New Delhi: For generations of journalists, the Columbia Journalism School has been the dream: the New York institution has produced some of the biggest names in journalism, from Pulitzer-winning journalists to unforgettable investigative reporters.
Now, the school is putting one of its flagship programmes on hold. Columbia will temporarily stop admissions to its Master of Arts programme for the upcoming admissions cycle as it undertakes a review of the curriculum, dean Jelani Cobb announced on Thursday. At the same time, the school is opening its doors in a new way, with its first-ever online degree — a two-year, part-time Master of Science in Journalism programme.
In a note to MA alumni, Cobb said the administration had begun a “critical evaluation” of the curriculum and was pausing admissions to give the review “the focus it deserves”.
The pause does not affect current MA students, who will complete their nine-month programme as planned, including concentration coursework, thesis guidance, and faculty mentorship.
The Master of Arts programme is designed for working journalists with at least three years of professional experience who want to specialise in a particular subject. Columbia’s Master of Science in Journalism degree, which the school describes as its “foundational programme”, is aimed at students with zero to three years of professional experience. The school will continue to offer both the MS in Journalism and MS in Data Journalism.
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A new online degree
As it pauses admissions to the MA, Columbia is expanding access to its journalism school in another direction. The new online MS in Journalism will allow students to complete the degree over two years on a part-time basis while continuing to live and work in their communities.
The programme is designed to function like a digital newsroom. Students will pitch stories, discuss work in progress, and make editorial decisions alongside faculty and classmates. The curriculum covers reporting and writing, journalism law, investigative techniques, image and sound, and seminar work, ending with a master’s project developed with faculty guidance.
“Our mission has always been to support students from diverse educational and professional backgrounds,” Tarin Almanzar, senior associate dean for admissions, financial aid and enrollment management, said in a statement.
Columbia said having students reporting from different regions could allow them to compare how issues play out across communities and bring those perspectives into their reporting.
The online programme is part of the school’s CJS2030 Access initiative, which aims to make journalism education available to more students in the communities where they live and work.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)