(2009-10 School Term)
Here is a list of common questions and answers about the graduate journalism program. Please review the full list before making any inquiries to the Office of Graduate Admissions or to the graduate program director in the School of Communications.

• How do I apply to the graduate journalism program in the School of Communications?
• Where are some of your graduates working?
• Where did your graduate students attend school as undergraduates?
• Is the focus of the program are practice or theory?
• I do not have an undergraduate journalism or communications degree but do hold a bachelor's degree in another discipline. Am I a good candidate for admission nevertheless?
• I have been thinking about earning a master's degree in journalism because I like to write and want to become a writer. Would the program help me?
• Can students specialize in one area of journalism such as broadcast?
• Is it possible to finish the master's program in one calendar year?
• I can't start my studies until January. Is it possible to start a graduate program in the Spring semester?
• What is the difference between full-time and part-time study?
• I am currently working in a full-time day job and can't take time off during daytime hours to pursue studies. When are courses offered?
• I am currently working full-time but wish to pursue full-time studies. Is that practical?
• Does Quinnipiac offer assistantships of any kind to graduate students?
• I have worked on a daily newspaper for three years. Do I have to take courses that seem to be below my level of experience?
• Do I need to buy a new computer and software?
• Who handles advising on course selections and careers?

How do I apply to the graduate journalism program in the School of Communications?
Application forms are available on this Web site. Please download the form and follow the instructions or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions via:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518-1908

Telephone: 203-582-8672
E-mail: graduate@quinnipiac.edu

Questions about the curriculum and careers and appointments to meet with the journalism graduate program director should be sent to: gradcomm@quinnipiac.edu

Where are some of your graduates working?
Graduates from the MS program in journalism are pursuing successful careers in broadcast news, magazines, newspapers, online news sites and radio stations throughout the United States. The list where are alumni are working includes the Associated Press, ESPN, ESPN.com, Fox News, grandparents.com, Hartford Courant, Patch.com, Real Estate Magazine, Taunton Press, WE TV Network, WNPR and at broadcast network affiliates in Dallas, New Haven, Philadelphia, Santa Barbara, Springfield, Mass., and many other cities.

Our alumni also are applying their training to public affairs positions at top corporations and universities, including The Hartford, New York Islanders, Pepsi, Pfizer, Quinnipiac University, the University of Connecticut and Yale University.

The graduate journalism program is highly regarded in the profession and maintains close contacts with practitioners and alumni. We constantly circulate career opportunities sent to us by news media organizations who wish to recruit Quinnipiac University students.

Where did your graduate students attend school as undergraduates?
Journalism is a national graduate program that attracts students from a variety of universities and colleges from the United States and other countries. Among the institutions are Albertus Magnus College; American University; Boston College; Boston University; Columbia University; Dartmouth College; Elmira College; Fairfield University; Florida State University; Gettysburg College; Howard University; Northwestern University; Purdue University; Quinnipiac University; Union College; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Connecticut; University of North Carolina - Wilmington; University of Notre Dame; and Yale University, among many others.

Is the focus of the program are practice or theory?
We focus ruthlessly on training students to work as professional journalists. Our faculy are experienced print, broadcast and online journalists who apply their practical experience to coursework and their professional connections in service to our students in buildng their careers. To be sure, we do require courses in Media Law and the role of the journalist in society, but the bulk of the coursework is based on professional training.

I do not have an undergraduate journalism or communications degree but do hold a bachelor's degree in another discipline. Am I a good candidate for admission nevertheless?
Yes. Students holding bachelor's degrees in disciplines other than journalism or communications are encouraged to apply. What matters is a passion to excel as a journalist.

I have been thinking about earning a master's degree in journalism because I like to write and want to become a writer. Would the program help me?
The program would be helpful if you wish to write as a journalist. Our focus is firmly on intense training for students who are passionate about journalism and wish to practice the craft for their livelihood. In short, our program is not designed for students who wish to pursue writing as a hobby or who wish to learn creative writing. That's not to say that innovation and creativity are not part of the program. But our goal is to prepare students for professional practice in print, broadcast and online news media.

Can students specialize in one area of journalism such as broadcast?
Our curriculum is based on the reality of contemporary journalism that requires students to write, shoot and edit video, prepare audio and prepare multimedia stories. That means all students must take courses in broadcast, online and print journalism. That said, students may specialize in one area by taking advanced electives and by preparing their master's project in that area. For example, if a student wishes to specialize in broadcast journalism, the student may take Advanced Broadcast Journalism as an elective and then pursue their master's project as a work of broadcast journalism. When coupled with the required Broadcast Journalism course, that means the student has taken 25 percent of their coursework in that area.

Is it possible to finish the master's program in one calendar year?
Yes. Students can take five courses per semester and two in the summer.

Please note that students are eligible to take part in the May Commencement program if they are within six credits of completion, so students need to complete 30 credits by the end of the Spring semester if they wish to participate in Commencement.

I can't start my studies until January. Is it possible to start a graduate program in the Spring semester?
Yes. It is important to note, however, that some courses offered in the Spring carry prerequisites, so the universe of available courses will be smaller than it is for students who are admitted in the Fall. It is difficult if not impossible to finish the program within a year defined by January-to-December structure. That said, we have a number of students who begin studies in January.

What is the difference between full-time and part-time study?
Students are considered full time if they take three or more courses. Part-time students must take two courses per semester unless they receive special permission from the graduate program director to take one during their first semester.

I am currently working in a full-time day job and can't take time off during daytime hours to pursue studies. When are courses offered?
You can meet all program requirements through a combination of weekday evening course, weekend courses and online courses. Most courses start at 6:30 p.m. during the week and throughout the day on Saturdays. Some courses are also available online.

I am currently working full time but wish to pursue full-time studies. Is that practical?
No. Graduate courses are demanding, and students who try to work full time and meet full-time program requirements may find it impossible to excel. It's important to stress that students need to graduate with a grade point average of 3.0. We recommend that only full-time students pursue full-time studies. Students with full-time careers should follow the part-time trajectory of two courses per semester.

Does Quinnipiac offer assistantships of any kind to graduate students?
Yes. We provide graduate assistantships to a limited number of students per semester. Students who receive graduate assistantships receive tuition remission equal to one course in exchange for 10 hours a week of research work with a professor or staff member. Students who wish to receive a graduate assistantship must apply through the Office of Graduate Admissions. We do not offer teaching assistantships.

I have worked on a daily newspaper for three years. Do I have to take courses that seem to be below my level of experience?
Students who demonstrate proficiency in any required course by filing proof of that proficiency (i.e., newspaper or online articles, or broadcast news reel) may replace that course or courses with an elective or electives with the permission of the graduate program director. Please note, however, that students may not receive waivers for either JRN 502 Introduction to the Practice of Journalism.

Do I need to buy a new computer and software?
Students are strongly encouraged to purchase a laptop (either PC or Mac) and a Firewire drive (80GB) to store video and other multimedia content. A digital audio recorder and an inexpensive video camera such as a Flip are also recommended for the Reporting for the Web course. If a student does not wish to buy a laptop, the student may use machines located in the McMahon Communications Center. We maintain two classrooms there that also serve as computer labs (Rooms SB 253 and SB 260). Apple computers are also available in video-editing rooms. Students are responsible for purchasing and installing required software on their machines.

Please note, however, that the rooms that house the computers are also used for classrooms and access is limited to the hours when classes are not in session on a given day of the week. That time varies from semester to semester but is posted outside each of the two rooms.

Who handles advising on course selections and careers?
The graduate program director serves as the point person for all questions regarding semester-by-semester course recommendations for each student. The assistant dean for career services, Jennifer Burns, and the director also help students with the career-building process. Students are encouraged to make office appointments with the assistant dean for career services to discuss their courses and planned career moves with the program director before studies begin.