The Master of Journalism program

The Master of Journalism program admits two types of students. Those seeking to embark on careers in the news media may be admitted to a 10-credit program, which normally takes two years to complete. It features a year taken in common, followed by a year of specialization. Experienced journalists, or applicants holding a degree that is equivalent to Carleton’s Honours Bachelor of Journalism degree, may be admitted to a five-credit program, which takes one or two years to complete.

In both types of program, the streams of specialization are:

• print journalism
• broadcast journalism
• journalism studies

The Goal of the Degree

The goal of the 10-credit program is to provide the professional knowledge and skills journalists need to succeed in the newsroom. Courses in media studies complement the professional instruction, giving graduates the wherewithal to think searchingly and, in the best sense, critically about the role and conduct of the news media in a liberal democracy. The goal of the five-credit program is to provide working journalists with a chance to reflect on the profession, to enhance their understanding of journalism, to reskill, or to refocus their career goals.

The Architecture of the Degree

First year

In the first year of the 10-credit program, students are introduced to the fundamentals of journalism in print, radio and television. These fundamentals are taught in intensive workshops, which run all day Tuesdays and Fridays. Students also take an array of journalism courses — journalism and society, media law, public affairs reporting, and reporting methods. Finally, students take one credit of optional courses that contribute to the development of their respective areas of interest or expertise. The MJ program is housed in a research university, and Journalism students are able to avail themselves of its resources.

Summer

In the summer after the first year, students are expected to find jobs related to their career ambitions. The School puts students in touch with employers through short-term apprenticeships during the academic year. It also invites major media employers to come to campus to recruit summer students. The MJ program does not feature co-op placements. It is up to the individual student to find work. For more information, visit the Apprenticeships section below.

Second year

The second year of the 10-credit MJ is devoted to enhancing a student’s skills and knowledge through the pursuit of a specialized stream of study. Most MJ students choose the print or broadcast stream. Each features a specialized reporting course and a production workshop tied to the stream. The broadcast workshop produces radio and television news and current affairs programs, while the print workshop produces a community newspaper and an online magazine. The core reporting and workshop courses are complemented by optional and required courses, inside the School and out. Students cap their degree with a Master’s Research Project, a sustained piece of public affairs reporting rendered in a medium appropriate to the stream of specialization. This project showcases a student’s industry and energy, and serves as a calling card to offer to potential employers.

Journalism studies stream

The journalism studies stream is an academic course of study taking the news media or some aspect of journalism practice as its object of analysis. Usually, but not always, the journalism studies stream is chosen by the established professional journalists who are admitted to five-credit MJ programs. Students in this stream take three credits of required and optional courses and write a Master’s Thesis on a topic selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.

Apprenticeships

The calibre of the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University is best measured by the quality of the students it attracts and the accomplishments of its graduates. We are justifiably proud of the program’s pedigree, and of the fact that each year the small cohort of graduating MJ students is very competitive in a demanding job market.

The School runs an apprenticeship program together with media organizations from coast to coast. These are typically one- to three-week placements for third and fourth year students with organizations as diverse as CTV News, the Discovery Channel, TSN, CanWest newspapers, Canadian Geographic magazine and the Hockey Hall of Fame. They can be completed while the academic term is in session, but many students choose to pursue them in the break between Fall and Winter terms. If, for example, a student is returning home to Vancouver over the December break, the School can arrange an apprenticeship placement with BCTV or the Vancouver Sun.

These are unpaid positions, but they can provide valuable opportunities to gain experience and enhance one’s portfolio in preparation for competing for summer jobs. Many news organizations hire students for three- and four-month positions over the summer, and it is here that many MJ students gain the professional experience necessary to launch their subsequent careers. The School has a member of faculty who assists students in finding employment and a number of media organizations visit campus each year to interview students for summer or permanent positions.

More information can be found on the Apprenticeships Website.