Department of Mass Communication and Journalism

M.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism

Dr. Roberta Asahina, Department Chair
Dr. Tamyra A. Pierce, Graduate Program Director

Careers in Mass Communication | Program Requirements | Facilities and Support | Faculty | Quick Facts

Careers in Mass Communication

A recent survey of the more than 400 colleges and universities that offer graduate programs in journalism and mass communication found that over 51% of graduates were employed in some aspect of the field within six months after graduation, while others pursue doctoral degrees or teaching careers. In our program, many of our M.A. graduates go on to obtain their doctoral degree and/or pursue teaching careers. The academically oriented nature of the program prepares our students well for such career paths.

At California State University, Fresno, a primary concern of the graduate faculty in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism is to educate candidates for the unique employment and educational needs available to M.A. program graduates. Although many candidates prepare themselves for careers in print and broadcast media, our graduates also hold lucrative marketing and research positions, as well as teaching positions. The flexibility of our Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication and Journalism has been cited by our graduates as a primary strength of the program.

Program Requirements

Students accepted into the Mass Communication and Journalism graduate program work under the direction of an adviser on an individually designed course of study. The degree is a 30-unit academically oriented program consisting of core coursework, selected electives, and a thesis or a project.

The mandatory core courses of the program are designed to provide students with a solid background in mass communication research methods, theories, and media issues.

Selection of approved elective courses is based on the student's objectives in preparation for career advancement, managerial roles or doctoral studies.

As a culminating experience, a student may choose to prepare a thesis or a professional project, which must reflect originality, appropriate organization, clarity of purpose, critical analysis, and accuracy and completeness of documentation in some area of mass communication, journalism or allied fields.

Facilities and Support

Graduate students may have access to department laboratories equipped for audio production and editing, video production and editing, still photography, writing and editing for all media, newspaper and magazine layout, and statistical analysis. Computer-assisted video editing is a part of laboratory instruction and available for co-curricular activities in program production. The department also subscribes to computer databases and on-line news and information services for instructional use.

Graduate students may also participate in B# Video, a co-curricular student organization that operates, under departmental supervision, a video program production service for the campus and the public. They may fill roles on the staff of KFSR-FM, an operating radio station licensed to the president of the university and funded, in large part, by student fees. The Collegian, a daily newspaper published by the department is an additional outlet for student work. All three organizations provide some paid, part-time employment and experience for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

The Division of Graduate Studies has made available a number of fellowships and grants for graduate students, including those in the Mass Communication and Journalism graduate program.