Master of Science in Journalism
Find new ways to tell the stories society needs
Study your way
Complete your degree in as little as 1.5 years
33-credit program
In-person courses with a limited number of online electives
Our focus on community-oriented, solutions-driven journalism sets Stony Brook apart from other programs.
Keep reading, or get in touch, to learn more.
Explore the M.S. in Journalism
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Ask questions. Get answers.
We host weekly virtual office hours for you to talk one-on-one with our recruitment team.
Meet our Faculty
Award-winning journalists and scholars.
Our faculty are dedicated journalists, media professionals, and scholars.
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New students enroll every fall semester.
Applications are due March 15.
33-credit M.S. in Journalism
On campus with some online courses available
You'll learn how community engagement and solutions journalism, shared across digital formats, can help people understand the world; engage with others respectfully; and address problems and inequities in society.
It is designed for professional and aspiring journalists. Students work with award-winning faculty to highlight real, growing and overlooked issues and areas in society.
Admission Requirements
- 3.0 GPA
- Bachelor's degree
- TOEFL scores required for international applicants
- GRE scores optional
Application Materials
- CV or Resume
- Official transcripts from degree-granting colleges/universities
- 500-word personal statement
- 2 academic/professional writing samples or 1 academic/professional and 1 creative work
- 3 letters of recommendation
Deadline to Apply
March 15
Applications are accepted annually for a fall semester start
In classes, you will learn to:
- Engage and integrate authentic voices from every corner of the community
- Understand media law and uphold journalistic ethics, integrity and a commitment to transparency
- Examine data and use it to tell a story accurately and dynamically
- Question your own biases and recognize how your experiences shape how you see and interact with individuals and communities
A limited number of courses are available online.
Earn your degree on a timeline that works for you:
If you want to know how long it takes to get a master's in journalism, the answer is that it's up to you.
You can follow an accelerated path and complete 4 classes each semester, earning your M.S. in Journalism in a year and a half. If you're balancing graduate work and other commitments, or simply want to take your time, you can take one course a semester and finish in 5 years. Or you can fall somewhere in between.
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Stony Brook Graduate School Stony Brook Graduate Admissions Graduate Student Union
Required Courses
(18 credits)
JRN 510: Basic Reporting & Writing for Journalism
JRN 520: Multimedia Journalism
JRN 521: Solutions Journalism
COM 577: Communication Law & Ethics - online
COM 583: Principles of Inclusive Engagement - online
JRN 600: Master's Project in Journalism
Elective Courses
(15 credits)
JRN 530: The Big Time: News, Sports, Weather
JRN 544: Freelance Writing
JRN 545: Mobile Podcasting - online
JRN 590: Special Topics in Journalism
JRN 603: Storytelling & Narrative Design
JRN 613: International Journalism
JRN 615: Data-Driven Storytelling
JRN 625: Media Reporting on Crime