Where can the program take me?
How can the program help me become a better writer and reporter?
Why should I choose Carolina over other science journalism programs?
Where can the program take me?
Alumni of our master’s program have gone on to exciting careers in many areas of science journalism and communication. Graduates of our program are now working as a reporter and producer for WNYC in New York, director of external U.S. communications at Bayer, communications manager at Oceana, owner and founder of a science communications company, and producer and writer on the science and technology reporting team at North Carolina’s major PBS affiliate. Our students’ work has appeared in publications like The Atlantic, Vox, Scientific American, New Scientist and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
While you’ll find Chapel Hill has plenty to offer during your two years here, there are also exciting opportunities for current students to travel throughout the United States and beyond. Funding is available to help students travel to conferences, where you can learn best practices from experienced journalists while expanding your own professional network. We’ve also worked on documentary projects that have taken us from profiling the state parks of North Carolina to reporting on solar power in Spain.
How can the program help me become a better writer and reporter?
Our two-year program provides both depth of knowledge and breadth of understanding in journalism, science and medicine. The program teaches skills needed to work as a practicing environmental and science journalist across all media platforms. Our multi-disciplinary approach will hone your professional skills in print, audio and video, while allowing you the opportunity to specialize in the areas in which you are most passionate.
For more detailed information on the program and its requirements, go here.
Why should I choose Carolina over other science journalism programs?
UNC’s science and medical journalism master’s program offers advantages compared with other programs of its kind. Unlike many science journalism programs, we offer a two-year program, allowing you to explore a wide range of academic and professional interests during your time at Carolina. Beyond your core classes in environmental and science journalism, you will take classes from other members of UNC’s esteemed journalism faculty. You’ll also take health or science courses outside of the journalism school. Students can take classes at nearby Duke University or North Carolina State University. Additionally, twenty minutes away is Research Triangle Park, home to many leading science and biotech companies, including the headquarters of Sigma Xi, the national scientific research society.
While you’ll take classes and collaborate with master’s students from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and the Gillings School of Global Public Health, the small size of the science and medical journalism program means you’ll have the opportunity for one-on-one, personalized instruction from Dr. Tom Linden. His professional experience includes serving as CNBC’s first health and science correspondent, anchor for Lifetime Medical Television, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and author of a health reporting textbook with the writers of The New York Times.
Who should apply?
Students from a variety of backgrounds have joined the program. Some have been working journalists looking to sharpen their reporting skills or to specialize in environmental and science writing. Others have been health professionals wanting to move into journalism. Some have worked for years before returning to graduate school, while others have come soon after completing undergraduate or other master’s programs. Our students have majored in journalism, history, English, chemistry, applied physics, neurobiology, archaeology and many more.
Above all else, we’re looking for students who love to write, are eager to learn about science and medicine, and want to learn how to communicate complex ideas to the public.
How can I afford the program?
Tuition and fees for a full-time master’s student in the 2019-20 academic year were:
- North Carolina residents: $8,425 per semester
- Out-of-state students: $16,708 per semester
For information on funding and loan resources, visit UNC’s Student Aid page.
One of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media’s most exciting funding opportunities for graduate students is the Roy H. Park Fellowship. Awarded each year to new master’s students with exceptional qualifications, the Park Fellowship provides full funding for tuition and health insurance, as well as an annual stipend of $14,000. For more information on the Park Fellowship and other fellowship opportunities available through the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, visit our Cost & Funding page.
The final deadline for applications is mid-December. Please see the Hussman School of Journalism and Media’s Admissions page for exact dates. To be eligible for consideration as a Park Fellow, applicants must submit a separate essay as part of the admissions process. If you have questions about the application process or the program in general, contact Dr. Tom Linden at linden@unc.edu.