The WVU Reed School of Media and Communications offers an accelerated Master of Science in Journalism degree program for its top-performing students. Students enter the program during their senior year, taking graduate-level courses along with their remaining undergraduate coursework. During their fifth year, they become full-time graduate students.
The accelerated program results in two degrees - a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) and a Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ). Both degrees are conferred at the completion of the MSJ.
Who is eligible?
Undergraduate majors in the Reed School with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 are eligible for the accelerated degree program. The MSJ allows students to customize a research project that is relevant to their interests, whether they are Advertising/Public Relations or Journalism. Interested students must meet with their advisor and express their interest in the fall of their junior year or earlier.
What courses would I take my senior year?
Fall
- JRL 500: Intro to Graduate Studies (1 hour)
- JRL 504: Mass Media & Society (3 hours)
- Additional upper level undergraduate courses
Spring
- JRL 520: Research Methods (3 hours)
- JRL "track" Elective (3 hours)
- Undergraduate Capstone course (3 hours)
- Additional undergraduate courses
What course work is left after my senior year?
At this stage, you become a full-time Graduate student.
Fall
- JRL 697: Research (3 hours)
- Graduate electives (6 hours)
Spring
- JRL 689: Ethics Seminar (3 hours)
- JRL 697: Research (3 hours)
- Graduate electives (3 hours)
When will I earn my BSJ?
While you finish all of your undergraduate degree requirements as planned in the spring of your senior year, you will earn the BSJ when you finish the MSJ the following spring. If you decide not to complete the MSJ, but have completed all of the BSJ requirements, you can apply to be awarded the BSJ in any semester per the Registrar’s guidelines.
For more information, contact:
Diana Martinelli, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies
diana.martinelli@mail.wvu.edu