Our curriculum—short, intense, exciting.
The broadcast and digital journalism (BDJ) master’s program has a 40-credit curriculum that begins the week after the July Fourth holiday and ends in August of the following year.
During that time, you’ll launch yourself into our summer Boot Camp, which will immerse you in the experience of working in a real newsroom. During the year, you’ll go into the field to produce packages and report live, develop your skills in writing for the ear, and finish with a capstone experience reporting in Washington, D.C.
Broadcast and Digital Journalism Master’s Program Schedule
Summer Session II – 6 credits (July)
BDJ 611 | Writing for Broadcast and Digital News Basic techniques of writing broadcast and digital news stories. Emphasis on learning to write radio, web and television stories under deadline pressure. Interviewing and information gathering are also studied. | 3 credits |
BDJ 663 | News Reporting I News reporting, writing for broadcast and web, and newscast production using audio as the principal technology. Students cover real news stories on deadline, using state-of-the-art digital audio editing equipment. | 3 credits |
Internship – 1 credit
Students are required to complete a one-credit internship in either the fall or spring of their program. The internship credit can also be completed over winter break. If you choose this option the internship will be done over break but the credit will be listed as part of the spring semester.
Fall Semester – 11 credits
BDJ 510 | Topics in Specialized Practice Development of skills that enhance the news product. Different sections could focus on different specialized practices such as internet research or vocal performance. | 1 credit |
BDJ 664 | News Reporting II Gathering and reporting news on deadline using electronic means. Involves shooting video, video editing, reporting, and writing for broadcast and Web. Taped and live performance are both emphasized. | 4 credits |
COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. | 3 credits |
Elective | 3 credits |
Spring Semester – 12 credits
BDJ 636 | Critical and Historical Perspectives on Broadcast Journalism History, economics, and traditions of broadcast journalism with particular emphasis on contemporary ethical challenges. | 2 credits |
BDJ 667 | News Reporting III Planning and production of longer news-related program segments of professional quality. Writing, research, and execution of mini-documentaries, enterprise reports and multi-media web stories. | 4 credits |
COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. | 3 credits |
Elective | 3 credits |
Summer Session I – 6 credits
BDJ 665 | News Producing and Presenting Students produce television newscasts and file stories to a website. Students rotate in positions including producers (newscast and web), writers, editors, anchors, sports, and weather. The newscasts are delivered on a professional news set. | 6 credits |
Summer Session II – 4 credits
BDJ 675 | Washington Professional Experience The D.C. experience is a capstone course for Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate students. Its key elements are a substantive internship in the D.C. area and seminars with top journalists and high-level government officials. | 4 credits |