UC Berkeley Journalism - Admissions

To request program information, please complete our online request form. To begin the online application process, please see How To Apply.

Brittney Johnson, a first-year television student, travels with Dean Neil Henry to her alma-mater, Howard University, to speak to prospective students about what it's like to attend the J-School.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicant Background

Do I need a degree in a specific major to be considered for admission? Are there any prerequisite courses that I need to have taken?

Applicants do not need degrees in any specific major to be admitted into our program. A bachelors degree is required, however. No specific coursework is required.

What counts as journalism experience?

Journalism experience is work (paid or unpaid) that has been completed in any media-related field (e.g. newspaper, TV or radio, photojournalism, online publications, freelance writing, etc) with a focus on production for a public audience.

If I don’t have any journalism experience, do I have a chance of being admitted?

A lack of journalism experience does not make an applicant ineligible to apply, but is very unlikely for him or her to compete in the highly selective admissions process. Many of our students had some experience with journalism prior to starting the program, either as interns in media outlets or working professionals. (The majority worked professionally for two to four years, most in a media related field).

We recommend that individuals with little or no experience in the journalism field enroll in a news-writing course through a continuing education program to gain experience in writing for a public audience. It is also advisable to secure an internship at a newspaper or in your preferred medium.

Application and Deadline Information

For information about the components about the application and how they must be submitted, please see here.

When is the application due?

The deadline for Fall 2009 admission is December 1,2008. The online portion of the applicant must be received by that date. Supplemental materials must be received or postmarked by that date. Late applications will not be received.

Journalists abide by deadlines.

How can I apply for an application fee waiver?

Download the application fee waiver form here: http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/pdf/form_fee_waiver.pdf

US citizens or permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. Participants in the programs listed on the waiver application form must submit the form and provide evidence of their participation to be granted a waiver. Mail completed form the required supporting materials directly to

Waiver Office, Graduate Admissions
309 Sproul Hall #5900
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
94720-5900

More information is available directly from the Graduate Admissions office of the Graduate Division at 510-642-7405, email: gradadm@berkeley.edu

What GPA and GRE scores are required in order to be considered for admission?

The minimum graduate admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution with a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) for all coursework completed after the first two years of study.

For domestic students, you will need to take the GRE General exam (not the Subject Test) Competitive GRE scores are normally 600 or better for both the Verbal and Quantitative Portion. The average Analytical Essay score is 4.5.

We do not accept or decline admission based solely on GPA or GRE scores; instead, we review the applicant’s complete profile, including work samples, letters of recommendation, statements, among other items.

I'm an international applicant. Do I take the GRE or the TOEFL? Do I have to take the TSE?

The GRE is required of all applicants who have studied for a minimum of 12 months at universities where the primary language of instruction is English (including all domestic applicants, Philippines, most of Canada, U.K., certain African countries, etc).

The TOEFL is required of all applicants who have not studied at universities for at least 12 months where the primary language of instruction is English. Applicants who have taken or will take the paper-based TOEFL should make sure that ETS sends us the score report for the TWE. Visit the Graduate Division's web site for international applicants for more details.

The TSE is not required.

What are the codes to use to send the GRE or TOEFL scores?

For the GRE: Use institution code R4833 and department code 4503 to have scores sent to us.

For the TOEFL: Use institution code 4833 and department code 18. If you have already taken the TOEFL, please make sure that the Educational Testing Service (ETS) sends your scores to both UC Berkeley and Journalism.

What is the last date I can take the GRE or TOEFL?

Fall 2009 applicants:
Applicants must take the GRE no later than December 1, 2008, although it is in the best interest of applicants to take the GRE as soon as possible. A later test date will delay review of an application as only complete applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Applicants taking the GRE later than December 1, 2008 risk not being reviewed in a timely fashion by the Admissions Committee. We admit as we review all complete applications.

For the TOEFL, to guarantee consideration, applicants should take the paper-based test no later than the October 2008 test date, and for the computer-based test, by December 1, 2008. However, we recommend that applicants take the TOEFL as soon as possible, preferably over the summer or in early fall.

Be sure to make these arrangements early; testing centers for both tests fill up quickly in the fall.

I took the GRE and/or TOEFL years ago. Are my scores still valid?

GRE scores are valid if taken within the last 5 years, and for the TOEFL, 2 years; however we prefer recent scores. Providing the dates are acceptable, we will accept TOEFL scores from the paper-version, the computer-based test or the (new) internet-based test.

What are acceptable work samples?

We expect journalists to be sensitive to language and to organize their thoughts clearly and coherently. We ask for the three works samples (preferably published) to demonstrate those qualities. Please limit each sample to five pages or fewer; excerpts from longer pieces are acceptable. Two of the three items must be writing samples, but the third sample may be an audio or video tape, a website, or a photo essay/portfolio.

Applicants who are interested in the broadcast or documentary sequence may choose to submit a documentary work sample in DVD format, but this is not a requirement for admission. A video sample may be submitted only if the student produced and directed the piece.

Audio tapes must be accompanied by a script.

Photographic samples should include 6-10 image, 8” x 11” maximum size. Slides or a CD are preferred.

Applicants may send print samples in another language, but an English translation must be included.

Academic writing samples and research papers are not encouraged.

Note: work samples will not be returned.

What transcripts are required?

Two official transcripts are required for all academic work that was applied to your undergraduate degree. This includes community-college classes and study abroad programs. While we do not require transcripts from other graduate programs or from classes taken after a student has a bachelor’s degree through continuing education programs, for example, you may include one copy if you feel that the courses enhance your application.

Do I need to submit my study abroad transcripts?

If the name of the course, the number of units, and the grade are listed on your regular transcript, you do not need to submit separate study abroad transcripts from your host university.

Is it okay if letters and transcripts arrive after the deadline?

We ask that applicants submit all supplemental material in a single, large envelope. In any case, all supplemental material must be received or postmarked by December 1, 2008. It is highly encouraged that you plan in ahead to ensure that all materials reach our office on or before the deadline. Faxed or e-mailed letters of recommendation, are NOT accepted.

Do I have to use Form G (“Letter of Recommendation”)? What about the waiver?

Letters of recommendation can arrive on Form G or on letterhead from your recommender, or a combination of the two.

If the letters arrive without Form G, your right of access to the letter will be waived. Similarly, if a letter arrives without the form but the applicant sends the form (G) in the packet, the right of access will still be waived. In order for the right of access to not be waived, the letter of recommendation must be attached to the form.

On Form A1 of online application, the system asks what program are you applying for, giving the option of either "Journalism (M.Jour.)" or "Journalism (CWO)" ~ what should I select?

You should select "Journalism (M.Jour.)".

On Form B (sides 1 and 2) of the Application for Graduate Admission and Fellowships, there are questions that begin with “If your proposed department requires this….” Does the Journalism School require responses to these sections (i.e. faculty contact and GPA)?

The Journalism School does not require that you complete the section requesting that you note faculty you have contacted. We do require that you compute your GPA using the GPA worksheet included on the Applicant Summary Sheet.

On Form C of the application, there is a listing of endowed fellowships. Are Journalism School students eligible for any of these fellowships?

We regret that Journalism School students are ineligible for all of the endowed fellowships.

Financial Aid

How do I apply for financial aid ?

U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must check the "Fellowship and/or Department Aid Applicant" box on the 2009 Applicant Summary Sheet, complete Form C, Pages 1 and 2 of the Graduate Application for Admission and Fellowships, and submit a FAFSA form. Please visit our Financial Aid section for more information. The FAFSA for the academic year 2009-2010 will not be available until January 2008 and has a priority filing date of March 2, 2008.

International students: Financial aid for international students is very limited. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Such students are encouraged to start early and investigate government and private resources in their areas and to consult the many Web sites devoted to assisting international students with funding graduate-level study. The University requires that international students who are admitted document their ability to support themselves financially throughout the period of study. Limited departmental and university aid is available during the second year of study.

Students may also apply for Graduate Student Instructor or Graduate Student Researcher positions at the J-School or on-campus. Please see this link for more details:: http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/pdf/apptknow.pdf

The J-School Experience

Can I apply to be a part-time student? Does the Journalism School offer any correspondence/ online courses?

The program is a two-year, full-time master’s program (with a required summer internship), and we admit students for the fall semester only. The Journalism School does not offer a part-time program, any correspondence, or online courses.

Does the Journalism School offer summer classes?

No. The Journalism School does not offer graduate-level courses during the summer. Other departments may offer classes, however, through the university-wide Summer Session Program: http://summer.berkeley.edu

Does the Journalism School accept transfer credit from other institutions?

No.