Journalism

Admission

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research with the following additions (where applicable):

1. Program Entry Options
Bridging Option
Those with neither an undergraduate degree in journalism nor professional experience, but who hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline must apply as undergraduate Bridging students to the school's after-degree Bachelor of Journalism program to complete a select list of core undergraduate journalism courses, with a minimum 70 per cent average, before applying for the master’s programs. Applicants pursuing this option are normally expected to hold a four-year undergraduate degree. Please contact the School of Journalism for further information on how to apply as a Bridging Student.

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Journalism as Bridging students must successfully complete all requirements below before applying for admission and enrolling in the Master of Journalism (MJ).

*Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of JRN 300, 301, 302, 303 and 304.

Direct Entry Option
Those with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and at least three (3) years of professional experience in the journalism industry OR those with an undergraduate degree in another discipline with at least three (3) years of professional experience in the journalism industry will be considered for the one-year intensive graduate program. Applicants pursuing this option are normally expected to hold a four-year undergraduate degree.

Continuing Studies Option
Recent graduates of a journalism Bachelor’s program are encouraged to pursue at least three (3) years in the field of journalism before applying to the MJ program. However, graduating students who have a strong record of field experience before and/or during their academic careers—for example, through a combination of paid fulltime journalism internships; paid freelancing or journalism employment; and/or extensive involvement in community media or the student press—or who have major projects in development as a result of their undergraduate work, will be considered for admission under this option on a case-by-case basis, provided they meet the minimum requirements as set by FGSR.

Mid-Career Option
The mid-career admission option is designed for those applicants who have substantive professional experience as working journalists. In rare cases applicants with relevant professional experience but whose academic standing does not meet the minimum requirement as set by FGSR will have their applications considered for this admission option on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the acceptance will be probationary for the first semester, based on maintaining an overall GPA of 75% and no grade less than 70 percent.

2. Required Supplementary Materials
The following items are to be included in a single document emailed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

A. Entrance Option
State which entrance option you are pursuing: Direct Entry, Continuing Studies or Mid-Career. It is strongly recommended you contact the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Coordinator to confirm you have selected the appropriate category. Bridging Option applicants must apply to Undergraduate admissions—please contact the School of Journalism for further instructions.

B. Letter of Intent
An approx. 300-word statement that summarizes your background and explains clearly why you wish to pursue a Master of Journalism degree at the University of Regina.

C. Project Proposal
The MJ is NOT a thesis-based program. Instead, students are expected to produce a major professional project of public interest journalism, such as a broadcast documentary, a series of feature articles, a photojournalism exhibit, a multi-media undertaking, or a community-based media project. Thesis-based research proposals will NOT be reviewed by the School of Journalism’s entrance committee. Applicants should be aware that the School of Journalism is focused on journalism, and does not offer a program of communications studies or public relations studies. Applicants are strongly advised to contact the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Coordinator before preparing their professional project proposal. The project proposal must follow this outline:
1. Topic Statement (approx. 100 words): A description of your inquiry, and why it matters.
2. Methods (approx. 200 words): What medium/media you intend to use, why, and how you will approach the topic.
3. Background (600-800 words): A more detailed explanation of the proposed project.
4. Statement of Ability (approx. 200 words): A description of the skills, knowledge and life experience you bring to the project. Why are you uniquely positioned to undertake this work?

D. C.V. and Professional Portfolio
Applicants must submit a C.V. and a portfolio of published works of journalism. Admissible materials may include any or all of the following: a web link to your broadcast demo reel; a link to a multi-media or web-based journalism project; electronic copies and/or web links to published articles or book chapters (6 max.); links to individual broadcast pieces (6 max.); a link to an online photojournalism gallery; a final report and/or link to a community media project you facilitated. Portfolio material must be web-based or, in the case of print articles, can be placed together in a single PDF or similar electronic file format. DVDs and memory sticks will not be accepted. Material must be English-language or translated to English.

3. Entrance Interview: (Direct Entry and Mid-Career Options)
Following a review of the application package, qualifying Direct Entry and Mid-Career applicants will be contacted to schedule an entrance interview (in person or by electronic means) with members of the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Committee. Students who have already successfully completed interviews as part of the School of Journalism’s Bridging and/or Undergraduate program entrance requirements will not be required to be interviewed.

4. English Language Proficiency
Mastery of the primary language of communication is essential to effective journalism practice. The School of Journalism’s language of instruction is English, and only English-language assignments are accepted. Students who fail to demonstrate superior written and spoken English language proficiency in submitted written materials and/or during an entrance interview will not be recommended as fully qualified students.

Students who are not native English speakers, must submit proof of English proficiency in the form of a recognized test, unless they attended a university recognized by the University of Regina and where the language of instruction was English. Minimum language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research have to be met.

Master's Professional Project
Guidelines & Deadlines – please refer to the School of Journalism

The Master's professional project (JRN 902) is a final test of the student's ability as a practicing journalist. It is intended to demonstrate the student's ability to plan, conduct and sustain in-depth research over a period of several months, the ability to gather and organize a large amount of material, and the capacity to present that material in a clear, accessible, professional format that potentially benefits the public. Students will gain the opportunity to think beyond daily deadlines and practice the craft at its highest level.

The independent project work is conducted under the supervision of an accredited FGSR full-time faculty member in the School of Journalism. The final project should reflect high quality public interest journalism. It should be completed to a standard that is ready for publishing and/or broadcasting, and be accompanied by a bibliography of sources consulted and a list of contacts made. In the case of a community project, the final report shall include participant evaluation, with any materials produced in the course of the project attached.

Degree Requirements

*Please note the elective course may be taken in any of the three semesters.