Journalism Degree Requirements

• Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Journalism
• Feature Writing
• News Reporting and Writing
• The Constitution and the Media
• 1 applied active learning elective (see on-campus experience)
• 1 journalism elective
  • May be an internship
  • May be EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences
• 4 general electives
  • Choose electives to support your unique professional goals or earn one of the following graduate certificates:
    • Business Communications
    • Digital Storytelling
    • Marketing Management and Digital Strategy
• Precapstone: Finding and Developing Your Story
• Capstone: Crafting Your Story and Engaging Your Audience

Learn how to search and register for courses.

The precapstone/capstone is a two-course, two-semester sequence where you work closely with your instructor and peers in a classroom setting. You receive as well as give expert advice and support creating a collaborative writers’ community.

In the precapstone, Finding and Developing Your Story, you prepare for the work of the capstone project by defining your topic, identifying sources, conducting interviews, and collecting data, facts, and information.

In the capstone, Crafting Your Story and Engaging Your Audience, you produce the capstone project that you planned in the precapstone. The focus will be on workshopping drafts of the projects, which you revise and edit with the advice of your instructor and peers. The capstone also features guest speakers such as former Nieman Fellows as well as editors of legacy and other publications.

Sequencing. You enroll in the precapstone and capstone courses in back-to-back semesters (fall/spring) in your final academic year. The capstone is taken alone as your sole remaining degree requirement.

To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the standard option and study with us in the summer. For more information, see the important visa information on the International Student Study Options page.

Come to Cambridge for Convocation (fall) to celebrate your hard-earned admission, Harvard career fairs offered throughout the year, HES alumni networking events (here at Harvard and around the world), and, of course, Harvard University Commencement (May).

• Prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a four-year regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated for equivalency.
• If English is your second language, you’ll need to prove English proficiency before registering for a course. We have multiple proficiency options.

With our performance-based admission process, you begin by taking courses with us first. You’ll simply register — no application required — for the following two 4-credit, graduate-level degree courses (available online).

These prerequisite courses count toward your degree once you’re admitted; they are not additional courses. They are investments in your studies and help ensure success in the program.

• JOUR 100 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Journalism
  • Before registering in JOUR 100 you need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences (counts toward the program).
  • JOUR 100 cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.
• JOUR 137 Feature writing

You need to perform well in the two courses earning a grade of B or higher without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.

You have two attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar and feature writing (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt).

The two courses don’t need to be taken in a particular order or in the same semester, and both are available for registration in fall, spring, or summer. We offer three starts.

Learn how to search and register for courses.

During the semester of your second degree course, submit the official application to the program.

Don’t delay! You must prioritize the two degree courses for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:

• Avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
• Ensure your enrollment in critical degree-candidate-only courses.
• Avoid the delayed application fee.
• Gain access to exclusive benefits.

Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 10 more courses after admission to earn the degree.

Applicants can register for courses in the upcoming semester before they receive their grades and while they await their admission decision.

Prospective ALM students can expect acceptance into the program by meeting all the eligibility and academic requirements detailed on this page, submitting a complete application, and having no academic standing or conduct concerns.

GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in the proseminar and feature writing, and a B- or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.

Withdrawal grades. You are allowed to receive two withdrawal (WD) grades without them affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. See Academic Standing.

Repeat courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses. Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.

Expired coursework. Courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. As stated above the proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Five-year degree completion timeline. Further, you have five years to complete your degree requirements. The five-year timeline begins at the end of the term in which you complete any two degree-applicable courses, regardless of whether or not you have been admitted to a degree program.

Don’t delay! Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and apply to the program in a timely manner, or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work.

Admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied (i.e., too many courses to complete in the time remaining).

When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Journalism. Degrees are awarded in November, February, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.

When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges.