Advice & inspiration

II’s guide to grad school – the where, when and why (Part 2)

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In our first part of the series, we featured graduate programs at Syracuse, VCU, UNC, NC State, and Birmingham City University. Today, we are happy to publish five more reviews, including insights into programs at Elon University, UNC, University of Washington, Georgetown University and The University of Florida.

For instance, student David A. Kennedy provides his thoughts on Elon’s new interactive media program, former designer at LA Times Leslie Wilkinson tells us why she left the paper to pursue her MBA at Kenan-Flagler, and PhD candidate Peg Achterman details opportunities at the University of Washington, including a Masters in Digital Media.

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Elon University | M.A. in Interactive Media

David A. Kennedy: The Elon iMedia program launched in 2009 with 36 students in its inaugural class, all set to take on the world of interactive media in different ways.

And that may be the best word to describe the program: different.

It’s only 10 months long, full-time and intensive. The curriculum focuses on both theory and practice, with a strong emphasis on theory during the first semester, and then diving into using that theory in projects through the next two semesters.

Pros:

• Less than a year long. This was a big positive for me. I could get a Master’s degree quickly, and not have to spend too much time out of the “real” world.
• The Project for Public Good (or Winter Fly-in as it’s called). This is a trip to a domestic or international location for a public service project. I ended going to London, and helping create a digital prospectus with nine classmates for an elementary school there. I’ll never forget the experience, and learned more from it than any other professional experience.
• Flexible. The professors in the program have a wide range of talents and backgrounds. If you want to learn something, someone will know. If they don’t, they’ll find a way to help.
• Price. The program’s tuition comes in at about $30,000. You get the needed software for the program and your travel and accommodations are covered for the Winter Fly-in. I think it’s very reasonable.
• Classmates. In many ways, I have learned more from my classmates than professors. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, so finding experts in whatever you need is easy.

Cons:

• Less than a year long. That’s not a mistake. The quickness of this program has also been a negative in a way. You won’t have time to learn everything you want to, so it’s best to have some priorities.
• New program. The program will head into its second year soon, so there’s a bit of uncertainty as to the kind of jobs its grads can land, although we’re working with a career counselor for guidance.
• No Tracks of Study. The range of curriculum is very broad, so this might turn some people off. I’d recommend coming in with an idea of your focus. I want to be a Multimedia Producer, a Project Manager, a Digital Advertising Representative, for example.
• Theory heavy. Some might think the first semester is too heavy on theory. I think the program has balanced out nicely, but this approach might not be for everyone.
• Full-Time. This, like the first point, is both good and bad. It’s nice to just hammer out a grad program, but it’s been a challenge to balance life in there somewhere. I haven’t worked during the program, but have taken a few freelance projects. I would advise against working in this program.

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School

Leslie Wilkinson: For me, an MBA was going to be the best way to round out my journalism skill set to help me move into a position on the business side of a media company. Much of what I was missing was knowledge of just how much influence financial decisions have on deciding how and why to fund initiatives.

The MBA is one of the most versatile graduate degrees and is applicable across any number of fields. Not that a JD or an MPA/MPP wouldn’t be useful in a large number of industries (I’ve considered those at some point or another over the last 10 years), but the MBA filled the biggest gap in my knowledge. Knowing how to understand financial statements and how money drives decisions inside and outside of firms are skills that cannot be understated.

I picked UNC for a variety of reasons, but a big component was being able to come back to Chapel Hill for two more years of study. I wanted a collaborative program where I would have access to professors and experiences outside of my journalism background. And, for me, Chapel Hill has the added benefit of being a key hub of my existing network. Coming to Kenan-Flagler meant I would be able to draw on both the business and journalism school networks.

UNC offers several MBAs: the full time, the weekend MBA, executive MBA, and the ONE MBA which is held in D.C. The programs all have very different profiles, but you will find many of the professors teach in a couple of the programs. Here is an overall comparison of the 4 programs.

Application information: The GMAT is required for all MBA applicants, as are several essays and recommendation letters as well. For the full-time program, interviews with the admissions staff are by invitation only. Applications to the full-time program are considered on a rolling basis, so if you know Kenan-Flagler is where you want to be, apply early to increase your odds.

Costs for Full-Time: In-state versus out of state makes a difference. For the evening and weekend programs, some companies may provide sponsorships or tuition benefits. Be sure to inquire about those. But, be aware that some companies may require that you continue on with the company after you graduate.

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Georgetown University | M.A. in Communication, Culture & Technology

Kathleen Sullivan: The CCT Master of Arts program explores how media and technology are used “to communicate from social, economic, political, and cultural perspectives.” The graduate program is designed for people who want to combine their interests in communication and culture with studies of the history and future of technology.

Pros: The program is truly interdisciplinary and allows students to design their own curricula. The focus of the program is on developing a deep understanding of what drives communication practices, cultural changes and technological innovations. Students have the option to choose their courses with the guidance of academic advisors and also have the option to write a Master’s thesis. CCT students can also take relevant courses outside the CCT program (including linguistics, computer science, international affairs, and business courses) for credit and language courses offered at Georgetown for free (with the approval of their advisor).

Cons: The cost of the program is expensive compared to some other programs out there (Georgetown is a private school). Some of the courses are offered mid-day, which is less convenient for students with full-time jobs or internships.

Courses I have taken/am taking:

• CCTP 505: Introduction to Communication, Culture and Technology (A course on interdisciplinarity)
• CCTP 733: How to Predict the Futures
• CCTP 807: Innovation, Design & Usability
• CCTP 624: The Math Behind the News: Interpreting Math in the Media

Some courses I plan to take in the future:

• CCTP 806: Product Development in the New Digital Age
• CCTP 804: Advanced Statistical Methodology
• CCTP 673: Creating a Culture of Innovation
• CCTP 628: Interaction and Simulation
• CCTP 635: Critical Studies in Journalism
• CCTP 725: Cultural Hybridity: Mixing Media, Music, and Art
• CCTP 732: What’s Shaping the Wired World
• CCTP 743: Ethnography of Communication
• CCTP 783: Qualitative Data Analysis
• COSC 502: Programming Concepts and Tools

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University of Washington | MA/PhD or M.C. in Journalism

Peg Achterman: Graduate degrees in Communication at the University of Washington fall into a few categories. The most comprehensive is the MA/PhD combined program, which offers the opportunity to be here in Seattle for 5-6 years to complete both the masters and PhD. It is definitely aimed at those interested in research and teaching in research-oriented universities. The faculty is exceptional and assistantships are offered to most students, so there are many chances to watch great teachers and work with great scholars on research. UW is a theory-heavy place, so it can be huge change for those coming from journalism or political activism careers. Sometimes applying theory to something you have done for a living seems like an up-hill-battle. The plusses at UW are in the faculty – great people doing work in digital divide issues, technology in the work-place, social media effects, political communication. See the faculty list – and Howard, Neff, Parks, Domke and Moy in particular. UW offers a very broad swath of communication concentrations because journalism is not separated from speech and rhetoric on the undergraduate level. This provides wonderful opportunities for broadening your skills – journalists can gain experience teaching speech for instance. Since most students are funded (tuition in-state is about $9000/year, but this is waived) – the important number is the stipend, which is about $11,000/year. Some students go into some debt to finish the PhD, but it is relatively rare.

Another way to go is the Masters in Digital Media – oriented to those who would like a more “professional” masters degree. This is not a “funded” program, so many students are working and their employers are helping with their tuition. The total for the 2-year program is about 22K, but financial aid is available. MCDM prepares students to work in many areas of digital media and provides solid theory alongside a fair amount of hands-on work.

Lastly UW offers a specialized masters program: < a href="http://www.com.washington.edu/nativevoices/index.html" target = "blank">Native Voices – students create documentaries and media research that contribute to the understanding and support of Indigenous people and communities. Many of the NV students are of NW native heritage, but it is open to all.

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The University of Florida | M.A.M.C. in Mass Communication: Journalism Specialization

Ginny Hoyle: I’m a special case, perhaps. I arrived at The University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications by default. I came to Gainesville, FL, after my fiancé was accepted in the literature graduate program here. Having just left a reporting job in Chapel Hill, NC, I decided that it would be the perfect time to go back to school. And so, I worked for a year in a PR job at the university while applying only here. Luckily, I got in. I’ll be honest; at first I was very wary about Florida in general, what with the heat, and the stereotypical bad drivers. However, after nearly two years here, I’m hooked. I’m currently in my second semester of my master’s program in journalism and loving it. [Note: I completed my undergrad in journalism at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where, like UF, professors take off an excruciating 50 points off for any factual error.] Having worked in the field for a few years (copy-editor for The Herald Sun in Durham, NC, and reporter for The Chapel Hill Herald) clearly works toward my advantage when it comes to understanding journalism on an broader and more applicable level and being old enough to realize how amazing it is to be given the opportunity to go back to school.

As for UF’s journalism program itself, from my experience so far, whether you’re looking to brush up on technical skills (such as feature writing, covering the arts, etc.) and go back out in the field or planning to be in for the long academic haul, the University of Florida’s journalism school offers quality masters’ and doctoral programs. I’m currently wavering between going back into the field and staying on for a Ph.D. to teach/research, but I’m leaning toward the latter. I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes so far, and favorites include: New Media & Democracy and Mass Communication & Society. Professors here are well educated, experienced, and invested in their students. More than 40 faculty members teach, conduct research and provide service, and they seem to be successful at balancing teaching and research. Note: As was the unfortunate case across the nation, UF lost a handful of faculty members in the latest round of budget cuts over the summer, along with a documentary program. Morale with faculty is still a bit down, it seems. However, in spite if this, all (in my experience) are extremely accessible, enthusiastic, and interested in guiding their students.

Graduate studies in journalism at UF is arguably comparable to UNC-Chapel Hill’s program in its prestige, and the program has consistently rated high in annual national rankings. (Roughly 200 students are currently under way in graduate or advanced studies, according to the college Web site.) However, UF appears to be ahead of the curve when it comes to planning for the future of print journalism. One major indicator of that might be its soon-to-be opened Center for Media Innovation and Research, a lab designed to provide advanced training for students in online journalism.

Now for logistics. Let’s be honest: the town where the school you’re applying to is important, since it will be where you, well, live. Gainesville is an excellent place to call home – a college town with not enough parking places near campus? Yes. However, it is also a vibrant place with a lot of culture and quirk. There are numerous interesting places to visit on a Saturday afternoon, such as The Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art and The Hippodrome State Theater (not to mention beautiful destinations a bit further out, like the Ichetucknee River and St. Augustine, FL.)

I would highly recommend The University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications’ program to anyone who is interested in pursuing a graduate degree in journalism, and I truly look forward to the rest of my time here.

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Are you currently a grad student and interested in contributing to our series on graduate programs? Please send us an email at innovativeinteractivity@gmail.com with something similar to what you see above, including pros, cons, personal insights, and links to pertinent information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Other posts that might interest you:

• II’s guide to grad school – the where, when and why (Part 3)
• II’s guide to grad school – the where, when and why (Part 1)

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