Master of Arts in International Journalism Studies

Programme Director: Mr CHEUNG, Siu Wai

The MA in International Journalism Studies is a full-time one-year programme or part-time two-year programme that covers the development, theories and practices of international journalism and areas related with a special focus on Hong Kong, China and East/Southeast Asia.

The MA in International Journalism Studies is a coursework programme which aims to:

1. Provide an opportunity for mid-career journalists to reflect on their profession and develop their conceptual and analytical skills to inform their work;
2. Provide the basis for a future career in journalism, particularly in the international field;
3. Provide a scholarly introduction to the field of study for those contemplating further research for academic, professional or personal reasons; and
4. Bring together a group of students who can contribute different perspectives on the field of study.

The programme provides a senior level of education in the practices, operations, ethical issues and concepts involved in journalism for a global audience.

To be awarded the MA degree, students must pass all the courses (i.e. gain marks of C- or above) and must achieve a cumulative GPA of a minimum of 2.50. Students receiving an F grade in a course must repeat that course.

Students may apply for an interim award of Postgraduate Diploma if they cannot complete the graduation requirements for reasons deemed acceptable to the Programme. To apply for the interim award, students in the International Journalism Concentration must have completed 9 units of Required Courses and 9 Elective units, while those in the Business and Financial Journalism Concentration must have completed 12 units of Required Courses and 6 Elective units. Students must have passed the courses at grade C- or above and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 for these 18 units. Students with the interim award could resume their studies within five years of obtaining the Postgraduate Diploma, and they should surrender their Postgraduate Diploma upon return. Students intending to return and resume their studies will be subject to the availability of the programme, and they may be required to take extra units if the programme structure has undergone subsequent changes.

All students are required to complete a minimum of 27 units for the award of an MA degree. Students can choose to enrol in the International Journalism Concentration or the Business and Financial Journalism Concentration. For students of International Journalism Concentration, they must complete 15 units of required courses and 12 units of electives of which at least 9 units of electives must be taken from students’ own chosen programme. For students of Business and Financial Journalism Concentration, they must complete 18 units of required courses and 9 units of electives of which at least 6 units of electives must be taken from students’ own chosen programme.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

Requirements

* Students are required to take either International Relations Theory and Practice or Comparative and International News as a Required Course. The course not chosen as a Required Course can be taken as an Elective Course.

^ Students can take COMM7020 offered by MA COMM in lieu of JOUR7030.

# Students can only choose from one of these 4 skill courses.