Our curriculum—short, intense, exciting.
The broadcast and digital journalism (BDJ) master’s program has a 40-credit curriculum that begins in early July and ends in August of the following year.
During that time, you’ll launch yourself into our summer Boot Camp, which will immerse you in the experience of working in a real newsroom. During the year, you’ll go into the field to produce packages and report live, develop your skills in writing for the ear, and finish with a capstone experience reporting in Washington, D.C.
The broadcast and digital journalism master’s program has three tracks of study:
All three tracks include the same broadcast journalism core courses. Students in the sports track work with Newhouse Sports Media Center to apply broadcast journalism skills to the field of sports. Students in the public affairs track take courses in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, enabling them to dive into the fields of political science and international affairs.
If you have any questions, please contact the Academic Advising Office at nhadvise@syr.edu.
Summer Session II – 6 credits (July)
| BDJ 611 | Writing for Broadcast and Digital News Basic techniques of writing broadcast and digital news stories. Emphasis on learning to write radio and web stories under deadline pressure. Interviewing and information gathering are also studied. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 612 | Audio News Reporting Students cover real news stories on deadline, using state-of-the-art digital audio editing equipment. The course emphasizes radio newscast production and editorial decision-making. | 3 credits |
Internship – 1 credit
Students are required to complete a one-credit internship in either the fall or spring of their program. The internship credit can also be completed over winter break. If you choose this option the internship will be done over break but the credit will be listed as part of the spring semester.
Fall Semester – 13 credits
| BDJ 636 | Ethics and Diversity in Broadcast Journalism An exploration of contemporary and historical challenges in broadcast journalism, focusing on issues of diversity, ethics, media ownership, and inclusive news coverage. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 664 | TV& Digital News Reporting I Gathering and reporting news on deadline for TV and web. Involves shooting video, video editing, reporting, and writing for broadcast and web. Taped and live performance are both emphasized. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Elective | 3 credits |
| Elective | 3 credits |
Spring Semester – 12 credits
| BDJ 661 | Mobile and Social Media Journalism Students gain hands-on experience by experimenting with social media and mobile devices for newsgathering, distribution, and audience engagement. | 1 credit |
| BDJ 667 | TV & Digital News Reporting II Planning and production of longer-format stories and enterprise reports for TV and web. Includes a unit on covering crime and courts. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Electives | 3 credits |
| Electives | 4 credits |
Summer Session I – 4 credits
| BDJ 668 | Live TV & Digital Newsroom Students produce television newscasts and file stories to the web. Students rotate in positions including producers (newscast and web), writers, editors, anchors, sports, and weather. The newscasts are delivered in a state-of-the-art production facility. | 4 credits |
Summer Session II – 4 credits
| BDJ 675 | Washington Professional Experience The D.C. experience is a capstone course for Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate students. Its key elements are a substantive internship in the D.C. area and seminars with top journalists and high-level government officials. | 4 credits |
Total credits: 40
Summer Session II – 6 credits (July)
| BDJ 611 | Writing for Broadcast and Digital News Basic techniques of writing broadcast and digital news stories. Emphasis on learning to write radio and web stories under deadline pressure. Interviewing and information gathering are also studied. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 612 | Audio News Reporting Students cover real news stories on deadline, using state-of-the-art digital audio editing equipment. The course emphasizes radio newscast production and editorial decision-making. | 3 credits |
Fall Semester – 13 credits
| BDJ 636 | Ethics and Diversity in Broadcast Journalism An exploration of contemporary and historical challenges in broadcast journalism, focusing on issues of diversity, ethics, media ownership, and inclusive news coverage. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 664 | TV & Digital News Reporting I Gathering and reporting news on deadline for TV and web. Involves shooting video, video editing, reporting, and writing for broadcast and web. Taped and live performance are both emphasized. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Maxwell Data/Research Course or Track Course | 3 credits |
| Track Course | 3 credits |
Spring Semester – 14 credits
| BDJ 661 | Mobile and Social Media Journalism Students gain hands-on experience by experimenting with social media and mobile devices for newsgathering, distribution, and audience engagement. | 1 credit |
| BDJ 667 | TV & Digital News Reporting II Planning and production of longer-format stories and enterprise reports for TV and web. Includes a unit on covering crime and courts. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Maxwell Data/Research Course or Track Courses | 3 credits |
| Track Courses | 6 credits |
Summer Session I – 4 credits
| BDJ 668 | Live TV & Digital Newsroom Students produce television newscasts and file stories to the web. Students rotate in positions including producers (newscast and web), writers, editors, anchors, sports, and weather. The newscasts are delivered in a state-of-the-art production facility. | 4 credits |
Summer Session II – 4 credits
| BDJ 675 | Washington Professional Experience The D.C. experience is a capstone course for Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate students. Its key elements are a substantive internship in the D.C. area and seminars with top journalists and high-level government officials. | 4 credits |
Total credits: 41
Summer Session II – 7 credits (July)
| BDJ 611 | Writing for Broadcast and Digital News Basic techniques of writing broadcast and digital news stories. Emphasis on learning to write radio and web stories under deadline pressure. Interviewing and information gathering are also studied. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 612 | Audio News Reporting Students cover real news stories on deadline, using state-of-the-art digital audio editing equipment. The course emphasizes radio newscast production and editorial decision-making. | 3 credits |
| SMC 601 | Sports Media & Communications Proseminar This class is an examination of the sports media field. Students will discuss career paths within the industry and the roles sports media professionals play. | 1 credit |
Internship – 1 credit
Students are required to complete a one-credit internship in either the fall or spring of their program. The internship credit can also be completed over winter break. If you choose this option the internship will be done over break but the credit will be listed as part of the spring semester.
Fall Semester – 13 credits
| BDJ 636 | Ethics and Diversity in Broadcast Journalism An exploration of contemporary and historical challenges in broadcast journalism, focusing on issues of diversity, ethics, media ownership, and inclusive news coverage. | 3 credits |
| BDJ 664 | TV& Digital News Reporting I Gathering and reporting news on deadline for TV and web. Involves shooting video, video editing, reporting, and writing for broadcast and web. Taped and live performance are both emphasized. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Sports Media Center Elective | 3 credits |
| Sports Media Center Elective | 3 credits |
Spring Semester – 12 credits
| BDJ 661 | Mobile and Social Media Journalism Students gain hands-on experience by experimenting with social media and mobile devices for newsgathering, distribution, and audience engagement. | 1 credit |
| BDJ 667 | TV & Digital News Reporting II Planning and production of longer-format stories and enterprise reports for TV and web. Includes a unit on covering crime and courts. | 4 credits |
| COM 647 or COM 698 | Applied Media Research Application of communications research techniques to specific problems of broadcasting, advertising, newspapers, magazines, and public relations. Individual and group projects. or Media Law Problems in media law, including libel, privacy, fair trial/free press, obscenity. or Sports Media Center Elective | 3 credits |
| Sports Media Center Elective(s) | 6 credits |
Summer Session I – 4 credits
| BDJ 668 | Live TV & Digital Newsroom Students produce television newscasts and file stories to the web. Students rotate in positions including producers (newscast and web), writers, editors, anchors, sports, and weather. The newscasts are delivered in a state-of-the-art production facility. | 4 credits |
Summer Session II – 4 credits
| SMC 675 | Sports Media & Communications Practicum Provides students interested in sports media industry careers with a unique opportunity to intern with sports networks, production companies, content creators, and sports event broadcasters. Students will also meet with instructor throughout semester. | 4 credits |
Total credits: 40