MAMJ FAQ

I haven’t been in school for years—am I too old to apply?

There is no age limit for the MAMJ program. In fact, having some years of work experience is often a benefit in a program like this. Not only will you be able to draw from your own life experiences, but you will find you appreciate your educational interactions even more.

I have no experience in journalism; won’t that make my application weak?

You do not need experience in journalism to apply. Showing a deep curiosity about the world and a strong interest in storytelling and a willingness to push yourself and learn new things are the hallmarks of what makes good journalists. In the first summer courses you will learn the basics of journalism and will be ready to hit the ground running during the academic year.

I am not confident in my English and I don’t think I can pass the English proficiency test.

All applicants will be interviewed by a small committee, and part of the assessment taking place in the interview process will be applicants’ ability to adequately understand and communicate in English. Test scores are less important than how well one can understand and communicate in conversational English.

I will have to continue working while going to school. When will classes be held?

Classes will be scheduled to accommodate students who are working, with almost all classes being held either late afternoons or early evenings once or twice a week.

Can I attend the program part-time?

Currently there is no part-time option for the program. It is only full-time and meeting in classrooms at AUA in Yerevan.

My interests are more with entertainment or sports journalism and not really with politics—would I be able to pursue my interests in this program?

Yes, definitely! Students will have many chances to do stories and pursue their interests whether they are in sports journalism, entertainment, business, or other areas of interest. The skills you will learn across classes can be applied regardless of the type of story you are doing.

I’m currently getting a master’s degree in another program, and would like to get a dual-degree—is that possible?

We are exploring dual-degree options for AUA students at this time, but it is unlikely dual-degree options will be in place by summer 2025.

How many students will there be in classes?

You will be taking classes with the same cohort of students, which would be a maximum of 20 per class.

Do I really need a master’s degree?

Some job recruiters claim that a master’s degree is fast becoming as expected as a bachelor’s degree was 40 years ago. You don’t need a master’s degree to be a journalist, but the skills you learn in the MAMJ program will fast-track your career in important ways. Not only will you have a graduate degree from a respected school like AUA, but you will be meeting editors, famous journalists, and others in the field during the program that could be important connections for future jobs. In addition, the master’s degree makes you eligible to teach at most universities as adjuncts and sometimes as professors of practice.

I plan to eventually get a Ph.D., and am wondering how well this program will prepare me for a Ph.D. program.

If you know you want to pursue a Ph.D. degree, then you may want to consider a more theory-based or academic-oriented master’s program, such as in communication or media studies. Although some courses would transfer to most Ph.D. programs, the practicum-based courses in MAMJ would likely not be transferred. That means you may need to take an extra year of course work in a Ph.D. program to make up for the credits that did not transfer.