Master of Arts in Journalism

The Master's in Journalism program offers rolling admissions, which means there is no hard deadline and new students are accepted for both the spring and fall semesters. However, preference for competitive scholarships based on overall GPA and academic potential will be given to early applicants.

The online application may be found on our website through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants must complete the personal statement portion of the application, a 500-750 word essay detailing “personal and educational history, past employment, volunteer work or related experience in your intended field of study, plans for graduate study and plans for a professional career.” Applicants are also encouraged to submit up to two letters of recommendation and any published news clips (newspaper, magazine and/or online) they may have, although these are not required for admission into the program. All applicants must submit a current resume and transcripts. GRE scores are optional.

Prospective students should have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, and earned an overall grade point average of at least 2.75. In addition, applicants are advised to complete an undergraduate course in News Writing and Reporting (equivalent to Journalism 11 at Hofstra) and in Copy Editing (equivalent to Journalism 53 at Hofstra), or have equivalent professional experience. However, these courses are not required for admission.

An interview with the program director is strongly recommended but not required for admission to the program. Applicants may arrange for either an on-campus or telephone interview.

The Department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate's potential for success in the program. We encourage students who may not meet all of the criteria to apply if they have other experiences that make them suitable candidates for the program.

Tuition and fees for the MA in Journalism are charged per credit hour. See a current listing of graduate tuition and fees.

A limited number of partial scholarships are awarded for qualified students. Other student aid in the form of graduate assistant jobs, loans and work-study programs may also be available. General questions about financial aid (grants and loans) should be directed to the Hofstra Office of Financial Aid or can be found in our Financial Aid Programs and Procedures for Graduate Students brochure.

Scholarship preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and to those who apply for admission early.

We pulled together the most frequently asked questions about our program to make the fact finding and application process as easy as possible as you begin this journey.

What degrees are offered?

The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication offers an MA in Journalism. If you are interested, the school also offers an MA in Public Relations, as well as an online MA in Public Relations.

Are there any specializations?

For the MA in Journalism program there are two specializations students can opt into: Community and Investigative Journalism or Sports and Entertainment Journalism. This means they can take up to 12 of their 36 required credits in those specialities.

When are the application deadlines?

This MA in Journalism program operates with rolling admissions and accepts students for the fall and spring semesters. For fall, it’s ideal to have your application submitted by May. For spring, it’s ideal to have your material submitted by November. Those are not hard deadlines, but suggested time periods.

How do I apply?

The online application may be found on our website through the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Is there a minimum GPA or GRE requirement?

Prospective students should have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, and earned an overall grade point average of at least 2.75. In addition, applicants are advised to complete an undergraduate course in News Writing and Reporting (equivalent to Journalism 11 at Hofstra) and in Copy Editing (equivalent to Journalism 53 at Hofstra), or have equivalent professional experience. However, these courses are not required for admission. GRE scores are optional.

What else is required with my application?

Applicants must complete the personal statement portion of the application, a 500-750 word essay detailing “personal and educational history, past employment, volunteer work or related experience in your intended field of study, plans for graduate study and plans for a professional career.” Applicants are also encouraged to submit up to two letters of recommendation and any published news clips (newspaper, magazine, and/or online) they may have, although these are not required for admission into the program. All applicants must submit a current resume and transcripts. GRE scores are optional.

An interview with the program director is strongly recommended but not required for admission to the program. Applicants may arrange for either an on-campus or telephone interview.

The Department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate's potential for success in the program. We encourage students who may not meet all of the criteria to apply if they have other experiences that make them suitable candidates for the program.

When will I know if I have been accepted or not?

The Office of Graduate Admission and the Department hope to turn around letters with outcomes usually within two or three weeks of submission.

How much does it cost?

Tuition and fees for the MA in Journalism are charged per credit hour. See a current listing of graduate tuition and fees.

Are there scholarships?

A limited number of partial scholarships are awarded for qualified students. Other student aid in the form of graduate assistant jobs, loans, and work-study programs may also be available. General questions about financial aid (grants and loans) should be directed to the Hofstra Office of Financial Aid or can be found in our Financial Aid Programs and Procedures for Graduate Students brochure.

Scholarship preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and to those who apply for admission early.

How many credits are needed for the degree?

The MA in Journalism program has a 36-credit track for students to complete.

What type of courses will I take?

All course information can be found on our course and degree requirements page. All students take a series of foundation classes, courses that apply to your specialization and electives, which offer flexibility based on your interests in storytelling.

How long does it take to complete the program?

This is completely flexible based on your personal schedule. You can take anywhere from one class (three credits) to four classes (12 credits) per semester. We have students who complete the program in two years or three years, which is what we strongly advise as the cadence.

How are the courses structured?

All classes are offered in the evening from 6:30 to 8:20 p.m. Classes are subject to only one night per week.

Are there any BA/MA dual journalism degree programs?

Yes! Students enrolled in our BA in Journalism program can opt into a dual degree program where they graduate from Hofstra with both a BA and MA in Journalism. Learn more on our BA/MA FAQ page.

What type of academic majors from undergrad are accepted or preferred for the MA program?

There are a mixture of students in the program who have journalism experience or who are new to journalism for the first time. Students expressing an interest to learn journalism are welcome to apply just as much as students who have undergraduate experience in the discipline. We look for a range of students who hope to get the most out of the program.

How active are MA students in campus media?

Hofstra has an award-winning school paper, radio station and television station, as well as student magazines and literacy journals. These are all open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and we push students to be very active with producing work for as many platforms as they can.

How can I get more information?

Contact Graduate Journalism Director Chris R. Vaccaro via Christopher.R.Vaccaro@Hofstra.edu.

We are thrilled about your acceptance to The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication MA journalism program. As the journalism industry continues to evolve quickly, so is our program and you are part of these positive and sweeping changes in storytelling and higher education.

As you embark on this journey, we thought it would be helpful to provide some preliminary information that will be helpful as you make your decision to enroll.

Review Letter of Acceptance
Your letter of acceptance from Graduate Admissions is extremely important and contains all of the vital information for you to register and formally enroll. Please reply to admissions and the graduate director upon receipt of the email to inform them about your decision on attending. We do have our own acceptance page which is linked in the official acceptance letter.

Orientation
There is an orientation for both fall and spring students. This information will be provided by the admissions department and your graduate directo

Financial Aid
Tuition and fees for the MA in Journalism are charged per credit hour. See a current listing of graduate tuition and fees. A limited number of partial scholarships are awarded for qualified students. Other student aid in the form of graduate assistant jobs, loans and work-study programs may also be available. General questions about financial aid (grants and loans) should be directed to the Hofstra Office of Financial Aid or can be found in our Financial Aid Programs and Procedures for Graduate Students brochure. Scholarship preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and to those who apply for admission early.

Advisor
For the MA Journalism program your advisor is the graduate program director. Sync with them early and often to make sure you have all your questions answered.

Campus Media
Get involved! Dive in at The Chronicle, WRHU, Hofstra TV and so many of the great student-run organizations on campus. Don’t wait either, make sure you do it as soon as you can to capitalize on the experience. The graduate director can make introductions for you.

Course Selection
Again you’ll want to sync with your graduate director, who can provide guidance on the proper course track based on class availability. One bit of advice is to always look at least one semester ahead so you can nail down at least one year worth of thoughts and formulate a game plan.

Secure Your Seat
Since no deposit is required for this program, registration in coursework will secure your seat in the program. Please connect with the MA Journalism graduate program director when you are ready to create an academic plan and register for classes.

Activate Your MyHofstra Portal and Hofstra Email Account
Follow the directions on the IT website to activate your Hofstra network account (my.hofstra.edu portal) using your Hofstra ID number. You will find this number on your acceptance letter. Use the portal to access your Hofstra email account, view your course schedule and tuition bill, view on-campus jobs, and more.

Specialization
You have the option to choose from two specializations: sports and entertainment journalism or community and investigative journalism. Ideally, you make this decision during your first semester so you can start to take classes that align with your specialization.

Pride & Purpose
Be proud, get involved, be active and enjoy the experience. The more you put in at Hofstra, the more it will benefit you in the long run.

The Hofstra graduate journalism advisory board helps provide insights from the industry that helps craft and evolve the landscape of the program. Our graduate journalism director uses input from alumni, professionals and students to help make decisions about the curriculum, specializations and overall academic direction.

Chris R. Vaccaro is the director of graduate journalism and oversees the advisory board and journalism program.