Master of Science, Part-Time Program

Students gain insight into Google on a new media field trip.
Photo/Photo/Joe Fornabaio

A Flexible Program for Working Professionals

The Part-time Program is a more flexible (but no less rigorous) version of our one-year degree program. The curriculum content is the same as that taught to full-time students, and classes are taught by the same professors. In most cases, full-time and part-time students take the courses together. Courses begin in May of each year, and students may take two to three years to complete the program.

Among the professionals represented are journalists, doctors, lawyers, freelancers, police officers, teachers, scientists, publicists, management consultants, investment bankers, civil servants and more.

Read about M.S. specializations.

More...
Video about the Part-Time Program
M.S. Required Courses

Master's Project

In its scope and duration, the Master's Project is the student's major effort of the year. In terms of relative importance, credits and priority, however, it should be kept in proper perspective with the rest of the curriculum. Most part-time students take the Master's Project course during their second summer.

The project is not a master's thesis in the traditional academic sense, but rather an in-depth exploration of a topic as a journalist would pursue it. Master's Projects may be executed in either print, new media or broadcast (radio or television) forms. Students work on radio and print projects individually; video projects are generally done in teams of three, and new media projects are done in teams of two. Non-print projects are subject to approval by the Dean's office (approval depends on student's skill level and nature of topic).
Typical length is dependent on the medium:

• Print: 4,500-6,000 words
• TV/Radio: 20-30 minutes
• New Media: 20-30 minute "experience" (i.e., time to read all text or listen to all audio and view all pictures and video)

The student receives guidance from an assigned instructor who offers advice in selecting a topic, fixing its focus and working through an approach, conducting the research and doing the reporting and interviewing, and organizing, writing, rewriting (and recording and re-recording, where appropriate) and polishing the various versions.

Completed Master's Projects

Recent projects (1996-05) are available in the Journalism Library (lobby level). Lehman Library in SIPA has projects from 1957-1995, plus selected older ones.

Read more...
Journalism School Libraries (index of Master's Projects)
Radio Projects (Columbia Journalist - student work)
New Media Projects
Video about Master's Projects

Advisors

To work with a professor not on this list, it is the students' responsibility to contact that professor and get his/her consent and then fill in the above survey. All professors have the opportunity to volunteer and -- for professional and/or personal reasons -- many will not be able to work during the summer.

Contact
Part-Time Program Director
Laura Muha
(212) 854-0117
ljm31@columbia.edu