School of Journalism

College of Arts & Sciences

Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
102 Lake Hall
Boston, MA 02115-5000

phone: 617.373.3236
fax: 617.373.8773

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Professional Concentration

In the Professional Track, we admit a diverse group of students. Many have little or no media experience and begin the program with an intensive three-week skills course. Some of our students majored in journalism and wrote for college publications as undergraduates. Others have worked in the media for several years and join the program to prepare for more challenging and higher-paying jobs.

The Professional Track curriculum balances skills courses and practical experience with courses - such as First Amendment law, journalism ethics, literary journalism and journalism history - that offer students a broad perspective on the news media. The Graduate Seminar provides an opportunity to critically examine the role of the media in society.

Full-time students can finish the program in a year. Part-time students, most of whom work in the Boston area, take one or two courses each semester and complete the program in two or three years.

As a national leader in cooperative education, Northeastern offers a unique option for its master's degree students in the Professional Track. Full-time students may alternate their academic study with six-month paid job assignments as reporters and editors at area media organizations. Students who choose the co-op option generally take an additional six months to graduate. Students may also participate in internships, which generally require a shorter time commitment and are unpaid.

The Curriculum:

The Professional Track curriculum consists of nine courses plus an intensive reporting boot camp for students who need it. Required courses include: Enterprise Reporting in the fall semester, Research Methods in Journalism in the spring semester and Perspectives on Journalism and Professional Ethics in the summer semester. Students must take one graduate-level course outside the School - usually in English, history, political science or sociology - at least one practicum course and four journalism electives. A grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation.