Degree programs that meet the needs of both new and experienced journalists
Compare M.S., M.S. Data & M.A.
M.S.
Who should apply:
- Applicants with zero to three years of experience
- Career changers
- Practicing journalists looking to develop new skills and take their work to higher levels
Applicants can work in multiple platforms and have the following options:
- General M.S., dual degree and part‐time programs
- Specializations in investigative and documentary journalism
M.S. Data
Who should apply:
- Applicants with an interest in reporting data-driven stories
- Applicants with zero to three years of experience
- Practicing journalists looking to develop new skills and take their work to higher levels
Applicants can work in multiple platforms and have the following options:
- Take foundational computational and data courses as well as a course on the fundamentals of reporting
- Seminar & Production courses with a data focus and produce a Data Master's project.
M.A.
Who should apply:
- Experienced journalists with three to 15 years experience who want to go deeper into a specialized subject area, further hone their skills and advance their careers
Applicants choose from the following areas of concentration:
- Arts & Culture
- Business & Economics
- Politics
- Science
Degree Programs
M.S.
The Master of Science degree is the foundational program of the Journalism School.
M.S. students are on the street reporting from day one; learning to think critically and work ethically.
M.S. students take courses on doing journalism on multiple platforms (audio, video or multimedia, broadcast, print and online). The program does not offer specializations by medium, but it has specials tracks for those who want to focus on investigative reporting and documentary.
M.S. In Data JRN
M.S. In Data Journalism students begin their program in the summer, taking foundational computational and data courses as well as a course on the fundamentals of reporting.
Unlike the general M.S. and M.A. tracks, data journalism students spend an extra semester at the school.
M.A.
The Master of Arts equips experienced journalists with the expertise to cover specific subject areas in a sophisticated, nuanced manner.
M.A. students study with specialists in their area of concentration and take related graduate-level courses outside the Journalism School.
Dual Degrees
The Journalism School offers dual degree opportunities with other Columbia departments and with two international programs.
Students can apply for dual degrees in computer science, international and public affairs, business, religion and law.
Ph.D.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Communications prepares students to teach in colleges and universities, to conduct original research in communications or to carry out policy or research work.
Ph.D. students study the relationships between people and media in their cultural, social, political, historical, economic and technological contexts.
Explore Our Classes
Interested in video, narrative writing or international issues?
Want to work with data, cover politics or investigate health care?
Our classes cover the fundamentals of reporting and allow you to explore new ways of storytelling that will advance your ability to work in the evolving field of journalism.
Knight-Bagehot Fellowship
The Knight‐Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism offers qualified journalists the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of business, economics and finance in a yearlong, full‐time program administered by the journalism school.
Spencer Fellowship
The Spencer Fellowship offers an extraordinary opportunity for journalists and educators in- and outside of the U.S. to spend an academic year at Columbia University researching and producing journalism about a significant topic in education.