Location: 3rd Floor
Arts & Administration Building
University of King’s College
Phone: (902) 422-1271 ext. 159
Fax: (902) 423-3357

Director
Fred Vallance-Jones, BJ (Carleton), MEd (MSVU)

Associate Professor of Journalism
Phone: (902) 422-1271, ext. 147
E-mail: fvjones@ukings.ca

Degrees Offered

The University of King’s College offers two undergraduate degree programs: the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), a four-year honours degree program, and the Bachelor of Journalism, a concentrated one-year program. The University of King’s College, jointly with Dalhousie University, offers a Master of Journalism and also Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction and Fiction.

King’s or Dalhousie students in major or honours programs in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences or Science can also take a minor in Journalism Studies.

Bachelor of Journalism (Honours)

The four-year Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) (BJH) program is available with single honours in Journalism, with a minor in a second subject, or with combined honours in Journalism and a second subject chosen from the honours programs available in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Science. These include King’s three combined honours programs (Contemporary Studies, Early Modern Studies and the History of Science & Technology), a program in Music History offered jointly with the Dalhousie Department of Music, and Interdisciplinary Studies. A BJH combined honours with Environment, Sustainability and Society is also offered jointly with the College of Sustainability.

The aim of the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) program is to provide a grounding in the methods of contemporary journalism in the context of a liberal education. In addition to training in journalistic skills and methods, the student will acquire both a knowledge of the history of western civilization and a specific competence in one or more additional disciplines.

Bachelor of Journalism

The Bachelor of Journalism degree program is offered to students who have completed a first undergraduate degree. It provides an intensive program in the methods of contemporary journalism with an emphasis on cross-platform storytelling in multiple formats.

Minor in Journalism Studies

The Minor in Journalism Studies introduces students to journalism and provides them with basic journalistic methods and theory.

A Minor in Journalism Studies can be pursued with major or honours programs in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science 120- credit-hour degree programs, and the Bachelor of Management. The option is also available to students registered in the BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD).

Students who are considering combined honours with a minor in Journalism Studies should consult the Registrar’s Office in advance of course selection, as careful planning is required to accommodate this option.

For a detailed description of the curricula and degree requirements for Journalism programs, as well as course descriptions, please see “Degree Requirements – Journalism”.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction

The University of King’s College and Dalhousie University jointly offer the only Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction degree in Canada.

In this two-year limited residency program, students combine short, intense residencies with ongoing one-to-one mentoring from professional nonfiction writer-teachers. Students can continue to live and work wherever they choose while they pursue this degree.

During summer residencies on the campus at the University of King’s College, students deepen their understanding of the art and craft of creative nonfiction writing through lectures, seminars, panels, workshops, and readings as well as work intensively on their own projects with their mentors.

During two short winter residencies, one in New York and one in Toronto, North America’s publishing capitals, students learn about the latest trends in the publishing industry and discuss their writing projects with editors, agents, and publishers. Between residencies, students continue to work off-campus on their two major projects– a nonfiction book proposal and their book manuscript–with the support and guidance of their mentors.

Master of Fine Arts in Fiction

The University of King’s College School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing and the Dalhousie University Faculty of Graduate Studies jointly offer the Master of Fine Arts in Fiction. In this two-year limited residency program, students combine short, intense residencies with ongoing one-to-one mentoring from professional fiction writer/editor-teachers. Students can continue to live and work wherever they choose while they pursue this degree.

During annual June residencies on the campus at the University of King’s College, students deepen their understanding of the art and craft of fiction writing through lectures, seminars, panels, workshops, and readings as well as work intensively on their own projects with their mentors.

During two short online January residencies, one featuring guests primarily from New York and one featuring guests from the Canadian publishing industry, most based in Toronto, students learn about the latest trends in the publishing industry and discuss their writing projects with editors, agents, and publishers based in North America’s main publishing hubs. Between residencies, students continue to work off-campus on their two major projects – a book proposal and their book manuscript – with the support and guidance of their mentors.

Master of Journalism

The Master of Journalism, offered jointly by Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College, prepares students to tell in-depth evidence-based stories to the public.

The degree focuses on storytelling, reporting practice and methods of journalism research.  Graduates will have the skills to take leading roles in newsrooms or any field that requires advanced analytical and communication skills.

Students begin the program with an introduction to standards of ethical and legal conduct, alongside research, interviewing and storytelling skills in audio, video and text.  The sharpen their journalism skills in text and images by completing a workshop in news reporting for online platforms.

As they progress through the program, they delve into advanced research skills, data journalism techniques and contemporary issues in the profession.  They learn visual storytelling methods and gain an understanding of the business environment for journalism while taking two electives to build their subject matter expertise.

The program is built around a professional project completed under the supervision of faculty.  This research-intensive, visually compelling feature demonstrates the student’s ability to explore an important story in the public interest.

The degree also includes an option of admission in January of Year 1 for applicants who have a journalism degree or deep work experience in the field.

Visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website at dalgrad.dal.ca and/or the School of Journalism website at ukings.ca/mj for more information.