Master of Arts in the Field of New Media Photojournalism

The new media photojournalism program is a high-energy, immersive experience grounded in the fundamentals of photojournalism and documentary photography. Emphasizing strong storytelling skills and fluency in multimedia platforms, the master of arts in new media photojournalism program incorporates writing, photography, audio, video, and web design to prepare students to work as freelancers, visual reporters, editors, and producers.

The program emphasizes the individual as a visual reporter and encourages experimentation with new ways of storytelling, documentation, and editing. The program also encourages its students to explore the latest digital practices taught in conjunction with the enduring fundamentals of visual reporting, editing, and ethics. Through intensive faculty mentoring along with a broad and flexible program of study and internship opportunities, students choose and develop their professional paths.

In addition to the Washington Post, National Public Radio, National Geographic, and Discovery Communications, countless newspapers, magazines, trade journals and major media outlets are located within a five-mile radius of the Corcoran's downtown Washington, DC, campus. Graduates of the program are prepared to excel in careers in a wide range of visual media, including photography, picture and video editing, documentary production and multimedia management, and go on to lead a new generation of photojournalists as the field evolves in tandem with technology.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Adminssion Requirements
Article	Requirement
Admission deadline:	Fall - April 1 (February 1 for priority fellowship consideration)
Standardized test scores:	GRE is not required.
	The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
	Minimum scores for the program are:
	- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
	- TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based; or
	- PTE Academic: 68.
Recommendations required:	Two (2) recommendations
Prior academic records:	Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.
	If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.
Statement of purpose:	In an essay of 250-500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application. If you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship, you should also describe any teaching experience you have had.
Portfolio:	At the heart of the NMPJ program is visual reporting on the human condition and society. We seek candidates whose work demonstrates developing mastery of the use of photographic composition in storytelling, and a passion for exploring issues through lens-based media. The portfolio submission for the NMPJ application process allows for 20 curated entries and should be submitted as one pdf document. This may include any combination of single images, photo stories, videos, page layout sequences, tear sheets, and other forms of visual arts. Prior video work is not required for admission into the program. Technical fluency and experience in 35mm photography is required, although we will consider exceptions for those who demonstrate strong video skills in the portfolio submission.
	All parts of the portfolio submission should be clearly labeled and should include captions or project descriptions as appropriate. Please include the following with each image submitted: Medium, e.g., film or digital 35mm or medium format; creation date; publication or exhibition date as applicable. Clearly indicate any use of AI tools in your writing process, as well as the creation or processing of the images and video. Note: AI-generated images or texts are not permitted in the profession of photojournalism or the NMPJ program. If a photo story is part of the submission, include a brief project summary in addition to the above information. Video should be submitted in the portfolio pdf as a link accompanied by a brief project description stating the role of the applicant in the making of the video, e.g., script writer, director, primary camera, editor, or any combo, etc. Portfolios of images made with a smart phone are not accepted, nor are links to Flickr feeds, Instagram accounts, or website galleries.
	The NMPJ program is grounded in standards of ethical journalism in both the making of images and video, and the treatment of community members and colleagues. We are guided by the professional codes of ethics of the National Press Photographers Association; and the Society of Media Photographers. We follow the standards of transparency in post-production as stated in the World Press Photo contest guidelines. And, we are guided by principles of the 2019 Photo Bill of Rights.
Writing Sample:	Please submit a writing sample of 3-5 pages and completed within the last five years. This may be a scholarly or personal essay, or a journalism article, for example. The writing should demonstrate a capacity to clearly express ideas in an organized, engaging manner.
Interview:	An interview is required.
International applicants only:	Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

36 credits, including 30 credits in required courses and 6 credits in elective courses.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
CPJ 6050	Advanced Multimedia Lab I
CPJ 6501	New Media Photojournalism Capstone Post-Production Workshop
CPJ 6060	Advanced Multimedia Lab II: Editing and Production
CPJ 6100	Research, Reporting, and Writing: Contemporary Journalism Practice
CPJ 6110	Story and Narrative in Photojournalism
CPJ 6260	Professional Practices for Photojournalism
CPJ 6500	New Media Photojournalism Capstone Production Workshop
CPJ 6570	Nuancing the Story: Advanced Video Post-Production ^*
CPJ 6640	Advanced Studio and Location Lighting ^*
Capstone
CPJ 6550	New Media Photojournalism Capstone Research and Reporting (taken in successive fall and spring semesters for a total of 6 credits)
Electives
6 credits in two elective courses.

*Or an approved elective based on the portfolio.