Student Life

How to have the best J-school experience

The Student Affairs office helps students navigate all aspects of their journalism education – from academics to housing. Get the essential details about your student experience here. For new students, view the checklist of essentials here.

Extracurricular Activities

Your second education is found in exploring New York City — because life at the J-school is not strictly about class work. 

The school regularly hosts lecture series, workshops, conferences and receptions. The school’s Stabile Student Center serves as a social hub for students and includes a café, workstations, teaching labs, conference rooms and the school library.

Student Government

The student government of the Journalism School is run through the university chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the world's largest journalism organization. An elected board of student officers organizes events throughout the school year with active participation from the student body. Events include parties, field trips, panels and community service projects.

In addition, the board serves as the official liaison to the faculty on student matters.

Student Associations

Students interested in joining the student interest groups or Columbia chapters of national associations should contact the student representative or faculty adviser listed on this page →

For more, view:

Events & Lectures

Columbia Journalism School has lecture series to enhance and support the classroom and reporting work. Many of our events offer the opportunity to meet industry leaders, ask questions and network.

The Journalism Now Series brings to the Journalism School journalists and media leaders who will address current issues and concerns. The series, which takes place most Tuesdays in the fall semester, is designed to complement what students are learning in their classes and provide them the opportunity to meet leading practitioners.

The Alfred I. duPont Center for Broadcast & Digital Journalism sponsors many events at the school including a lecture series with current duPont winners at the School for students in January. duPont has also started a podcast series, OnAssignment, based on recorded J-School events, which duPont Fellows help produce.

Hearst Digital Media Lectures examine the changing media industry with an emphasis on digital media and online journalism, and supports the Hearst Digital Media Professional-in-Residence who participates in classes and programs, critiques student work, and delivers two lectures during the school year. The series and residency are sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. 

Delacorte Lectures on Magazine Journalism examine aspects of magazine journalism by a leader in the field of magazine publishing. The series is headed by Keith Gessen, the George T. Delacorte Professor in Magazine Journalism and director of the Delacorte Center. Recent guests have included Calvin Trillin, Martha Stewart, Jake Silverstein, David Remnick and Robbie Myers.

The Lorana Sullivan Lecture Series, founded in 2014, is held in honor of the award-winning, pioneer of investigative journalism, Lorana Sullivan J’64.  The series is designed to enhance the role of women in business and financial reporting and generally to improve the quality of investigative journalism.

The Henry Pringle Lecture is named for a long-time faculty member of this school, a Pulitzer Prize winner in biography and a reporter for The Washington Post. The Pringle Lectures were endowed by the school’s alumni in Washington, D.C. following Pringle’s death in 1958. The annual guest lecturer is asked to speak to graduates on Journalism Day, the day before graduation, on any aspect of Washington politics, public affairs or the media. 

Graduation Rates

Full-tiime M.S.

Part-time M.S.

M.A.

Dual-degree

M.S. Data