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Journalism and Mass Communications, M.A.

College of Information and Communications

If you’re looking for a career in research in the communications industry, this Master of Arts might be the perfect advanced degree choice to supplement your education and experiences.

The M.A. degree is especially appropriate if you have extensive professional experience in journalism and mass communications and are interested in teaching and/or research careers in mass communication, or if you may want to pursue a doctorate. It’s a traditional 30-hour academic program that includes a six-hour thesis.

Program Highlights

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    Expert Faculty

    Learn from faculty members who combine distinguished academic careers with extensive professional experiences.

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    Social Media Lab

    Get experience collecting, managing, interpreting and using data through the college's Social Media Insights Lab.

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    Perfect Stepping-Stone

    Earn this master's degree if you want to continue your studies but aren't sure yet about pursuing a doctorate.

What You’ll Study

You must earn at least 21 credit hours in graduate-level journalism and mass communications courses, including core requirements. With faculty advisor approval, you may take nine semester hours of coursework outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The thesis will focus on a meaningful topic under the supervision of a faculty committee.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Analytical Reasoning

    Breaking down complex problems or situations to identify patterns, connections and solutions

    Attention to Detail

    Being meticulous and thorough in all aspects of a task or project

    Communication

    Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

  • Presentation Skills

    Preparing and delivering effective and engaging presentations to inform, persuade or inspire

    Scientific Writing

    Communicating scientific research and findings in a clear, accurate and compelling manner

    Writing

    Creating professional written content for inclusion in scholarly journal articles, books and reports

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

  • Social Media Manager
  • Communications Director
  • Advertising Account Executive
  • Employee Engagement Manager

Workplace Settings

  • Mass Communications
  • Social Media
  • Advertising
  • Marketing
  • Education

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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