Online news and information sites are transforming the field of journalism. You can get the skills you’ll need to better work in this ever-changing field through University Without Walls (UWW) with Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations, an innovative and nationally-known program for adults who have skills and knowledge learned on the job and who’ve been unable to finish their first ever bachelor’s degree. Leverage UWW’s many years of helping working adults earn UMass Amherst bachelor’s degrees to earn your degree in a way that makes sense for your career goals and busy schedule - online.
This program with Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations lets you study with award-winning instructors and top professional journalists, who offer specialized coursework not available through on-campus programs. The same faculty teaches in the Certificate of Journalism program, recently named a 'Program of Excellence' by the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) — the most prestigious award given in the field of distance learning.
Courses offered through the UWW Journalism Studies concentration will satisfy up to 60 credits toward a student’s degree. In the first semester, all students take the UWW Frameworks for Understanding course - establishing a foundation for returning to college and gaining the skills you’ll need to design your degree and create your prior learning portfolio. Most students also take one of these four UWW courses in the first semester: organizational life, leadership, technology, or public policy - two of which must be taken prior to the UWW Writing about Experience course.
Upon completing your UWW core courses, you will take UWW’s Writing about Experience course, taught by UWW faculty. Here you’ll develop a prior learning portfolio that documents, describes, and analyzes learning you’ve gained through your life, work and training experiences. Once complete, your portfolio will be evaluated by faculty, and you’ll be awarded up to 30 UMass Amherst academic credits.
Concentrations
Whether your background is in journalism or a completely different field, you’ll complete your UWW Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations prepared to work in travel writing, sports writing, photo journalism, war reporting, science writing, arts reviewing, citizen journalism and a host of other dynamic fields. All courses forming the UWW Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations are made available to students in a schedule they can use to complete their degree and are offered online.
Program Highlights
- Earn up to 30 credits for learning from your life, work and training experiences.
- Customize your UMass degree by selecting five courses to form your area of concentration.
- Transfer up to 75 credits no matter how long ago you earned them.
Watch a detailed, 20 minute, online information presentation about the UMass UWW program anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you - just click here to sign-up!
Learn more about this program:
To receive more information and connect with the program manager, please click on inquire now to the right.
Click here for more information on the Bachelor of Arts with Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations.
Registration is administered through
UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education. Please see Fee Schedule below.
| Type of Fee |
Amount |
Fee per credit |
$350 |
Program Fee |
$150 per semester |
Prior Learning Placeholder Fee |
$350 |
Prior Learning Assessment Fee
|
1-15 credits-$600
16-20 credits-$900
21-24 credits-$1200
25-29 credits-$1500
30-33 credits-$1800
|
| Registration Fee |
$45 |
| Course Total |
$1095 (350x 3 credits per course & $45 Reg. Fee) Prior learning fees are not included in total and will vary per student. |
The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Did you know?
University of Massachusetts has earned several awards for its distance learning programs, faculty and technology including:
- University of Massachusetts Ranked Among Top 28 Best Value in Online Education for Human Services & Psychology Professionals, 2009 by Get Educated
- Ranked Top 10 Online Degrees Colleges- September 2009 (Online Degree Reviews.com)
- UMassOnline Awarded Public Sector of the Year by Mass Technology Leadership Council , 2008
- Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program, UMass Lowell’s Online Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
- ‘Excellence in Online Teaching’ Award, Dr. Jeannette E. Riley, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
- 21st Century Best Practices Award, United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
- Program of Excellence, University Continuing Education Association (UCEA)-Journalism Certificate
- Excellence in Faculty Development, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
- Excellence in Online Programming, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
- Excellence in Online Teaching, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
- UMass Amherst Isenberg MBA, Top 10 national rankings, #4 Best Professors (2005, 2006, 2007 Princeton Review: Best Business Schools rankings)
- 4th in Primary Care Education, U.S. World Reports
- Ranked 45th Best University System in the World - London Times
- Excellence in Distance Teaching Education - United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Your past credits count no matter how long ago you took your courses. UMass Amherst allows up to 75 transfer credits from other accredited institutions toward graduation as long as the course grade is C- (2.0 grade point average) or better. All UMass Amherst general education requirements, except junior year writing, may be satisfied by courses from other institutions, and students can take courses at other schools and transfer those credits into UMass Amherst even after being admitted into UWW.
UWW students are accepted in both the fall and spring, with application deadlines for fall on May 15 and for spring, October 1. Minimum admissions requirements are: 12 credits of college course work (a composition course is strongly recommended) and a 2.00 grade point average. Application forms are located at www.umass.edu/uww/admissions_aid/index.html and must include:
- Signed, dated and completed UMass Amherst application form.
- Official transcripts from any and all colleges ever attended.
- Résumé.
- A personal statement essay 2-3 pages.
- Non-native English speakers proof of either TOEFL or two non-ESL composition courses graded B or better.
- Applicants raised in a non-English speaking country must also have official results of the TOEFL exam mailed to UWW by the application deadline. Applicants who have received a grade of “B” or better on two composition courses in an American college or university may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement. The exemption is not automatic, but based on a complete review of the academic history.
Click here to download all UWW application materials.
Availability of financial aid varies depending on matriculation and course status. Please check with your program manager or advisor to determine your eligibility. Generally, if you are matriculated in a degree program and are enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester, you may qualify for financial aid. Please review our Financial Aid Checklist below.
- www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- University of Massachusetts Amherst school code number 002221.
- For more information please click here.
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