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Program Director: Tom Linden, M.D. The aim of the Medical and Science Journalism Program is to teach the skills needed to work as a medical journalist in both print and electronic media. Students also gain the knowledge and background necessary to pursue further research in medical journalism. Mission
The overall mission of the program is to educate journalists so that they can communicate about science and medicine effectively. Competent medical journalists are needed to provide a bridge between the scientist and the consumer. Who should apply
The program would be of interest to both journalists and health professionals who Requirements
Master’s students in medical and science journalism must earn at least 30 graduate-level credits (10 courses numbered 400 or above) including credits for a thesis or special project. Course requirements are divided into five categories: basic journalism and mass communication competencies, core medical and science journalism courses, related public health and other pertinent courses, core journalism and mass communication courses, and advanced journalism and mass communication courses. Click here for a more detailed description of course requirements for the medical journalism program.
Any graduate student who receives any funding for his or her education from a School-based source is required to maintain at least a P average each year. This applies to both master’s and doctoral students. Grades are reviewed each spring in order to make this determination. L grades must be balanced by H grades in order to maintain this average. If a student gets an L in one of the journalism and mass communication core courses (JOMC 701 and JOMC 740), that L is not removed by passing the examination or by getting a P upon retaking the course. That L must be balanced by an H. Basic journalism and mass communication competencies: All master’s students must pass the School’s spelling and grammar test by the end of their first semester. This is a basic requirement for graduation for undergraduate students and normally poses no major problem for graduate students. Information about the spelling and grammar test, including instructions on how to study for it, is included in the orientation packet sent to new students each summer. Master's students in medical and science journalism also must demonstrate competency in other basic skills related to their career goals. For example, students interested in careers in print media must demonstrate competency in newswriting and editing, plus one related area such as reporting, photography, graphic design, or feature writing. Students preparing for broadcast careers must demonstrate competency in writing for electronic media and two other relevant areas, such as video production and editing, electronic journalism or television news production. For all students, three competency courses are required, and no credit toward graduation is given for those courses. Competency courses may be at any level, including undergraduate. Occasionally students may instead pass exemption exams, which usually are given during orientation. Core medical and science journalism courses: Students must take JOMC 560, “Medical Journalism.” After successfully passing JOMC 560, students must then take JOMC 561, “Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media.” Related public health and other pertinent courses: All master’s students in the medical journalism program must take three courses outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communication: - EPID 600, “Principles of Epidemiology” AND
- HPAA 564, “Organization and Financing of the U.S. Health System”
- PLUS a third course outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communication approved by the director of the Medical and Science Journalism Program.
Core journalism and mass communication courses: All master’s students must take the following journalism and mass communication courses: - JOMC 701, “Mass Communication Research Methods”
- JOMC 740, “Mass Communication Law and Ethics”
If the student receives an L in either course, he or she must pass a comprehensive examination during the second semester. If the student fails the exam, he or she will be allowed to retake the course. If the student again receives an L, he or she will not be allowed to continue in the program. Advanced journalism and mass communication courses: Students also must take at least one more JOMC 400-level or above course and one JOMC 800-level seminar. Exams: All students must pass the appropriate examinations, which include a comprehensive written examination covering the material in the student’s path courses. All course work must be completed before a student may take his or her path exams, which generally are administered in February of the second year of study.Each student must also pass an oral examination on the thesis or professional project, given by the student’s advisory committee. Thesis, project or articles
Master’s students in medical and science journalism have the option of writing a traditional thesis (JOMC 993) or doing a nontraditional thesis project (JOMC 992). Examples of projects include preparing a broadcast-quality television or radio report; writing a series of medical and/or science journalism articles suitable for publication in a magazine, newspaper or Web-based format; or preparing a medical journalism multimedia project. Length of program
Students will complete the master’s program in two years by attending classes full time during the first three consecutive semesters and then completing the thesis or project during the fourth semester. There is no provision for part-time students in the master’s program in medical journalism. Graduate committee
Students select a three-member advisory committee. Headed by the director of the medical journalism program or another appropriate professor who serves as the student’s adviser, the committee acts as a resource as well as referee of the thesis or project. One member of the committee should be from outside the School, preferably from a health- or science-related discipline and should be someone with whom the student has taken a class.
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Current Students 
