This page contains content from the 2008–09 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
Master’s Degree in Journalism
Conferring the only journalism degree at Harvard, the Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Journalism Program offers a challenging curriculum both for experienced writers and editors, and for those looking for a way to break into the field. Core courses provide a solid foundation in news and feature writing and in the ethics of the profession, while electives help you build specialized skills and allow you to develop a field of expertise relevant to your career interests.
Degree Requirements
To earn the ALM in Journalism, meet the following requirements.
- Fulfill the requirements for your chosen track:
- Thesis track—eight courses, an internship, and a thesis (40 credits):
- Four core courses, including the proseminar JOUR E-100
- Four electives (at least two journalism electives and one general elective; choose your general elective in consultation with the program director)
- An internship
- A master’s thesis
- Capstone track—10 courses, an internship, and a capstone project (48 credits):
- Four core courses, including the proseminar JOUR E-100
- Six electives (at least four journalism electives and one general elective; choose your general elective in consultation with the program director)
- An internship
- A capstone project
- See information below about choosing tracks.
- Thesis track—eight courses, an internship, and a thesis (40 credits):
Earn a grade of B– or higher in each course (B or higher in the three required for admission) and maintain a 3.0 GPA in courses taken for graduate credit at Harvard Extension School, Summer School, or the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). See Academic Standing and Enrollment.
Complete six of the total courses with Harvard-affiliated instructors. The master’s thesis and the internship each count as one course with a Harvard-affiliated instructor. Complete all requirements within five years of the date of admission or, if the application is delayed, the date of completion of the third prerequisite course. If you are unable to complete the degree within five years, you are retired from the program.
Selecting Courses
To see how current course offerings fulfill requirements, use the degree course search.
Choosing Between the Thesis and Capstone Tracks
The journalism program offers a choice between a thesis or capstone track so that you may tailor the program to meet your interests and needs.
The thesis track provides solid preparation for students who wish to immerse themselves in a substantial report on a single subject. For the thesis, you work independently with a thesis director on an in-depth feature or investigative report (of approximately 10,000 words) on a significant current topic. It generally takes nine to 12 months to complete the thesis.
The capstone track involves additional coursework and a capstone project. For this option, you write a series of articles (totaling approximately 5,000 words) on related subjects in consultation with a journalism instructor. You should plan for the project to take approximately one semester to complete.
Advisory Board
A board of professional journalists and educators from Harvard University and the Boston area advise the Extension School on curriculum development, program requirements, and the oversight of thesis projects and directors. Members of the advisory board include the following:
- David Beard, Editor, Boston.com
- June Carolyn Erlick, Publications Director, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and Editor, ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America
- Robert H. Giles, Curator of the Nieman Foundation, Harvard University
- John R. Lenger, Editor in Chief and Assistant Director, Office of News and Public Affairs, Harvard University
- Richard Parker, Lecturer in Public Policy and Senior Fellow, Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Mark Pothier, Senior Assistant Business Editor, Boston Globe
- Nancy Sommers, Former Sosland Director of Expository Writing, Harvard University