Professional MAMC – Multimedia Journalism/Telecommunication

The Professional Master of Arts in Mass Communication – Multimedia program in the UF College of Journalism and Communications has specializations in both journalism and telecommunication. The program is designed to give students applied experience in journalism and closely related fields. It includes a number of courses with a multimedia focus and is aimed at giving students hands on experience in news, entrepreneurial journalism/broadcasting, news management, and applied research. This is an appropriate program for those wishing to work in industry jobs rather than pursuing a career in academia.

Some students who enroll will have experience in journalism or broadcasting, but others may be entering the field from another academic discipline. Early courses are designed to give students an introduction to the basics of journalism and telecommunication, and provide basic production skills.

Students will move through the two-year program with a class of peers who enter at the same time and who finish as a cohort two years later. Students are expected to attend four spring and fall semesters and one summer semester.

The specialization normally requires two years for completion and students will only be accepted to begin in the second summer session. Students are expected to complete a professional-caliber project (e.g., multipart broadcast story series/online news site Web site for telecommunication specialists or professional-quality Web site/online magazine for journalism specialists) employing the multimedia skills learned in the program [40 credit hours minimum].

This is a Summer B only admission.

For more information on the journalism specialization, please contact Dr. Kim Walsh-Childers.

For more information on the telecommunication specialization, please contact Dr. Johanna Cleary.

For admissions information and application materials, contact Sarah G. Lee.

Sample Courses

Journalism Bootcamp

This introductory survey course will provide a grasp of and hands-on experience in interactive journalism. We will present ways news is gathered and presented on multiple platforms, including the techniques of collaborative journalism, traditional broadcast storytelling and social media sourcing and reporting. Must be in the professional JM or TEL program to be admitted into the class.

Issues and the Press

Discussion of applied theoretical approaches to mass media perspectives and concepts, including history and ethics. Focus will be to demonstrate influence of the press in defining and shaping public concern with major social issues.

Journalists’ Toolkit I

This course prepares the student to work as a journalist in today’s newsrooms, where the online and digital platforms are at least as important as the traditional print or broadcast platforms. It is not a Web design course. The emphasis is on gathering assets in the field and then using those assets to tell a true story. (Prereq JOU 6114)

Newsroom Management

The course will serve as a guide to and an overview of the art of managing a newsroom in a changing environment. Topics will include leadership, communication, finance, personnel management and ethics. In addition, special consideration will be given to covering big stories, changing technology, understanding readers and economic problems in the business.

Electives

Examples of other elective courses in the College include International Communication; Mass Communication Theory; Qualitative Research; Race, Class, Gender and Media; Science and Health Communication; Theories of Advertising; Electronic Publishing; History of Journalism; and Content Analysis.  Many other electives are offered.  Please check ISIS and work with your advisor to select appropriate options.

Degree Plan

Professional MAMC: Multimedia Journalism specialization

Professional MAMC: Multimedia Telecommunication specialization

Tuition

Tuition and fees are determined by the University of Florida for in-state and out-of-state graduate students.

Equipment Requirement

This program uses the Equipment Requirement adopted by the Journalism department. Some specialized courses may require additional equipment at the discretion of the individual professors.

Apply

Deadlines

This program is a Summer B only admission.

Domestic application deadline:  Feb. 15

International application deadline:  Oct. 15

Minimum Requirements for Acceptance

• Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree
• Relevant  professional communications experience
• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better

The Graduate School, University of Florida, requires both a minimum grade average of 3.0 for all upper-division undergraduate work and a minimum verbal-quantitative total score on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants are expected to have received a minimum grade average of 3.0 for all core courses within the Journalism and Mass Communications area and their area of special interest.

Admission is determined by several factors beyond the application material including space availability, and supervisory availability particularly in specialized areas. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Direct admission to the Graduate School is dependent upon presentation of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Two copies of the official undergraduate transcript should accompany all applications—one for the department and one for the Registrar. These transcripts must be received directly from the registrar of the institution in which the work was done. Official supplementary transcripts are required as soon as they are available for any work completed after application for admission has been made.

Professional and respectful treatment of our admissions and other staff members, faculty and administrators is required.  Unprofessional or disrespectful treatment will result in denial of admission.

Test Score Requirements

GRE

Scores prior to August 2011

550 Verbal/550 Quantitative

Scores after August 2011

156 Verbal/146 Quantitative

GRE scores are valid for five years. Exceptions are considered based on entire packet of application materials. Some applications with scores slightly below the minimum will be considered.

TOEFL

550 Paper-based
80 Internet-based
IELTS
6

TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.

The GRE codes are 5812 for the University of Florida and 4503 for the College of Journalism and Communications. The TOEFL code is 83.
To obtain information on the GRE or to request that official scores be sent to the university, write:

Educational Testing Service
CN 6004
Princeton, NJ 08541-6004

How to Apply

Print friendly checklist

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide complete documentation to the Office of Admissions AND the intended department. Failure to submit forms to the correct offices will delay application processing.

Important Addresses:

• Graduate Application: Online Submission - When submitting application online, notify Sarah G. Lee at sglee@jou.ufl.edu so she can be looking for it. You must submit contact information for references during online application process. References will be automatically contacted and letters of recommendation will be requested by the Graduate Admissions Office. In the specialization field, please list Multimedia Journalism or Multimedia Telecommunication.

• Letters of Recommendation: Three Letters of Recommendation – University forms are required (Download form). Written letters should be on letterhead and attached to the forms. The same letters of recommendation may be used for both admission and financial aid applications. Ask authors of your letters of recommendation to send them directly to Address #2 or send as a pdf file to sglee@jou.ufl.edu. If you submitted your recommenders’ e-mail addresses on the online application, they do not have to send hardcopies.
• Statement of Goals:  You will need to submit your statement of goals during the online application process. Describe your career plans following completion of your master’s degree. Tell what experiences have led to your goals and how you think graduate study will help you prepare for the career. Minimum length is 300 words. Please do not center text. Title this document “Statement of Goals” and be sure to include your name and date. Send to Address #2. or send as a pdf file to sglee@jou.ufl.edu. If you submitted your statement of goals on the online application, you do not have to send a hardcopy.

• Supplemental Application for College of Journalism:  (Download form).  Send to Address #2.
• $30.00 Application Fee: Make Check or money order payable to the University of Florida. Send your application fee to Address #1. Please used Fee Payment Cover Memo (Download form) if paying by check or money order.
• Official Transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions: Contact all colleges and universities you have attended and listed on your application form and have them send certified official transcripts in your original language as well as translated into English. An average grade of “B” for the last two years of undergraduate studies is required. Send one original to Address #1 and one original to Address #2.
• Official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Scores: Contact the Educational Testing Service and have them send your official report. A verbal score of 550/156 and a quantitative score of at least 550/146 are strongly preferred. Some applications with scores slightly below the minimum will be considered. Applications with GRE verbal scores below 400/140 will not be processed. Self-reported scores are accepted temporarily to help speed up processing. GRE scores are valid for five years.   Send to Address #1.
• Resume: List all work positions held. Include names, addresses, and telephone numbers of supervisors. Also, remember to include your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number(s). Send to Address #2. or as a pdf file to sglee@jou.ufl.edu. If you submitted your resume on the online application, you do not have to send a hardcopy.
• Application for Graduate Assistantship: This is optional. This is only for those applicants seeking financial assistance (Download form). Send to Address #2.
• Samples of Your Work: This is optional. Send to Address #2.

International Applicants Only

• Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report:Contact the Educational Testing Service and have them send your official report. A score of at least 550 (paper-based), and 80 (internet-based) is required to be considered for admission. We also accept IELTS scores with minimum of “6.” This requirement applies only to applicants from countries in which English is not the official language and includes U.S. territories and protectorates where English is not the primary language. You will not be required to submit a TOEFL score if you have spent at least one academic year at a college or university in a country where English is the official language. Intensive English language programs are excluded from the year of study provision. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years. Send originals to Address #1.
• Certification of Financial Responsibility: All admitted International students who have accepted our admissions offer, are required to submit this form. The International Student Services Office will send you the form via email with instructions. Without it, the University of Florida will not issue an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility). (Do not send CFR form and bank documents to our office. The International Student Services office will contact you via email with instructions.)
• English proficiency for Graduate Assistantships:  To be considered for a graduate assistantship, a score of 28 or higher on the TOEFL iBT speaking portion is required for those applicants from countries or territories where English is not the official language.  Florida law requires a demonstration of oral proficiency in English before students are allowed to teach.  An equivalent score of 55 or higher on UF’s SPEAK test can be used as a substitution; however, IELTS scores cannot be used as a substitution for this requirement.

Contact Sarah G. Lee at sglee@jou.ufl.edu or 352-392-6557 if you have any questions regarding your application.

Begin your application here →