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Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Dual Degree: Journalism and Legal Studies
For More Information Contact
Aric Johnson
Graduate Programs Adviser
602-496-9189
aric.johnson@asu.edu
This accelerated dual-degree program allows students to complete Master of Mass Communication and Master of Legal Studies degrees in two years. A collaboration between the Cronkite School and ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, this program provides opportunities for students who want to ground their journalism in a deep understanding of the law and legal issues and for students who want to apply a legal foundation to careers in media management, entrepreneurship, emerging technology or strategic communications.
Classes and Professional Programs
The standalone MMC requires 36 hours of coursework, and the standalone MLS requires 30 hours of coursework. In the dual-degree program, both schools accept up to six credits of coursework from the other partner, allowing students to complete both degrees with 54 credits of coursework.
Cronkite School
Graduate students begin with the foundational Master of Mass Communication “boot camp” experience, which prepares students to write and produce content for print, digital, radio and television platforms. Next, they take advanced-level classes in media research, business and economic reporting and 21st century media organizations and entrepreneurship. Students complete their Cronkite experience with a capstone experience in one of the Cronkite School’s professional immersion programs in Phoenix, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.
Up to 6 credits of MLS coursework will be accepted toward this degree.
Cronkite News Phoenix: Students produce a daily newscast on Arizona PBS that reaches 1.9 million households and digital content for cronkitenews.azpbs.org, Cronkite News social platforms and partner sites across Arizona.
Cronkite News Washington: Students cover Congress, the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court for Cronkite News and partner newsrooms.
Cronkite Noticias: Students produce Spanish-language news for digital and broadcast platforms in collaboration with Univision Arizona.
Carnegie-Knight News21: Students produce major national investigations in partnership with newsrooms such as The Washington Post and NBCNews.com.
New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab: Journalism, engineering, design and business students work
together to create cutting-edge digital products and launch
new businesses.
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Students begin with U.S. Law and Legal Analysis and a 3-5 credit foundational course in constitutional law, civil or criminal procedure, contracts, business organizations or intellectual property. Students then complete their remaining 22-24 hours of legal coursework by choosing electives that align with their interests and career objectives.
Up to 6 credits offered for the MMC will be accepted toward this degree.
Students can choose from a vast array of courses at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. We offer here a selection of possibilities.
Borderlands and Immigration Issues
Immigration Law
Cross-border Investigations
International Human Rights Law
Civil Rights Law and History
Civil Rights Legislation
Employment Discrimination
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
Federal Indian Law I
Federal Indian Law II
Public International Law
National Security Law
Natural Resources Law
Claims Against Governmental Entities
Business Journalism and Entrepreneurship
Business Organizations
Employment Discrimination
Law, Accounting, and Finance
Privacy, Big Data and Emerging Technologies
Working with Accounting Expert Witnesses
Sports and Entertainment Law
Antitrust
Class Actions
Contracts
Artificial Intelligence Law
Health Care Fraud Investigation
Intellectual Property
Mergers and Acquisitions
Securities Regulation
Products Liability
Patent Law
Criminal Justice System
Civil Pretrial Practice
Civil Procedure
Class Actions
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
Death Penalty
Evidence
Victims in Criminal Procedure
White Collar Crime
Health Care Fraud Investigation
Federal Courts
The State Attorneys General
Supreme Court
Juvenile Law
Government and Legislative Reporting
Legislative Process and Principles
Legislative Advocacy and the Law
Legislation in Modern State
Election Law
Conflicts of Laws
Constitutional Law
Government Relations
Separation of Powers
The State Attorneys General
Health and Science Coverage
FDA Regulation
Public Health Law and Ethics
Genetics and the Law
Class Actions
Health Care Fraud Investigation
Health Technologies, Innovation and Law
Neuroscience, Law and Ethics
Environmental Law
Biotechnology, Science & Law
Nanotechnology
Water Law
Law, Science and Technology
Natural Resources Law
Sexuality and the Law
Death Penalty
Patent Law
Accountability Reporting
Election Law
Administrative Agencies and Regulations
Criminal Procedure
Evidence
White Collar Crime
Separation of Powers
Privacy
Legislative Process and Principles
Claims Against Governmental Entities
Class Actions
Constitutional Law I
Civil Rights Law and History
Civil Rights Legislation
American Indian and Tribal Issues
Federal Indian Law I
Federal Indian Law II
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
Indian Gaming Law
Cross-border Investigations
Natural Resources Law
Civil Rights Law and History
Civil Rights Legislation
Employment Discrimination
Class Actions
Social Issues
Death Penalty
Education Law
Employment Discrimination
Environmental Law
Genetics and the Law
Juvenile Law
Health Technologies, Innovation and the Law
Law and Psychology
Law, Science and Technology
Sexuality and the Law
Punishment, Mercy, Forgiveness
Public Health Law and Ethics
Sustainability and Environmental Reporting
Agricultural Law
Energy Law and Policy
Environmental Law
FDA Regulation
Biotechnology, Science and Law
Water Law
Public Health Law and Ethics
Law, Science and Technology
Natural Resources Law
Utility Law and Regulation
Health Care Fraud Investigation
Land Use Planning
Technology, Big Data and Digital Audiences
Privacy, Big Data and Emerging Technologies
Artificial Intelligence Law
Cyberspace Law
Nanotechnology
Privacy
Law, Science and Technology
Patent Law
Civil Rights Law and History
Civil Rights Legislation
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
Application Requirements
Applicants submit applications to the MMC and MLS degree programs separately.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
They must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of a student's first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
Applications to the Cronkite School MMC program are considered on a rolling basis beginning Sept. 1. Applications received before Dec. 1 are given priority consideration for admissions and funding. July 1 is the final application deadline.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- Scores on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE, with the verbal score being particularly important to the journalism school's graduate committee
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement of interest (350 to 500 words in length)
- Resume
- Proof of English proficiency
Applicants apply to the standalone Master of Legal Studies program through the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency. TOEFL scores must be at least 600 for the paper-based examination and 100 for the Internet-based.
Students should see the program website for application deadlines and admission terms. Applicants must meet all deadlines and application requirements to be considered.
The Cronkite School's graduate committee reviews complete and on-time applications. Recommendations for admission are made to Graduate Admission Services, where the final admission decisions are made.