Where Data Meets the Deadline
Journalism in the 21st century involves finding, collecting and analyzing data for storytelling, presentation and investigative reporting. The journalism school offers a Master of Science in Data Journalism for students interested in advanced skills.
Graduates leave prepared to tackle complex information, uncover hidden narratives and deliver impactful stories across digital platforms.
"Being at CJS just opened all the doors for me. I've been able to do data journalism ever since. I’m incredibly privileged and I think it's because of the degree itself, but also the connections. It’s the gift that keeps on giving."
Curriculum
Foundations in Code and Craft
In the fall, Data Journalism students dive into the fundamentals of computation, data, and reporting. These foundational courses build the technical and journalistic skills needed to analyze complex information and tell compelling, evidence-based stories.
Advanced Tools, Big Stories
In the spring, students take Writing with Data and the Data, Computation, Innovation workshop, where they explore cutting-edge storytelling techniques. They also join M.S. students in a 15-week seminar and production course. In the final semester, they complete the Master’s Project—a major piece of data-driven journalism—and take courses in Journalism Essentials, Storytelling with Data, and Data, Computation, Innovation II.
Who Should Apply
Build the Skills Today’s Newsrooms Are Searching For
The M.S. in Data Journalism provides the hands-on training needed to tell deeply reported, data-driven stories in the public interest. Today’s news environment demands journalists who can make sense of complex information flows and uncover stories hidden within data. This three-semester program equips students with the tools and techniques to do exactly that.
And it all starts with a curriculum designed for students of any background.
A Program Built for All Experience Levels
Applicants are not required to have a background in data or computation. All students begin with foundational courses designed to build confidence and competence in data acquisition, extraction, and analysis—regardless of prior experience.
What Sets This Program Apart
Where Technology Meets Trusted Reporting
The M.S. in Data Journalism is designed to bridge the gap between data science and journalism. Students gain hands-on experience using industry-standard tools and programming languages such as Python, R, SQL and visualization software. Courses emphasize ethical reporting, data accuracy and translating complex datasets into clear, compelling narratives that serve the public interest from today's newsroom.
Student Work
Hazel Gandhi, ’25 M.S. Data Journalism, reported for Columbia Journalism Review on how tech platforms like X and Meta are leaning on Community Notes, uncovering how coordinated bad actors and weak safeguards allow misinformation to persist online.
A finalist for a 2025 Society of Publishers in Asia Award, Somaiyah Hafeez, ’25 M.S. Data Journalism, reported for Kontinentalist on Pakistan’s use of enforced disappearances in Balochistan—spotlighting abducted civilians, state silence, and the women-led fight for justice.
From the classroom to the field
AlHadidi is helping audiences make sense of a rapidly changing world at PBS.
This spring, alumni earned honors for reporting, storytelling and innovation that advance the goals of the J-School’s CJS2030 Initiatives.
This year's projects cross both campuses and blend journalistic insight with technical innovation.