Admission Requirements

Prospective students must complete and return an application to the Dean of Graduate Admissions, 126 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549. The application process includes:

1. Prospective students should have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, and earned an overall grade point average of at least 2.75.
2. Applicants should have successfully completed an undergraduate course in news writing and reporting (equivalent to JRNL 011 at Hofstra) and in copy editing (equivalent to JRNL 053 at Hofstra), or should have equivalent professional experience. Students who have not taken the prerequisite courses may be asked to complete additional undergraduate course work before beginning the graduate level journalism courses.
3. In addition to a completed application and an official transcript of undergraduate work, applicants should submit a personal essay as a writing sample. This should be a 500 to 750 word essay describing personal and educational history, past employment, volunteer work or related experience in the applicant’s intended field of study, plans for graduate study and plans for a professional career.
4. Applicants must also submit a current resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.
5. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit any published newspaper, magazine, or online clips they may have.
6. An interview with the program director is strongly recommended but not required for admission to the program. Applicants may arrange for either an on-campus or telephone interview.
7. GRE scores are not required for the M.A. in journalism, but may be submitted.
8. International students from non-English speaking countries must have a minimum TOEFL score of 95 to be considered for admission. IELTS scores are also accepted with a minimum score requirement of 7. The only exceptions are those who receive a waiver from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Students may be asked to complete additional undergraduate course work before enrolling in graduate-level journalism courses. Students electing to take these classes at Hofstra will be permitted to enroll in both courses concurrently.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in the program. We encourage students who may not meet all of the criteria to apply if they have other experiences that make them suitable candidates for the program.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of partial scholarships are awarded for qualified students. Other student aid in the form of graduate assistant jobs, loans and work-study programs may also be available. General questions about financial aid (grants and loans) should be directed to the Hofstra Office of Financial Aid. Scholarship preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and to those who apply for admission early.

Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 36

The M.A. in journalism consists of the successful completion of 36 hours of course work – either in the generalized program or in an area of specialization (Business, Science or Sports).

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of a capstone professional project.
2. Successful oral defense of the capstone professional project.
3. Completion of an internship or independent study in area of specialization.
4. Completion of all program requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall graduate course work.

Career Opportunities

Increasingly, news outlets are seeking students with the skills necessary to function in a convergent, multimedia news environment. An M.A. in journalism prepares students not only for jobs in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines and online publications, but also for a wide range of other professional careers. Graduates of the program will also be well-trained to serve as public information officers for government and nonprofit organizations, to write and edit in-house publications for businesses, medical centers, or research laboratories, or to serve as fund-raising writers in development offices. Other graduates may opt to become technical writers or editors for trade magazines or book publishers. In short, graduates will be welcome wherever there is a need for people who can understand complex information and communicate it effectively to general audiences.

Through a diverse set of courses and practical experiences, the program produces graduates with a solid grounding in skills and ethics and the flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing demands of professional journalism.

Hofstra is located a short distance from New York City, the communications capital of the country. The New York metropolitan area is home to most of the nation’s 10,000 magazines, three major dailies and hundreds of smaller newspapers, the major broadcast networks and dozens of cable stations, and the largest public relations firms in the world. Students will be able to take advantage of the numerous print, broadcast, and electronic media outlets within close proximity to the campus.

Advisement

M.A. in journalism students should contact the graduate program director as soon as they arrive on campus. Students should meet with the director, who will serve as their academic adviser throughout their time in the program, at least once a semester for enrollment and academic questions, assistance with internship placement, departmental job opportunities, scholarships, career advisement, and any other issues related to the program. In addition to the graduate director, other faculty members within the department are also available for advisement on individualized research projects. 

* Footnote

*With advisement, qualified students may elect other appropriate graduate-level courses.