Academic Programs
Although it’s not a requirement, a graduate degree in science journalism can be a great way to develop your writing and reporting skills and build your network. Programs range from online certificates in science writing to master’s degrees, and many provide generous funding packages. Here, we’ve compiled a list of science journalism programs offered throughout the United States. If you’re thinking of applying, make sure to check out the graduate school fellowships linked below as well.
- Columbia Journalism School, MS or MA Science concentration. The school’s programs have an emphasis on developing investigative, data, and multimedia journalism skills. The MS program includes some science coursework, while the MA program focuses on the storytelling side of science journalism.
- Johns Hopkins, MA in Science Writing. Primarily an online course, the MA program consists of nine classes and one on-site residency. Hopkins also offers a certificate program in science writing.
- MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing. This one-year master’s program offers a survey of multimedia journalism including print, audio, and documentary. Students complete a 6,000-word thesis and a summer internship.
- New York University, Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program. NYU’s SHERP is a 16-month program consisting of 11 courses and two internships. The curriculum emphasizes multimedia storytelling and coding, with the goal that students leave with the skills to communicate a given story in whatever medium best suits it.
- University of California, Santa Cruz Science Communication Master’s Program. The yearlong program, geared toward people with science degrees and research experience, includes nine months of instruction and a summer internship. Students complete internships during the academic year.
- University of Georgia, MA in Health and Medical Journalism. This two-year master’s program focuses specifically on health and medical reporting. Students complete coursework in science writing as well health and medicine.
- University of Montana, Master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism. This two-year program trains students to report stories related to the natural world. There’s a heavy emphasis on field reporting, and the curriculum includes a mix of journalism and natural science coursework.
- Texas A&M University, Science and Technology Journalism Master’s Program. This program, too, involves coursework in both journalism and science. Each student has substantial flexibility in selecting classes, and students complete either an internship or a thesis.
Other resources
- CASW graduate school fellowships. Each year, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing awards five $5,000 Taylor/Blakeslee fellowships to students planning to pursue science journalism at the graduate level and beyond. Applications are typically accepted from early January through mid-March for the following academic year.
