Investigative Journalism, MA
Accountability Journalism, Criminal Justice, Data Journalism, Documentary, Enterprise Reporting, Health, Investigative Journalism, Investigative Reporting, Journalism, Journalist, Magazine, investigation, media, writing
Spring and Summer applications are only open to current undergraduate Cronkite students in the accelerated master's program.
Launch your reporting career with the nation's first master's degree in investigative journalism. Combine your existing experience with guidance and insights from award-winning investigative journalists to learn how to expose injustice and craft stories with national impact. Prepare to become a powerhouse investigative storyteller in as few as 12 months.
The Master's of Arts program in investigative journalism prepares students to launch high-level investigative reporting careers at the world's most prestigious news organizations.
This program is designed for career switchers who have experience in fields such as law, health, business, government and the arts, and for early-career and mid-career journalists who want to develop specialization in investigative techniques.
Students build on their existing knowledge through courses that strengthen their investigative reporting techniques, multimedia storytelling skills, and understanding of media effects, leadership and organization models. They produce journalism with deep public impact, preparing to lead accountability reporting throughout their careers.
- College/school:
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
This video provides an overview of the Investigative Journalism, MA degree program at ASU.
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (MCO 570)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Other Requirements (9 credit hours) Electives (6 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
MCO 503 Media Law (3)
MCO 510 Data Journalism (3)
MCO 525 Media Ethics Leadership (3)
MCO 554 Media Models, Organizations and Leadership (3)
MCO 502 Multimedia Storytelling (8)
MCO 504 Cronkite Master's Seminar (1)
MCO 570 Capstone (6)
Students must complete a total of eight credit hours of MCO 502, which is offered at variable credit hours and can be taken multiple times.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any discipline or related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation
- professional resume
- letter of intent
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applicants should have a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. Students with an IELTS band score of 7.50 or a Duolingo score of 135 are also considered.
Applicants should provide a 300- to 500-word statement describing interest in investigative journalism, career goals, and how previous work and academic experience have prepared the student for success.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final |
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Produce clear, accurate, and engaging written content that meets professional standards.
- Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of investigative journalism in media work.
- Create investigative journalism for mass audiences using professional tools, technology, and techniques.
- Critically evaluate information, content, and research in professional contexts.
- Evaluate leadership approaches across professional media contexts.
Studying abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Investigative reporting is in high demand in news organizations of all sizes, and graduates of Cronkite's MA program in investigative journalism are particularly prepared to excel in these positions, applying experience with investigative reporting techniques, data analysis and immersive storytelling using text, photo, video and audio content.
Graduates have accepted investigative positions at news organizations across the country and around the world, such as NPR, The Associated Press, Inside Climate News, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, OpenSecrets, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
|
CRONK 302
cronkitegrad@asu.edu
602-496-5555
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
