Graduate programs in journalism and mass communication are designed for advanced academic preparation in the various fields of mass communication and journalism, and for training in research and teaching. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers three options for the master of arts: professional-track M.A. (30 credits in multi-media communication and topic specialization), thesis-track M.A. (30 credits in theory and methods plus thesis), and non-thesis M.A. (30 credits with tight focus on journalism and mass communication concepts).<br><br>The school is a recognized leader in teaching and research in a variety of topics including the process and effects of mass communication, communication campaigns, community and social movements, consumer and popular culture, health and science communication, history of mass communication, international communication, media accountability and criticism, media law and policy, new media technology, political communication and public opinion, and race, gender and mass communication. Graduate work prepares students to use and contribute to the research and scholarship in these and many other areas. Identifying important questions, gathering evidence, and understanding standards of inference are dominant features of all graduate degree programs.