The dual MA in MENAS and Journalism give students the intellectual foundation in regional studies, language, and advanced research techniques and prepares students to conduct academic or journalism fieldwork in the Middle East and North Africa, from Morocco to Afghanistan.
Unit Requirements
The minimum units required to earn a dual MA in Middle Eastern & North African Studies and Journalism is 51 (18 from MENAS, 18 from Journalism, and 15 units which are shared between the two disciplines, including the thesis). Students choose either the professional track or the International Journalism Studies track.
Professional Track
The Professional track focuses on building from a foundation of language and regional understanding to produce authoritative multimedia reporting from and about the region. The goal of this track to is to enable students to become a journalist that is well-trained in regional dynamics and that will make crucial contributions to the understanding of contemporary issues and their impact on people and governments around the world.
MENAS Courses (18 units)
- MENA 595D: Middle East (3 units),
- One graduate course in gender or culture in the Middle East (3 units),
- One graduate course in Islamic Studies (3 units),
- One graduate course in Middle Eastern History (3 units), and
- Third-year proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish (6 units).
A list of courses that meet the core course requirements can be found here: MENAS Graduate Courses
Journalism Courses (18 units)
- JOUR 506: Introductory and Advanced Reporting (3 units)
- JOUR 507: Reporting with Multimedia (3 units)
- JOUR 508: Journalism Theory and Practice (3 units)
- JOUR 589: Survey of Research Methods (3 units)
- JOUR 590F: Arizona-Sonora News (3 units)
- One elective from the following (3 units):
- JOUR 505: Media Apprenticeship
- JOUR 511: Feature Writing
- JOUR 522: Publication Design
- JOUR 555: Environmental Journalism
- JOUR 572: Science Journalism
- JOUR 573: Reporting the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands
- JOUR 580: Advanced Multimedia
- JOUR 584: Mobile App Development
Shared Courses (15 Units)
- JOUR 509: International and U.S. Media Law (3 units)
- JOUR 596F: Media Coverage of International Crises OR JOUR 560 International Media Systems (3 units)
- MENA 596B: Middle East Media (check with advisor for next offering) (3 units)
- MENA 909: Master's Report (3 units) & JOUR 909: Master's Report OR MENA 910: Thesis (3 units) & JOUR 910: Thesis (3 units)
International Journalism Studies Track
The International Journalism Studies track focuses on developing a deep understanding of the language, culture, and politics of the region, and of the principles, theories, and roles of news media operating in a global information environment.
MENAS Courses (18 units)
- MENA 595D: Middle East (3 units)
- One graduate course in gender or culture in the Middle East (3 units)
- One graduate course in Islamic Studies (3 units)
- One graduate course in Middle Eastern History (3 units)
- Third-year proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish (6 units)
A list of courses that meet the core course requirements can be found here: MENAS Graduate Courses
Journalism Only (18 units)
- JOUR 508: Journalism Theory and Practice (3 units)
- JOUR 539: Ethics and the News Media (3 units)
- JOUR 560 International Media Systems (3 units)
- JOUR 589: Survey of Research Methods (3 units)
- Electives (6 units)
Shared Courses (15 Units)
- JOUR 509: International and U.S. Media Law (3 units)
- JOUR 596F: Media Coverage of International Crises (3 units)
- MENA 596B: Middle East Media (check with advisor for next offering) (3 units)
- MENA 910: Thesis (3 units)
- JOUR 910: Thesis (3 units)