Online Part-time Master of Science FAQ

Our program is 100% online and centers on mandatory, scheduled live video class sessions each week, providing a real-time virtual newsroom where you can pitch stories and receive immediate feedback. These synchronous sessions are paired with flexible asynchronous resources—including video tutorials, pre-recorded lectures, and online modules—that you can complete on your own schedule to prepare for live class.

To accommodate working professionals across the country, live classes are generally held during fixed evening hours (e.g., 6:30–9:00 PM ET) or on weekend mornings. A detailed schedule is provided prior to enrollment for each term.

A lockstep curriculum means every student in a cohort moves through the exact same sequence of courses together from start to finish. This ensures you build foundational reporting, ethics, and digital media skills in a structured order while collaborating closely with the same group of aspiring journalists throughout the program.

As a part-time program, you should plan for 12 to 15 hours per week total. This includes 3 to 5 hours of live virtual classroom sessions plus independent hours for conducting interviews, reporting in your local community, writing and producing your stories, and editing your assignments.

Both programs deliver the same level of rigorous curriculum, learning outcomes, and core faculty. The primary difference is the delivery method: the online program offers live, interactive virtual newsrooms via video conferencing—allowing you to complete coursework and conduct field reporting from your home community—whereas the on-campus program requires physical attendance in our university classrooms and studio facilities.

Additionally, the online program follows a fully structured, cohort-based model, meaning you will progress through a fixed sequence of courses alongside your classmates. For example, online production courses are modeled after virtual studios in which students will learn to produce podcasts remotely.

No. Due to the formal university and program approval process, students cannot transfer between the in-person and online tracks once they have begun coursework. You must complete your degree in the track (online or on-campus) to which you originally enrolled.

This program is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders), and individuals residing in the U.S. on any valid non-student visa (e.g., H-1B, L-2, TN, etc.). Please note that Columbia Journalism School cannot sponsor student visas (F-1 or J-1) for this part-time online program. Applicants must reside within the United States for the duration of the program to comply with local reporting coursework and field assignments.

All live class times are posted in Eastern Time (ET). Students living in different U.S. time zones must ensure their schedule allows them to attend all live sessions in real time regardless of where they reside.

Yes, mandatory attendance is expected. Real-time participation, peer critique, and live newsroom collaboration are core components of our synchronous model. While sessions are recorded for review, only illness or a family emergency are considered valid grounds for an excused absence (with prior approval when possible). Unexcused absences can directly impact your grades and overall progress in the sequence.

You will apply what you learn during live lectures by covering news, interviewing sources, and reporting on beats within your local community. You will then bring your raw reporting and/or story drafts back to live class workshops and one-on-one sessions for real-time peer editing and instructor critique.

You will need a laptop or desktop computer, a high-speed internet connection, a reliable webcam, and a microphone or headset for participating in live video classes. For field reporting, a smartphone capable of high-quality audio and video recording is required. An Adobe software license is required for multimedia classes.

No. The program is entirely remote, blending real-time virtual instruction with local field reporting near your home.

In addition to weekly live sessions, you will stay connected through dedicated class messaging channels, virtual office hours with faculty, and collaborative group projects.

Because the curriculum follows a structured, sequential pathway, courses are offered only once per academic year. As a result, any leave of absence must last a calendar year to allow you to rejoin the program when your next required courses are offered again. All leaves of absence must be formally requested and approved in advance by the Dean of Students, Melanie Huff.

Please review our Educational Financing Page for details on program costs, financing options, and instructions on how to apply for scholarship aid.

Please review our Admissions Requirements Page for full details on eligibility criteria, required application materials, deadlines, and step-by-step instructions on how to apply.