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Programs

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Norfolk State University
Mass Communication and Journalism Programs

Our programs offer instruction in theory, skills and criticism to prepare graduates for careers in the media industries: Journalism, Digital Content Production, Broadcast Production, Public Relations, Advertising, Campaign Communications, Event Management, and Marketing. Students learn to produce, edit and publish content in a timely, comprehensive, accurate, legal and ethical manner, and for multiple mass media: Web, broadcast, newsprint, cable, and social and real-time media applications.

Concentrations

We offer two curricula that lead to the Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with concentrations in General Broadcast or Journalism. The program leading to the Master of Arts in Media and Communications offers three sequences: interpersonal communication, mass communications and journalism.

 
  • Master of Arts in Media and Communications - Journalism
    has two tracks: (1) News Editorial Management and (2) Public Relations. The sequence is designed as a mid-career program for journalists and media and public relations practitioners or those who want to build upon a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Admissions

Admission to the program leading to a Master of Arts in Media and Communications may be admitted on a degree or non-degree basis. To be admitted as a possible degree candidate, a student must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall academic average of 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale), and have a 3.0 average in his/her major field of study from an accredited college or university. A personal interview may be required. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are required if the overall academic average is below 2.65 and should be sent to the Program Coordinator.

A student who otherwise meets all of the general requirements for admission but whose overall undergraduate academic average falls below the required 2.75 yet exceeds 2.49 (based on a 4.0 scale), may be accepted on provisional status and may take up to nine credit hours in the program, as a non-degree student. Upon completing the first nine hours of approved graduate work with a 3.0 or above average, the student may petition the Master of Arts in Media and Communications Graduate Admissions Committee for regular admission to the program as a degree seeking student.

  • Re-admission:
    Re-admission to the program is not automatic. After an absence of one semester, a former student must apply to the Graduate School for re-admission to the program and follow the regular re-admission procedure. In lieu of the re-admission process, a student may maintain his/her matriculation status by enrolling in a continuous registration course and paying the appropriate fee.
  • Non-Degree Status:
    A person with a baccalaureate degree and who seeks to take particular courses but not work toward a graduate degree on a matriculating basis may be admitted in a non-degree status. The student may at a later date apply for admission to degree status. A change in status does not imply, however, that course work completed in the non-degree status will be automatically accepted and applied to degree requirements.

Application Procedure

A completed application consists of the following:

  • A fully completed graduate application form.
  • An official academic transcript showing that a baccalaureate degree has in fact been awarded to the applicant.
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation.
  • A personal statement of goals relative to the graduate field of study.
  • A minimum score on the TOEFL Exam as required by the Graduate School at Norfolk State University (international students only).

Only fully completed applications will be reviewed by the Master of Arts in Media and Communications Graduate Admissions Committee. The deadline for all fully completed applications is March 1 for fall and summer and October 1 for spring.

Requirements for the Degree

In order to meet the requirements for the Master of Arts in Media and Communications, a student may elect one of two options: 1) complete 30 credit hours of course work, for a total of 30 credit hours, or 2) complete 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours for a thesis or project, for a total of 30 credit hours.

The time limit for completion for the Master of Arts in Media and Communications is four (4) years. Students must have an overall 3.0 grade point average for all course work in the degree program in order to graduate.

  • Transfer Credit:
    Up to six (6) hours of graduate level transfer credit course work may be approved by the Master of Arts in Media and Communications Graduate Admissions Committee. Students must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for each hour of transfer credit accepted.

 

  • Residence Requirement:
    The residency requirement is one academic year. At least eighteen (18) hours of graduate work in Media and Communications must be taken in continuous matriculation at Norfolk State University.

 

  • Course Load:
    A full-time graduate student enrolled during an academic year is permitted to carry a maximum course load of twelve (12) credit hours per semester and six (6) credit hours during a Summer Session. To be considered in full-time study, the student must be registered for at least nine (9) credit hours each semester during the regular academic year. Any departure from these regulations must be approved by the Master of Arts in Media and Communications Graduate Admissions Committee.

 

  • Thesis:
    The master's thesis provides an opportunity for scholarly mass media and/or communications research. In preparation for such research, the student must have taken COM 651-Communications Research Methods. Before initiating a thesis, the student must select a thesis committee composed of three members of the graduate faculty in the Media and Communications graduate program. One of the committee members must agree to be the student's thesis advisor. The student may submit his/her thesis proposal to the committee upon completion of twelve (12) hours of graduate course work in the program.

 

  • Project:
    The project for the master's degree provides an opportunity for artistic creativity by writing, producing and directing a quality audio and video media production. Before initiating a production project the student must select a production project committee composed of three members of the graduate faculty in the Media and Communications graduate program. One of the committee members must agree to be the student's production project advisor. The student may submit their production project proposal to the committee upon completion of twelve (12) hours of course work in the program.

 

  • Internship:
    The internship for the master's degree provides a student with practical experience in a setting in which the student expects to be employed. After completing the residence requirement, the student who chooses an internship as partial fulfillment of the master's degree requirement must submit a viable internship proposal to the Master of Arts in Media and Communications Graduate Internship Committee for approval. The student must submit as part of his/her proposal the name of the approved agency, the nature of the student's responsibilities during the internship and a signed statement from the person(s) who will be student's supervisor during the internship indicating their willingness to supervise the student, and in turn, submit the student's evaluation to the student's academic advisor. The student must perform satisfactorily for not less than 180 clock hours in the approved agency during the semester(s) the student is enrolled in the internship course.


The curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV).

In addition to the major coursework, ACEJMC standards require undergraduate students to complete at least 72 hours outside of the major, as well as the general education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences at Norfolk State University.

Curriculum Regulations

Mass Communications and Journalism students must earn “C” or better in every departmental course and in IUL 101, ENG 101, ENG 102, ENG 203, and SCM 285.

Transfer Credit Policy

The Department will accept no more than 12 hours credit in a comparable undergraduate major taken at another institution. It shall accept credits for courses outside the major when approved by the Office of Admissions and the Registrar’s Office.

Curriculum

Accreditation

The Mass Communications and Journalism Department is certified by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) . Norfolk State University is accredited by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV).

In addition to the major coursework, ACEJMC standards require undergraduate students to complete at least 72 hours outside of the major, as well as the general education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences at Norfolk State University.