — If students cannot submit a video or audio, they must consult with their journalism advisor on which tutorials they need to take online based on their skill levels. These tutorials are available free as shareware or at low cost from various journalism organizations and vendors.
Option 3 — Students who feel they need supervision in each or all of these areas must take Essential Digital Competencies or JRN 502.
To receive a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism students must complete at least 58.5 quarter units of graduate work, of which a minimum of 45 quarter units must be taken in residence at National University. Students can transfer up to 13.5 quarter units at the graduate level from a regionally accredited institution provided the units have not been used to satisfy the requirements of an awarded degree and the Faculty Advisor determines the course content is applicable to the program. Students wishing to transfer credits into the program should contact the program faculty advisor. Refer to the section in the graduate admission requirements for additional specific information regarding application and evaluation. The capstone in this program will be developed individually with the advisor and may include an internship in a student’s home community or one arranged through National University’s student newspaper.
Prerequisite for the Program (1 course; 1.5 quarter units)
JRN 502 - Essential Digital Competencies (1.5 quarter units)
Core Requirements (13 courses; 58.5 quarter units)
JRN 600 - Multimedia Journalism
JRN 605 - Advanced Feature Writing
JRN 610 - Video Journalism (Prerequisite: JRN 502)
JRN 615 - International Journalism
JRN 620 - Producing the Online Publication
JRN 630 - Advanced Editing
JRN 640 - The Business of Journalism
JRN 650 - Computer-Assisted Reporting
JRN 655 - Seminar in Law
JRN 656 - Seminar in Ethics
JRN 660 - Specialty Reporting
JRN 670 - Enterprise Reporting
JRN 680 - Capstone Project
This program is available online.
National University is an affiliate of the National University System.