Because of this, we have compiled a list of some of the best journalism graduate schools in the world that can meet your needs. Journalism is a form of communication, but it’s different from other forms. It is distinct because it’s a one-way message, or story, from the journalist to the audience. The journalist acts as a channel, narrating an objective story about something that happened or is happening, based on his or her observations and discoveries. Proper dissemination of the journalist’s information depends on his or her level of expertise. This is why studying journalism in any of these schools gives you an edge over others. These graduate schools train their students to be outstanding journalists and place them at the forefront of the labor market. In this article, we would show you some of the top journalism graduate schools and what they offer. Grab a cup of coffee if you can and continue reading. But before that, here’s a table to help you read better.

What Is Journalism?

Journalism is simply the act of creating, gathering, and presenting news and information. It can come in different forms like articles, posts, videos, and even tweets. History reveals that the more democratic a society, the more news, and information it tends to have. Journalism increased in the 18th century with the boost of literacy and political interest. The first piece of modern journalism was published in 1703 by Daniel Dafoe, showing the Great Storm of 1703 in Britain. Afterward, newspapers and gazettes filled the streets and these made people have knowledge of the events happening around them.  This unique act of storytelling comes in form of reporting which simply means conveying the facts of the story.

Why Should I Attend Journalism Graduate School?

A Journalism graduate degree that is awarded at the graduate school aims to produce adaptable journalists who are prepared for the 21st-century media. This is because engaging and vibrant societies depend on open, critical, and engaging news media. Graduate programs in journalism also help journalists to have a high standard of critical thinking, curiosity, and inquisitiveness. This will enable them to ask the right questions and be conscious of the role of journalism and its broader ethical and social obligations. Furthermore, if you’re looking for a certain promotion, going to study in any of the best journalism graduate schools can be a good way to move beyond that barrier. You’ll learn about best practices in the field and gain more experience in everything from project management to research and writing. These skills, in turn, help you earn more.

How Much Does A Journalism Graduate Earn?

Reporters and correspondents earn an average of $41,260 while broadcast news analysts earn $66,880 according to BLS. However, the salaries of journalists depend on location, experience, education, media house, and specialization. Large news organizations pay higher salaries than small-town weekly publications. Places, where reporters and correspondents are paid the highest, include the District of Columbia, New York, California, Arizona, and New Jersey.

How Long Will It Take To Get A Journalism Graduate Degree?

The average duration of graduate programs is between 1 to 2 years for regular students. However, it solely depends on the school you study at. Most journalism graduate programs will require you to complete some form of the original research project. Afterward, you learn how to develop a research question, investigate that question by collecting relevant data, and articulate your findings. You’ll have the chance to work one-on-one with an advising faculty member. Before the degree is awarded, you will complete a thesis as requested by the school. To do this, you will have to learn how to write for both specialists and lay audiences. The writing skills you’ll acquire here are very relevant for a career in journalism too. On the other hand, if you are not a regular student, you can expect to get your graduate degree between 3 to 4 years.

What Is The Cost of Tuition In Graduate School?

Journalism graduate school tuition varies widely by program, and school involved. However, we estimate average graduate school tuition to be $30,000 a year at a public university and $40,000 a year at a private university. On the contrary, if you don’t have the required finances for tuition, you can leverage on scholarships. There are a lot of sponsoring bodies offering scholarships to smart students.

What Are The Requirements For Journalism Graduate School?

To successfully enroll in one of the top journalism graduate schools, there are some criteria you have to meet. Here are the requirements for graduate journalism schools.

Proof of a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related subject like EnglishOfficial school transcriptsLetter of recommendationA minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score

These are the basic requirements for graduate journalism schools. Other requirements, however, depend on the school of choice. People also check out How to Become a Journalist in 2022: Schools, Salary, Cost, Requirements

Best Graduate Journalism Schools

Studying in any of these top journalism graduate schools launches your career to the next level as most of the programs allow you to specialize in a subject area or media format- like magazines, news, digital journalism, etc. To effectively rank these schools, we considered the following ranking factors; acceptance rate, academic reputation, graduation rate, student-teacher ratio, and tuition. Here are some of the best graduate journalism schools in the world.

University of AmsterdamThe London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)University of Southern California- USCThe University of Texas at AustinStanford UniversityNanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)New York UniversityNational University of Singapore (NUS)Columbia UniversityThe Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

#1. University of Amsterdam

Acceptance rate: 4%Ranking: Program rank- #1, QS world rank-#61School Type: Public University The University of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s prominent research-led universities. Its graduate program in Journalism and Media studies offers a comprehensive and critical approach to new media research, practices, and theory using a variety of teaching formats. Being the largest university in Netherland, this graduate journalism school offers two graduate degree options.

Journalism, Media, and Globalisation- Joint degree (Masters degree)Media Studies- (Master’s degree)

To learn more about these journalism graduate program options, visit the schools official website below. VISIT SCHOOL

#2. The London School of Economics and Political Science – LSE

Acceptance rate: 25%Ranking: Program rank- #3, QS World Ranking-#49School Type: Public The Department of Media and Communications in the LSE is a world-leading center for education and research in communication and media studies in the heart of central London. It aims to prepare students for doctoral or professional research in the media and communications field. This top journalism graduate school offers two graduate degrees in different aspects of Journalism- a Masters degree and a Doctorate degree. They also offer a short course on International Journalism. To learn more about the programs offered, click the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#3. University of Southern California- USC

Acceptance rate: 18%Ranking: Program rank- #2, QS World Ranking-#121School Type: Private The USC School of Journalism offers a transformational educational experience that encourages students to think critically, write effectively, and master the new and emerging technologies required for creative and compelling 21st-century journalism. In other to raise students with professional journalism skills, The University of Southern California offers three journalism graduate degree options.

Master of Science- JournalismSpecialized Journalism- Master of ArtsMaster of Arts- Arts Specialized Journalism

If you would like to know more about the journalism graduate degree options and how to apply, click the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#4. The University of Texas at Austin

Acceptance rate: 38.5%Ranking: Program rank-5, QS World Ranking-#71School Type: Public The School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas provides graduate programs with a good blend of courses, and research experiences for people who want to advance their education in the ever-changing field of journalism. This top graduate school for journalism offers two graduate degrees

Master of Arts in JournalismDoctorate In Journalism

These graduate degrees offer opportunities to obtain training and better understand the media systems and content that have strong impacts on society. To learn more about the programs, click the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#5. Stanford University

Acceptance rate: 4.8%Ranking: Program rank-#4, QS World Ranking-#2School Type: Private With over 125 years of experience, The Stanford University Department of Journalism is passionate about storytelling and data, which has led them to empower students to produce work that is multimedia, data-intensive, and influenced by design thinking. Their quest for excellence leads them to offer high-class journalism education at the Masters level. This Masters program gives the students the opportunity to learn several software programs like python, and Jekyll, to name a few. If you would like to know more about the graduate program at Stanford University and how to apply, use the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#6. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)

Acceptance rate: 35%Ranking: Program rank- #7, QS World Ranking-#13School Type: Public The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) is one of the fast-growing journalism schools in Asia. This top journalist graduate school has become a premier research institution that generates empirical and humanistic analyses of communication topics. To continue to meet the demand in Singapore and the region for well-trained personnel in the media industry and information services, WKWSCI offers a Master’s degree in Media and Communications. If you would like to learn more about the program and its application, visit the school’s website through the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#7. New York University

Acceptance rate: 15%Ranking: Program rank- #10, QS World Ranking-#35School Type: Private New York University Journalism Institute has become a leader in developing advanced forms of journalism education. The majority of journalism programs use a traditional outline that teaches skills specifically for one medium of communication – newspaper, magazine, digital or new media, and broadcasting. The New York journalism graduate program aims to prepare students who will compete with the excellent practice of journalism. Hence, they offer a Master’s in Journalism. To learn more about studying in this top journalism graduate school, visit the link below. VISIT SCHOOL

#8. National University of Singapore (NUS)

Acceptance rate: 25%Ranking: Program rank- #12, QS World Ranking-#11School Type: Public Communications and New Media (CNM) at the National University of Singapore is the only department in Southeast Asia that offers media studies, interactive media design, cultural studies, and communication management with a focus on new media. CNM’s multidisciplinary approach to teaching gives students opportunities for experiential learning and raises journalists who can work in a wide range of media and communication organizations. To further enhance this, they offer two graduate journalism degree

Master of Arts (By Research)Ph.D. in New Media

To learn more about these graduate programs and its application process, use the link below VISIT SCHOOL

#9. Columbia University

Acceptance rate: 5%Ranking: Program rank- #14, QS World Rank-  #19School Type: Private The Columbia Journalism school is one of the top graduate journalism schools in the world. With over 100 years of experience, Columbia University has produced exceptional journalists. It aims to prepare students to become leaders in the industry and shape the path of the profession. As one of America’s finest Universities, The Columbia Journalism School offers three graduate degree options.

Master of Arts in JournalismMaster of Science in JournalismData Journalism – Master of Science

To learn more about these graduate options and how to apply, click the link below. VISIT SCHOOL See this also What Is Media Studies Course? Amazing Reasons Why I Should Get One

#10. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Acceptance rate: 4%Ranking: Program rank- #15, QS World Ranking-#43School Type: Public The School of Journalism and Communication in CHUK has the longest history of communication education and research in Hong Kong. With its years of experience, CHUK has raised graduates who are now leaders in the media, communication, and cultural industries. In a bid to produce graduates with practical skills, CHUK offers two graduate degree options-a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in Journalism, Media, and Communications. Click the link below to learn more about the programs and its application process. VISIT SCHOOL

Conclusion

Journalism is an exciting career. However, there could be limitations depending on your level of education. So, If you’d like to further your education and move forward in your career as a journalist, I suggest you get a graduate degree by enrolling in either of these best journalism graduate schools. The clock is ticking! Good luck!

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References

10 BEST GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN JOURNALISMCommunication & Media Studies