Curriculum

A sequence of eight core courses and an MA Project. Principle coursework includes two specialized writing classes, generally one taken during Winter and Spring quarters; one or two pre-approved electives chosen from eligible graduate-level courses within the Department of Communication; and one or two additional electives from among course offerings in select departments on the Stanford campus that deal constructively and substantively with issues of public importance. The Graduate Degree in Journalism requires a minimum of 49 units.

Required Courses

Comm 216: Journalism Law
Comm 217: Digital Journalism
Comm 225: Perspectives on American Journalism
Comm 240: New Media Entrepreneurship
Comm 273: Public Issues Reporting I
Comm 274: Public Issues Reporting II
Comm 289: Journalism Project
Comm 291: Graduate Journalism Seminar

Sample Schedule

Autumn Quarter

Comm 273: Public Issues Reporting I (4)
Comm 225: Perspectives on American Journalism (4)
Comm 216: Journalism Law (4)
Comm 291: Graduate Journalism Seminar (1)
Elective (3-5)

Winter Quarter

Comm 274: Public Issues Reporting II (4)
Comm 217: Digital Journalism (4)
Comm 277: Specialized Writing (4)
Comm 291: Graduate Journalism Seminar (1)
Elective (3-5)

Spring Quarter

Comm 240: New Media Entrepreneurship (4)
Comm 277: Specialized Writing (4)
Comm 291: Graduate Journalism Seminar (1)
Comm 289: Journalism Project (4)
Elective (3-5)

Graduate Seminar

Throughout the Stanford academic year, the Journalism program hosts a discussion forum for students to present and exchange views on the most current and emerging trends, issues, and practices in the communications industry. Working journalists and news experts are frequently invited as guests to share their professional expertise and practical insights relevent to the challenges impacting the ever-changing media landscape.

Recent guests have included Russell Baker, author and retired New York Times columnist; Micha Bar-Am, Israeli photojournalist; Don Fitzpatrick, president of Don Fitzpatrick Associates; James Gaughran, news producer, KRON-TV; Cynthia Gorney, freelance writer; Jay Harris, publisher, Mother Jones; Clayton Haswell, San Francisco bureau chief, Associated Press; Clark Hoyt, vice president for news, Knight Ridder; Kim Komenich, photographer, San Francisco Examiner; Michael Krasny, Forum host, KQED-FM; Emily Richmond, staff writer, Palo Alto Daily News; Celina Rodriguez, anchor and reporter KDTV; Joe Rodriguez, columnist, San Jose Mercury News; James Rosse, president and CEO, Freedom Communications; Sandra Rowe, editor, Portland Oregonian; William Schneider, political analyst, CNN; Phil Taylor, senior writer, Sports Illustrated; Evan Thomas, assistant managing editor, Newsweek; Phil Trounstine, political editor, San Jose Mercury News; Karen Wada, managing editor, Los Angeles Times; Eileen Welsome, freelance writer and author; Tom Wolfe, author.

Journalism Project

The Graduate Program in Journalism provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase their talents as prospective authors and journalists. Each student will launch an intensive, in-depth inquiry into an area of journalism that they are personally interested in examining and critiquing at length. The MA Project represents a major commitment of time and effort. While there is no formal publishing requirement, the completed project must be judged by a member of the Journalism faculty to be of a quality acceptable for publication. Successful completion is a precondition for graduation from the program. MA Projects are typically launched during the Winter Quarter with a deadline-driven submission date of the last day of class of Spring Quarter.

Facilities

Enrolled students in the Journalism Program have priority access to the Chilton R. Bush Journalism Laboratory, a continually upgraded state-of-the-art computer hub. The space is equipped with a host of new information technology resources: multimedia hardware and software applications, audio-visual editing and production systems, content management and web-publishing tools. Workstations are fully networked with high-speed Internet connections and configured with direct and immediate access to online search engines and searchable web directories. Telephones with outside line capabilities are readily accessible. A vast concentration of high-technology and end-user training is available for students to use productively throughout the Stanford University campus. This includes classroom use of Wallenberg Hall, one of the most innovative and technologically-enhanced teaching/learning laboratories in the world.

Events

The Department of Communication frequently hosts special events to discuss and promote the universal presence and techno-future of all things journalism. Carlos Kelly McClatchy Memorial Lectures and Symposia were established in 1964 to bring Stanford University distinguished national and world leaders in the field of journalism. Its purpose is to give students first-hand insights into the responsibilities of journalists putting fingers to keyboards in a democratic society and to stimulate critical thinking about the performance of mass media in an increasingly global society.