School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Overview

The dual degree program is intended to create an efficient yet academically sound program of study for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in journalism and mass communication, and in law. The program is intended for students who plan to practice mass communication law, plan to practice professionally in a communication-related field such as journalism or public relations with a law-related emphasis, plan to pursue academic careers in law and mass communication fields, or plan to pursue a Ph.D. in a related field.

Students will work with advisers in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC), and the School of Law, to help them create a unique program of required and elective courses that satisfies the degree requirements for both schools and that best fits each student's particular interests. Both the School of Law and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication have various faculty members with expertise and interests in the field of journalism and mass communication law.

Media law is one of the recognized special areas of interest within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication along with business news, community media, medical journalism and scholastic media. In addition, current UNC law courses in constitutional law, civil procedure, administrative law, tort law and contract law would be valuable foundational coursework for students studying media law within a graduate program in journalism and mass communication.

Who should apply?

The dual degree program is intended for one of four types of students:

First, the program is designed for students who may wish to practice media law or otherwise work in the field as an attorney. These positions would include practicing attorneys with private law firms, attorney positions with communications-related government agencies, and legal positions within media-related organizations such as news organizations, cable and broadcasting companies and advertising agencies, among others.

Second, the program is designed for students who may wish to practice professionally in a communication-related field such as journalism or public relations with a law-related focus in their professional practices. Such positions would include journalists covering the courts and legal system or public relations professionals specializing in legal or litigation public relations, among others.

Third, the program is designed for students who plan to specialize in mass communication law and pursue academic teaching positions within a law school or a school of journalism and mass communication with M.A./J.D. as their terminal degrees.

Finally, the program is designed for students who plan to pursue doctoral studies in a communication field with an emphasis in mass communication law and pursue academic or professional media or legal careers.

Admissions

To participate in the M.A./J.D. dual degree program, students must be admitted to the School of Law and the master's program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication under the application procedures and requirements of each school and the UNC Graduate School. An applicant should apply to both schools separately with a written statement in each application indicating that he or she is seeking admission to the dual degree program.

Applicants admitted to the dual degree program will be strongly advised to defer admission to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication master's program for one year and complete the first year of required coursework in the School of Law. Admitted students are required to advise the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in writing of their intent to begin the dual degree program and request to defer admission to its master's program. Students will be required to submit a copy of this letter to the Graduate School and to the School of Law.

Academic requirements and curriculum

The dual degree program does not alter the core requirements either for the J.D. (Law) or M.A. (JOMC) degrees. Students in the M.A./J.D. dual degree program typically will spend the first year of their studies completing the first year curriculum in the School of Law and then begin graduate studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication during the second year. JOMC master's students must earn at least 30 graduate-level credits (10 courses numbered 400 or above, including 6 courses at the 700-level or above) including credits for a thesis or special project. The master's program has two “sequences” from which dual degree students can choose: the professional sequence and the mass communication sequence.

For additional information on requirements for dual degree M.A. students in the mass communication and the professional sequences, please visit the following websites.

M.A. requirements for the mass communication sequence
M.A. requirements for professional sequence

The dual degree program can be completed with a minimum of 101 credit hours. Students in the dual degree program will complete a minimum of 74 credit hours in the School of Law including the required first-year LAW curriculum (34 credit hours). In addition, dual degree students will normally complete 27 credit hours in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication from the required total of 39 credit hours, which includes nine mandatory credit hours of basic competency requirements.

Advising

M.A./J.D. students will work with advisers in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the School of Law, to help them create a unique program of required and elective courses that satisfies the degree requirements for both schools and that best fits each student's particular interests.

Length of program

The M.A./J.D. dual degree program will allow students to earn the M.A. in mass communication and the J.D. degrees in approximately four years as opposed to the approximately five years it would take to earn both degrees separately.

Contact information

For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Hoefges at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .