Become a Professional Storyteller with a Journalism Graduate Degree
In our full-time, one-year graduate program in Eugene, you’ll master the fundamentals of journalism, including story research and development, investigative journalism, fact-finding, writing, broadcasting, and multimedia production. You’ll also gain a solid foundation in journalism ethics and skills while learning emerging approaches to the craft, such as solutions and engagement journalism, from award-winning faculty members. Then you’ll apply the skills you learn in the classroom to actual field reporting. Along the way, you’ll become part of a network of professionals dedicated to uncovering the truth and sharing it with their communities.
What You Can Do with a Journalism Master’s Degree
You’ll learn how to tell stories that inform the public and inspire change—skills in high demand at media outlets, nonprofits, and businesses across today’s competitive economy. Our graduates apply what they learn to a variety of fields and disciplines, from science, environmental, and health writing to sports broadcasting and immersive media. Graduates from our recent cohorts have landed internships or jobs at NPR, High Country News, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Newsday, and the East Oregonian.
Apply Now
Applications are open now! The first round deadline to apply for the 2024 cohort is November 15, 2023. Scholarship applicants should consider applying by January 15 to ensure an admission decision before the February 15 UO scholarship deadline.
Questions? Reach out to us at sojcmasters@uoregon.edu.
Attend a Virtual Info Session
There’s a lot to learn before you commit to a graduate program, and we know you have questions. Sign up for a virtual info session to talk to the program director and learn about:
- The program’s structure and timeline
- What you can expect from courses and class projects
- The faculty you’ll be working with
If you would like to visit the SOJC Portland campus and Oregon Reality Lab, email sojcmasters@uoregon.edu to schedule a visit.
Yordanos Tesfazion didn’t have journalism experience before she started in the SOJC’s Journalism Master’s program in 2020. What she did have was a desire to amplify marginalized voices and contribute to public discourse. For her terminal project, she created the podcast Diaspora Rejects, where she hosted healing conversations on overcoming generational trauma and cultural barriers.
After graduation, Yordanos participated in NPR’s Next Generation Radio digital journalism and audio training project and secured an internship with NPR’s Code Switch and Throughline podcasts. Yordanos says the skills, feedback, and connections she gained while completing her terminal project helped her jump-start her career in multimedia journalism.
Specialize in Science Journalism
Public understanding of science- and tech-related matters determines the laws we pass, the behaviors we adopt, and the causes we champion. But research shows that scientists and citizens often see the same issues through different lenses, especially when it comes to polarizing topics. Journalists can become change agents by spurring public understanding and action. Work with program advisors and the SOJC’s Center for Science Communication Research (SCR) to get specialized training in science and tech communication.
Visual storyteller Miranda Daviduk ’18 examines intersections of science, gender equality, and the environment. Her multimedia terminal project, “Growing from the STEM,” explores how women and minorities at the University of Oregon are working to bring more diversity to science, technology, engineering, and math. “Diverse viewpoints lead to diverse ideas and solutions,” she writes. “The hope is that one day kids will draw a different kind of scientist: one that looks just like them.”
Brent Walth ’84 has come full circle. The son of teachers, Walth is an assistant professor at his alma mater. With over 30 years of experience as a reporter and editor—including sharing a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service—Walth now teaches investigative reporting to budding journalists.
“I always felt like journalism was a form of teaching. You immerse yourself and attempt to become an expert in the thing you're trying to communicate,” Walth said. “Then you have to figure out a way to explain it, break it down, and communicate it in a way that encourages people to see the world differently. Not any particular way, but just in a new, enhanced way.”
Named for renowned journalist Eric W. Allen, who founded the SOJC over 100 years ago, Allen Hall sits at the heart of the verdant University of Oregon campus. During your studies in Eugene, you’ll enjoy expert guidance, hands-on experience with the latest technology, and opportunities for collaboration.
Your Investment
The numbers below represent estimated tuition for a typical student in our Journalism Master’s program. For a customized estimate, use the UO graduate costs calculator. These amounts are subject to change at the university’s discretion.
Cost of attendance is the estimated cost to attend the UO for the academic year. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships provides estimates for cost of attendance information that goes beyond tuition and fees, and includes: living expenses (housing and food), books/supplies/equipment, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses.
The Journalism Master’s program is eligible for federal financial aid and the G.I. Bill.