Master's Degree in Broadcasting: Requirements to Complete a Master's Degree in Broadcasting

Published Oct 27, 2009

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Top news anchor and broadcasting executive positions require advanced degrees in broadcasting. A master's degree program in broadcasting trains media professionals to understand media trends and manage mass communication effectively. Graduates of this 2-year degree program may secure positions as news anchors, broadcasting programming directors, mass communication directors or broadcasting professors in higher education.

Broadcasting Master's Degree Program Overview

Media and broadcasting executives typically hold master's degrees in broadcasting or mass communication. A master's degree program in broadcasting prepares students to produce breaking-news segments, manage programming schedules and direct broadcast studios and staff. Students study basic broadcasting principles, such as television production, radio news production and news reporting. Students also learn about mass communication and society, broadcast programming strategies and multimedia broadcasting methods. Graduates find professional positions with broadcasting companies, multimedia mass communication businesses and higher education institutions.

Completing a Broadcasting Master's Degree Program

A master's degree program in broadcasting enables media professionals to wear many hats. It trains graduate students to understand mass communication, make financial decisions based on programming demands and produce regularly scheduled and impromptu broadcasting segments. Students of a broadcasting master's degree program study media economics and financial management, media technologies, satellite communication, media law, broadcast and cable programming and mass communication research methods. They also take courses in audience demographics, qualitative and quantitative broadcast research methods and media ethics.

Job Training and Certification Required for Completing a Broadcasting Master's Degree Program

Since many graduate students already hold full-time broadcasting or related positions, there is no formal job training or full-time internships built-in to most degree programs. Many programs incorporate a college's broadcasting network or cable station in its curriculum in order to demonstrate and solve real-time broadcasting scenarios. Many master's degree programs in broadcasting also require students to complete a formal thesis. Graduates are encouraged to join professional associations, such as the National Association of Broadcasters.