Graduate Program

	Dr. Mike Killenberg is demonstrating how to report Florida politics by using online resources.

Characteristics of Graduate Study

Graduate study differs from undergraduate work in substantial ways. Undergraduate study typically requires less analysis, interpretation and original inquiry than that expected in graduate programs.

While undergraduate courses feature lecture formats, the staple of most graduate programs, including ours, is the seminar. The word "seminar" implies an interchange of opinion, information and ideas. Seminars encourage informed dialogue and debate. Seminars depend on active student participation.

Many undergraduate programs involve a structured, highly directed path to a degree, but graduate students receive greater latitude in stating their academic goals and in developing a plan for accomplishing those goals. At this stage of academic and professional development, graduate students should have clearly defined reasons for spending an additional two years or more at concentrated study.

Undergraduate classes often require incentives for reading, study and attendance. None of this is deemed necessary in graduate classes, where students are expected to go beyond the assignments in exploring topics, issues and problems. For many students, undergraduate work focused on learning the fundamentals of their craft. Graduate study calls for reflection, introspection and deeper understanding. Ideally, it is a time of satisfying, rewarding discovery for students and instructors.

Curriculum

M.A. in journalism requires 36 hours of academic credit. A realistic program for a full-time student would involve a nine-hour load in the fall and spring terms, stretching out over two academic years. Summer courses are sometimes available.

Students in our program elect to complete either a thesis, for six hours of credit, or an applied research project, for three credit hours.

At least 16 of the 36 hours must be at the 6000 level, and 20 hours or more must be in formal, regularly scheduled course work, 10 hours of which must be at the 6000 level. With permission from an advisor, USF graduate students may take up to six hours of 4000 level course work as part of a planned degree program.

Required Courses:
MMC 6401 (3) - Mass Communications Theory
MMC 6612 (3) - Law and the Mass Media
MMC 6208 (3) - Mass Communication Ethics

Those who do a thesis must also take: 
MMC 6421 (3) - Research Methods in Mass Communications.

Electives:
The academic advisors will help students decide on elective courses in journalism/mass communications, or outside the department, taking into consideration their academic goals and professional experience.

Area of specialization:
As an option, students may take up to 12 hours of the 36-hour requirement in an area of specialization through other departments of the university. An advisor or advisory committee helps students plan on a specialization, such as criminology, urban anthropology, ethics or religious studies. The offerings of USF's four-campus system present a range of options.

Practicum

Students in the journalism program are eligible to apply for a professional practicum (internship) with a news organization after completing 12 hours in journalism/mass communications. Typically, a practicum would come in the final semester of study, but there are exceptions.

Before we approve a student's plans, we want to be sure that the practicum involves professional-level assignments and responsibilities. Working with an advisor, students help set up the internship and obtain a written description of duties and work hours from the editor or manager who'll be overseeing the practicum.

The academic credit, ranging from one to three hours, is assigned according to the number of days worked per week during the semester. We prefer that students in practicum assignments work an average of ten to twelve hours for three credit hours. Once the practicum is approved and under way, the advisor will consult with the studen concerning his or her on-the-job progress. In addition, the student's supervisor will be contacted for periodic evaluations.

Students are required to maintain a log or journal and submit copies of the work accomplished, such as published articles, contributions to websites, radio or television broadcasts, or visual design projects.

Practicum hosts have included the St. Petersburg Times, the Tampa Tribune, Creative Loafing, Bay News 9 cable news, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, WFLA-TV, WTVT-TV and WTSP-TV.

See details in the Poynter Connection page.

Theses and Projects

Thesis

A thesis is a work of original scholarship that adheres to commonly accepted rules of academic publication. Students doing a thesis are required to take MMC 6421-Research Methods in Mass Communications.

The thesis requires academic research that falls into two broad categories - quantitative or qualitative.  

Quantitative typically involves such research activities as survey research, content analysis and statistical studies; computer analysis often is a part of quantitative research.

Qualitative research usually centers on historical, legal, ethical or critical approaches. An historical approach, for example, might concentrate on the life - or portion of the life - of an individual. Legal research often focuses on interpretation of court cases or an aspect of legal theory. 

Ethics research may use qualitative, philosophically based methodology and/or systematic, quantitative-based study of issues. A wide variety of methodologies can be used to study historical or current issues or to investigate questions about values, moral development and codes of ethics, for instance. Critical methodology might examine, through literary analysis, themes in media messages found in films, sitcoms, newscasts, articles and books. 

Theses usually include an introductory chapter based on the student researcher's prospectus, outlining the subject, its significance and the methodology employed. The second chapter is often the literature review, which relates other research in the area to the student's research in some kind of context and at the same time shows why the study is valuable. The third chapter could explain the methodology, discussing and defending the design of the project and that might include the research questions. A fourth chapter might include results. If it were a content analysis, for example, tables would show important (or all) results, pointing out similarities, major differences, and other findings. The last chapter usually contains conclusions, which, among other things, could include a complete analysis of the findings and how they relate not only to the research questions but to larger issues as well.

Style manual
The standard style guide for use in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Guidelines for theses
Students planning to do a thesis are responsible for following these steps:

Step 1. Go to the USF Graduate Studies Web site and view USF's thesis and dissertation guidelines. The student is responsible for knowing and following all USF procedures and deadlines regarding the thesis.

Step 2. Students inform their advisor about intentions concerning the subject and format of the thesis. Student and advisor decide on a chair and thesis committee. The chair of the committee must be a graduate faculty member of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. The committee comprises the chair and at least two additional faculty members, one of whom may be from another department at USF. Poynter Institute faculty may serve on a thesis committee that has three USF faculty members. Adjunct faculty members in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies may not serve on a student's thesis committee.

Step 3. Prepare a thesis prospectus to submit to the chairperson and committee members. Schedule a meeting for approval of the prospectus.

Step 4. Complete Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Form and have committee members sign approval.

Step 5. Register for thesis or project hours.

Step 6. Consult with committee chairperson on deadlines and arrange meetings for approval of the prospectus and defense of the completed thesis.

Thesis prospectus
The thesis prospectus typically consists of the following: 

Statement of purpose. A concise statement explicitly stating what the proposed research aims to accomplish.

Justification of problem. What is the significance of the thesis in advancing knowledge in journalism or mass communications studies? How is it theoretically relevant?

Statement of problem. Describe the thesis research problem (or topic) either in terms of the hypothesis (or hypotheses) or a set of questions to be explored and answered. A hypothesis is a clear statement(s) of conjecture about a problem, expressing a relationship between or among variables. The problem may also be stated as a series of connected questions that explore the full range of the issue or topic.

Methodology. Specify in detail what will be done to solve or explore the thesis problem. Explain how information or data will be collected (observation, questionnaire, survey, content analysis, etc.) and then, how the data will be analyzed and interpreted.

Review of literature. Put your proposed study into context by providing a general survey of relevant research, published and unpublished.

Definition of terms. Define words or terms that have a meaning special to the thesis.

Limitations. Establish the scope of the study, explaining what will and will not be included, and why.

Outline and chapter summary. Provide chapter names (or topics) and subheads (if used), and a summary of what each chapter will accomplish.

Bibliography. Provide a substantial, although preliminary, list of sources.

Applied Research Project

The project is a serious, culminating experience in reporting and writing or the investigation of an issue or problem related to journalism/mass communications. The project offers a creative and professionally oriented approach to an in-depth study. Therefore, it is expected that students spend a substantial amount of time researching their chosen topic and producing the final outcome.

The project does not require the graduate research methods course, as a project is not a research activity in the same sense as is the thesis. Often projects are called "creative" projects. While the project is different from the thesis, and may seem "easier" to some, we hold our students to the same degree of rigor as that required of the thesis.

The project usually involves some kind of professional effort — a series of articles, a single, substantial journal article, or a book or some portion of a book, as examples. It gives students a wide degree of latitude but requires that they put together something beyond what they have done for classes. Ideally, the project demonstrates some notion of the mastering or coming-to fruition of ideas they have worked and struggled with during their master's work. Again, ideally, it would represent an innovative approach to some journalism or news dilemma — a writing style or form, a publication design, or Web site development.

For example, a design-oriented student might come up with a well thought-out approach to redesigning all or a section of a newspaper or a newsletter. Another student might have an idea for a newsletter or publication and for the project produce a prototype. A student might report and write a series of articles on race relations, integrating the elderly into community life, crime and violence, or any other issue that affects the community. The project might demonstrate a different approach to these issues, suggesting other directions for reporting.

Students planning projects must first consult with their advisor and decide on a supervisor and committee. Students should then complete the Applied Project Research Form and collect signatures from their comittee chair and committee member. A project committee requires two faculty members, usually both from the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. An approved proposal is required before students can begin work on the project. Adjunct faculty within the Department of Journalism and Media Studies may serve on a project committee with committee chair approval.

Project proposal
The project proposal consists of the following: 

Statement of purpose. A concise statement explicitly stating what the proposed project intends to accomplish.

Justification. What is the significance of the project in advancing knowledge or performance in journalism or mass communications studies?

Approach. Specify in detail what approaches will be used to accomplish project objectives. Explain how information will be collected and how it will be analyzed or interpreted. (Every project, no matter what format, must be accompanied by a typed text explaining its purpose and significance, not only why the specific topic was chosen, but why the researcher collected and dealt with data in the particular ways chosen.)

Outline and summary. Provide an outline of the project, summarizing its contents. Describe its components, providing headings if possible.

Sources. Cite sources, including interview subjects.

Comprehensive exam

Graduate students in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies must pass a comprehensive written examination, which can be taken after completing 21 hours of course work, including all three core courses. Students should monitor their coursework and advise the graduate program coordinator, Bridget Nickens, the semester before they plan to sit for the comprehensive exams. The graduate coordinator will authorize the student's eligibility to sit for the exam.

Comprehensive exams will be given in the fall and spring semesters on the Friday that falls two weeks prior to the end of exam week. Comps will be written from 9-1 p.m. in FCT 107. Reading and concept lists for the three core areas, theory, law and ethics, will be available no later than the graduate student orientation held at the beginning of fall semester each year. Students are expected to prepare for comps over at least three semesters, supplementing what they've learned from their coursework with outside reading. On comps writing day, students will receive one question from each of the core areas to answer. The question may include an example that students will use to demonstrate their ability to apply core content knowledge.

Reading and concept lists for 2009-10 comps are here.

The subject exams will be graded by the particular subject instructor. Students will receive the grade of pass, no pass, or defense. Students who pass all three questions may register for thesis or project credits. Students who receive a "no pass" for one or more exams may not attempt comps again until the following semester. Students who receive a grade of "defense" will, at the faculty member's discretion, respond to questions of clarification, either in writing or orally. Any defense must be completed before the end of the term in which the exam was written. A student may attempt a subject area comprehensive exam no more than three times.

The comprehensive examination must be completed satisfactorily before a student is allowed to register for thesis or project hours.

Advisement
Advisement is an important component of the program. An advisor works with students in structuring an individualized course of study. Students and advisors continue to work together through pre-registration advisement each semester to review their academic progress.

Assistantships, Fellowships, and Financial Aid

Graduate assistantships are available on a competetive basis for students who qualify. Students must be formally admitted to the M.A. in journalism program and must be a full-time student (nine credit hours) for the term in which the assistantship is held. The duties and responsibilities of graduate assistants vary, and may include research or service support as well as assisting instructors with undergraduate journalism and media studies courses. Graduate assistants receive a full in-state tuition waiver. Assistantships are generally awarded to begin in the fall term. Deadlines for consideration for a graduate assistantship or other departmental support is March 15. Graduate assistantships that become available at mid-year are advertised to current and potential graduate students as they become available.

To apply for the assistantship, complete this form and email it to Bridget Nickens by the deadline.

Fellowships, grants and scholarships
Students may also be eligible for funding through the St. Pete Times Fellowship which provides partial or full tuition wavers.

Financial aid and loan programs
Loans, scholarships and other forms of financial aid are available. However, graduate students are not covered under several state and federal aid programs, such as Federal Pell Grants, reserved exclusively for undergraduates. Contact the USFSP office of financial aid, www.stpt.usf.edu/finaid.