Journalism (JD/MA)

The School of Journalism and the School of Law offer an integrated program in which students may obtain both an MA degree in journalism and a JD degree in law. This program is especially suitable for students interested in enhancing their competencies, qualifications, and career options through the successful completion of two complementary professional programs. Although an MA degree in journalism normally requires two years of study, and a JD requires three, many students will be able to complete the full program in four years.

Application Procedure

Applicants to the dual degree program must submit formal applications and meet the requirements for admission to both the School of Law and to the Crosby MBA Program, to be eligible for the dual degree.  Contact the Crosby MBA Program and the School of Law for further information on admissions requirements.  Both applications must normally be submitted before a student has substantially completed the requirements of either program. Students may apply for both programs before starting either one, may apply during their 1L or 2L year of Law School, or may apply during their first year of the MBA program.

Degree Requirement Summary

The program meets the requirements for the JD with a total of 83 hours of law credit and 6 hours of study at the College of Business. The program meets the requirements for the MBA with 47.5 credit hours of courses in the Crosby MBA Program and 6 elective credit hours at the School of Law.  Thus the total (net) additional credits required for JD/MBA is 41.5.

Curriculum

The curriculum has been designed so that law and essentials in economics are addressed, followed by specialized courses in the upper levels.  Students in the dual-degree program normally will spend their first year at the law school taking the traditional first-year law school curriculum.  During the remainder of the program, students will take courses both in the School of Law and the Trulaske College of Business.

School of Law Required Courses

89 hours required for graduation

1st Year

5010 Civil Procedure I (3)

5020, 5025 Contracts I & II (6)

5035 Criminal Law (4)

5040 Property I (2)

5070 Torts (4)

5017 Constitutional Law I (3)

5080, 5085 Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I & II (6)

5095 Lawyering (2)

2nd Year

5260 Evidence (4)

2nd or 3rd Year

5015 Civil Procedure II (2)

5217 Constitutional Law II (2)

5240 Criminal Procedure (3)

5280 Professional Responsibility (3)

5045 Property II (3)

Law electives – 36 credits

Journalism electives – 6 credits

*Students who are placed on probation at the end of the fall semester of the first year will be required to take Foundations of Legal Studies II in the spring semester. This course is designed to assist students in meeting their graduation requirements.

School of Journalism Required Courses

Journalism Program Core Requirements (12 credits)

  • JOURN 7180 – Newsroom Content and Creation

Or JOURN 7200 – Principles of Strategic Communication

  • JOURN 8000 – Mass Media Seminar
  • Research Methods (one of the following):
    • JOURN 8006 – Quantitative Research Methods in Journalism
    • JOURN 8008 – Qualitative Research Methods in Journalism
  • One elective from the following:
    • JOURN 8038 – Seminar in Communication Law
    • JOURN 8046 – Controls of Information

Master’s students at our program have the flexibility to choose from seven (7) concentrations, each of which culminates in either a thesis or a project. These concentrations include:

  1. Television & Digital News Reporting and Business Journalism
  2. Cross Platform Editing and Producing
  3. Data and Investigative Journalism
  4. Photojournalism, Documentary Journalism, and Visual Editing
  5. Strategic Communications (Advertising or Public Relations)
  6. Social Media and Audience Development
  7. Research

Each concentration comprises both model core and elective courses. The total number of required credits for completion of the Master’s program 37 credits. Dual degree students are welcome to select any model option that aligns with their academic goals.

Sample Journalism Masters Degree Plan

Policy

  1. Law students who receive credit under the dual degree program for taking journalism courses may not receive credit for taking other classes outside the School of Law.
  2. Occasionally, students entering the M.A. program in journalism are required to strengthen their undergraduate experience by taking extra course work to round out their graduate programs. The most commonly required additional courses are American government, American history, and economics. These courses do not count as part of the Master’s program.
  3. A dual degree candidate who subsequently decides to pursue only one of these degrees must complete degree requirements subject to the same rules as a student not pursuing a dual degree.
    Law students who receive credit under the dual degree program for taking economics courses may not receive credit for taking other classes outside the School of Law.
  4. Student honors and class ranks at the School of Law will be computed on classes enrolled in as law courses.
  5. Except in limited circumstances, the School of Law cannot award credit for any class taken before matriculation at the School of Law. Dual degree candidates are strongly advised to enroll at the School of Law before taking the 6 credits of journalism courses to be counted toward the JD degree.
  6. The School of Journalism and the School of Law reserve the right to limit participation in the program, including dismissal. Those interested are encouraged to submit a request for permission to participate in the program, along with applications for admission, at the earliest possible time.
  7. The listing of courses does not constitute a binding commitment that the courses will be offered during the student’s course of study.
  8. Students in the dual-degree program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Law and the School of Journalism.