MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM
Program duration: 1.5 years Maximum number of credits per semester: 18 Language of instruction: English Form of study: full-time (classes take place primarily at evening time) Number of credits: 48
The Master of International Journalism (MIJ) program offers training in digital journalism, media management, public relations and advertising. The students will take courses in advanced digital storytelling, media management, audience engagement, strategic communication, social media management and media research.
The program is designed for fresh graduates of bachelor programs from diverse academic backgrounds and professionals from various fields at different stages of their careers, who want to deepen their knowledge in international journalism, global communication and public relations.
The program offers two majors:
- Journalism and Media Management Major
- Public Relations and Advertising Major
MIJ program at KIMEP University offers courses that are designed to strengthen communication, digital literacy, media production and research skills. The students are trained to produce compelling stories for diverse multimedia digital platforms under close supervision of the faculty of the Department of Media and Communications (DMC).
The faculty also supervise student research investigations, making “student learning” the heart of the academic process. This “student-centered learning” approach at KIMEP University allows the students gain practical media skills and communication expertise in the atmosphere of the academic freedom.
If you need more information about the program and course transfer opportunities, please contact the coordinator of the program.
College of Social Sciences, KIMEP University, Abai avenue 4, 050010, office # 503 A, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan Tel.: (727) 270 42 12, e-mail: css_coordinator@kimep.kz
Follow us on Instagram @csskimep
MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM PROGRAM
| Credits | ECTS | |
| Program Foundation Requirements | 11 | 15 |
| Program Specialization Requirements | 27 | 45 |
| Experimental Research Work | 6 | 18 |
| Final Attestation | 4 | 12 |
| Total Required for Graduation | 48 | 90 |
| Category / Course title | KIMEP credits | ECTS |
| Program Foundation Requirements | 11 | 15 |
| Foundation required | 5 | 6 |
| Professional Foreign Language | 2 | 2 |
| Management in Social Sciences | 1 | 2 |
| Psychology in Social Sciences | 2 | 2 |
| Foundation Elective (2 courses) | 6 | 9 |
| Political Communications | 3 | 4,5 |
| Introduction to Kazakhstani media market | 3 | 4,5 |
| Public Relations Management and Strategies | 3 | 4,5 |
| Program Specialization Requirements | 27 | 45 |
| Required Courses | 15 | 25 |
| Global Public Relations | 3 | 5 |
| Research Methods in Media and Communication/Thesis I | 3 | 5 |
| Theories of Media and Communication | 3 | 5 |
| Advanced Media Analysis | 3 | 5 |
| Internship I | 3 | 5 |
| Elective Courses (any 4 from the list) | 12 | 20 |
| International Journalism | 3 | 5 |
| Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 | 5 |
| Advanced News Editing | 3 | 5 |
| Principles of Media Management | 3 | 5 |
| Advanced Media Writing | 3 | 5 |
| Advertising and Media Sales | 3 | 5 |
| Writing for Russian (Kazakh) Language Media | 3 | 5 |
| Broadcasting in Russian | 3 | 5 |
| Political Communication | 3 | 5 |
| Public Relations Management and Strategies | 3 | 5 |
| Crisis Communication | 3 | 5 |
| Broadcast Journalism Practicum | 3 | 5 |
| Online Journalism | 3 | 5 |
| Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies | 3 | 5 |
| Broadcasting in Russian | 3 | 5 |
| Special Topics in Mass Communication | 3 | 5 |
| Persuasive Communication | 3 | 5 |
| Social Media Marketing | 3 | 5 |
| Special Event Management | 3 | 5 |
| Storytelling with Data | 3 | 5 |
| Organizational Behavior | 3 | 5 |
| Strategic Planning | 3 | 5 |
| Marketing Management | 3 | 5 |
| Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy | 3 | 5 |
| Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 | 5 |
| Experimental Research Work | 6 | 18 |
| Research Internship | 3 | 8 |
| Thesis Seminar | 3 | 10 |
| Final Attestation | 4 | 12 |
| Thesis Defense | 4 | 12 |
| Total | 48 | 90 |
COURSE (CREDIT) TRANSFER Credits earned in another program/university, if the courses are equivalent to the courses offered by the program at KIMEP University. A department committee shall consider each student’s case individually and make an appropriate decision. KIMEP University transfers a maximum 25 % of the total amount of the credits from bachelor to a master program.
JMC 5708 English for Media Communication II
Prerequisites: None
This course will develop students’ skills for journalistic and academic writing. Topics to be covered include: Proper citations (using both the conventions of journalism and of APA academic style); identifying and avoiding plagiarism; proper use and presentation of quotations; and clear writing styles for journalism and academic writing. Students will be introduced to good examples of academic and journalistic writing, and will produce their own examples using each style.
JMC 5621 Internship 1
Prerequisites: None
Students complete internships at print, broadcast outlets or public relations firms. The course is designed to provide hands-on knowledge of the field and the opportunity to network. Course may be retaken for credit with departmental permission.
JMC 5661 Thesis I and Specialized Writing
Prerequisites: None
This course prepares students to conceive and design research into Mass Communication. MAIJ students can choose either a professional or academic thesis, depending on their goals and interests. For example, a Professional Thesis includes a section of academic analysis and a
project, such as PR Campaign design or video. After introducing research approaches and major theories in the field, this course shows how to conduct a literature review, introduces principles of quantitative and qualitative research design, provides examples, and explains a range of methodological options. By the end of the semester, students need to select a Thesis Supervisor and submit a completed research proposal.
JMC 5662 Thesis II: Research Proposal and Literature Review
Prerequisites: None
This course helps students fully develop the research/ project design from Thesis I. Led by an experienced instructor, each student individually begins to produce their study, for example writing interview questions, designing an analytical matrix, and preparing a professional production (if any). Students learn how to acquire necessary skills of methods and data collection, understand procedures of planning and organizing their time and materials. The instructor complements the guidance of each student’s Supervisor. By the end of the semester, students typically finish the introduction, complete the theoretical framework and the methodology (completing the literature review) and gather a substantial amount of data. As the culmination of this semester, students must complete a Thesis Proposal Defense. (For details, please see the CSS Guidelines for Master’s Thesis.)
JMC 5663 Thesis 3 (Comprehensive Examination and Thesis Defense)
Prerequisites: None
During this course, the student works solely with their Supervisor to complete data collection, writing, and any professional component of the Thesis. The main goal of this semester is completing the analysis, polishing the writing, ensuring correct format, and preparing for the Comprehensive Examination and Defense- the final step, during which each student explains to the Thesis Committee their work, its background, conclusions, significance, etc.
JMC 5666 Introduction to Kazakhstani Media Market
Prerequisites: None
Surveys Kazakhstani media systems; examines how the Kazakhstani media industry is structured and how it differs from the US and European media markets, and compares it with media industries of the other CIS countries; analyzes political, economic, social, technological, and cultural issues affecting media industries in Kazakhstan.
Program Core Electives: 6 credits
| Students must choose any 2 (two) of Program Core Electives: | ||
|---|---|---|
| JMC 4690 | Special Topic in Mass Communication | 3 |
| JMC 5657 | Online Journalism | 3 |
| JMC 5655 | Crisis Communication | 3 |
JMC 4690 Special Topic in Mass Communication
Prerequisites: None
This course will be offered whenever the department chair decides that a worthwhile topic in international journalism has been proposed by a faculty member. The course will generally be taught in a seminar format; it will focus on important issues that are not formal portions of the department’s curriculum.
JMC 5657 Online Journalism
Prerequisites: None
This is an advanced practicum course in journalism production. The project goal will be to plan, set up, launch and run a news oriented website. In the process of carrying out these tasks, project participants will learn practical skills in media management and journalism production and will also develop understanding of how new information technologies are affecting the practice of journalism. Although the project focus is online journalism, the skills and knowledge students will develop are relevant to public relations and to media management as well.
JMC 5655 Crisis Communication
Prerequisites: None
Students will learn how PR can prevent an organizational crisis and how to handle it when it occurs. This course is designed to prepare future public relations practitioners for handling crisis situations within their companies. It familiarizes PR students with crisis dynamics and major techniques of coping with crisis. The course cultivates in future PR practitioners an ability to see signs of potential crises and prevent them at their initial “warning” stages.
Journalism and Media Management Major: 18 credits
Major Required Course
| All students will complete: | ||
| JMC5612 | Advanced Media Writing | 3 |
JMC 5612 Advanced Media Writing
Prerequisites: None
Professional news writing techniques for newspapers and magazines, such as hard news reporting, feature articles, investigative reporting, and government reporting. Students are expected to report on events in the community, business, etc.
Major Core Courses
| Students must choose any 3 (three) from : | ||
|---|---|---|
| JMC 5656 | Broadcast Journalism Practicum | 3 |
| JMC 5610 | Advanced News Editing | 3 |
| JMC 5611 | Principles of Media Management | 3 |
| JMC 5623 | Writing for Russian (Kazakh) Language Media | 3 |
| JMC 5624 | Broadcasting in Russian | 3 |
JMC 5610 Advanced News Editing
Prerequisites: None
This course builds on the basics of editing that students learned in Beginning Editing. It gives them skills dealing with finer detail and more subtle nuances in editing, while also offering them additional practice in the basics. This is a hands-on course, with students working on editing every class period.
JMC 5611 Principles of Media Management
Prerequisites: None
This course is designed to provide students with theoretical knowledge of public relations and hands-on, practical experience. It reviews PR-related communication theories. It covers the importance of PR-related research in developing PR plans, including appropriate strategies and tactics. It helps students develop skills in producing PR products and employing those tactics, including skills in the use of online media. And it discusses public relations professional ethics.
JMC 5623 Writing for Russian Language Media
Prerequisites: None
This course takes a skills oriented approach to train students in the basics of reporting and news writing in Russian language according to western professional standards. The main objective is to help develop a clear, concise writing style and a passion for thorough, accurate reporting. Students will report on local issues in Russian. The course also includes analysis of local media.
JMC 5624 Broadcasting in Russian
Prerequisites: None
Broadcasting in Russian is ideally taken after Broadcast Journalism (1) to continue building basic video technical skills and broadcast journalism skills initiated in the previous course, and (2) to better prepare students for potential employment especially within the dominant Russian-speaking broadcast/video industry. Students will continue developing on-camera and behind-camera skills, including news/script writing, video editing, and directing skills. They will employ their video/broadcast skills in real and/or realistic settings, producing news and informational programming.
Major Electives: 6 credits
| Students must choose any 2 (two) from: | ||
|---|---|---|
| JMC 5619 | Advertising and Media Sales | 3 |
| JMC 4690 | Special Topic in Mass Communication | 3 |
| MKT 5201 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MGT 5201 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MGT 5203 | Strategic Planning | 3 |
| JMC 5704 | Persuasive Communication | 3 |
| JMC 5630 | Political Communication | 3 |
| JMC 5622 | Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies | 3 |
| JMC 4614 | Media Analysis | 3 |
| JMC 4702 | Government Media Relations | 3 |
| JMC 5606 | Research Methods in
Mass Communication |
3 |
JMC 5619 Advertising and Media Sales
Prerequisites: None
This 3-credit course is designed to give a broad understanding of promotional mix in the framework of integrated marketing communication (IMC). Major focus is given to advertising as a rational and creative marketing medium – but not the only one.
JMC 5622 Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies
Prerequisites: None
Advertising is the financial backbone of the mass communications industry. Media executives must be able to implement successful sales, presentation and production strategies. And those involved within the advertising department must understand and be able to employ successful copy writing, layout, and graphic or multimedia production. The Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies course is designed to provide that foundation of knowledge and skills to be successful on the business side of the mass communications industry.
JMC 5630 Political Communication
Prerequisites: None
This interactive course will introduce and explain the principles and practices of communication in a variety of political contexts, such as election advertisements, constituent newsletters, and speeches. Since students could use such communication in many contexts, it will focus as much as possible on Kazakhstan but will be based on international concepts and activities. We will cover, but also challenge, basic ideas about the many sub-topics.
The course will be conducted more like a seminar, so you will be expected to arrive ready to contribute to the discussion, especially on issues related to your professional interests and other courses.
JMC 5704 Persuasive Communication
Prerequisites: None
This course covers key principles, practices, and contexts of persuasion in the current era of changing mass communication patterns. We will cover several important concepts of persuasion, but will mostly focus on practical ways to deal with persuasion….both your own and that of other people. It will introduce main skills of persuasion for professional and personal development, and develop your ability to prepare and create a variety of persuasive messages.
Most of the class will involve using and practicing, as well as critiquing, major and advanced persuasion techniques. Theories of persuasion, as well as essential methods to investigate it, will be featured. The course will also systematically consider the ethical aspects of using persuasion, with individuals, groups and societies.
Public Relations Major: 18 credits
Major Core Courses: 9 credits
| Students must choose any 3 (three) from : | ||
|---|---|---|
| JMC 5653 | PR Management and Strategies | 3 |
| JMC 5627 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| JMC 5622 | Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies | 3 |
| JMC 5623 | Writing for Russian (Kazakh) Language Media | 3 |
| JMC 5624 | Broadcasting in Russian | 3 |
JMC 5622 Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies
Prerequisites: None
Advertising is the financial backbone of the mass communications industry. Media executives must be able to implement successful sales, presentation and production strategies. And those involved within the advertising department must understand and be able to employ successful copy writing, layout, and graphic or multimedia production. The Advertising Writing, Layout and Strategies course is designed to provide that foundation of knowledge and skills to be successful on the business side of the mass communications industry.
JMC 5623 Writing for Russian Language Media
Prerequisites: None
This course takes a skills oriented approach to train students in the basics of reporting and news writing in Russian language according to western professional standards. The main objective is to help develop a clear, concise writing style and a passion for thorough, accurate reporting. Students will report on local issues in Russian. The course also includes analysis of local media.
JMC 5624 Broadcasting in Russian
Prerequisites: None
Broadcasting in Russian is ideally taken after Broadcast Journalism (1) to continue building basic video technical skills and broadcast journalism skills initiated in the previous course, and (2) to better prepare students for potential employment especially within the dominant Russian-speaking broadcast/video industry. Students will continue developing on-camera and behind-camera skills, including news/script writing, video editing, and directing skills. They will employ their video/broadcast skills in real and/or realistic settings, producing news and informational programming.
JMC 5627 Public Relations Campaigns
Prerequisites: None
The course covers how to identify, create, implement and evaluate public relations strategies using research-based goals. This course will maximize practical activities based on key principles of the field, and bridge international and regional characteristics of a campaign. This course will extend previous classes in PR and prepare you for final work on the topic and for work after you graduate. It will also increase skills of persuasive, clear and expressive writing for almost any kind of work.
JMC 5653 PR Management and Strategies
Prerequisites: None
This course is designed to provide students with advanced theoretical knowledge of public relations and advanced hands-on, practical experience. It surveys PR process and PR-related communication theories. It also introduces students to advanced PR strategies and tactics, and it discusses public relations professional ethics. The course offers students an opportunity to practice some of the strategies and tactics that public relations practitioners have actually used in their campaigns.
Major Electives: 6 credits
| Students must choose any 2 (two) from: | ||
|---|---|---|
| JMC 5705 | Image and Brand Management | 3 |
| JMC 5656 | Broadcast Journalism Practicum | 3 |
| JMC 5619 | Advertising and Media Sales | 3 |
| JMC 5623 | Writing for Russian (Kazakh) Language Media | 3 |
| MKT 5204 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 |
| MKT 5203 | Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| JMC 5704 | Persuasive Communication | 3 |
| JMC 4614 | Media Analysis | 3 |
| JMC 5610 | Advanced News Editing | 3 |
| JMC 4702 | Government Media Relations | 3 |
| JMC 5606 | Research Methods in
Mass Communication |
3 |
JMC 5606 Research Methods in Mass Communication
Prerequisites: None
This course introduces students to quantitative and qualitative methodologies they will use to conduct research for their theses/professional projects. The course will examine such quantitative methods as surveys, content analysis and experiments. Qualitative methods introduced in the class include participant observations, in-depth interviews, focus groups and textual analysis.
JMC 5619 Advertising and Media Sales
Prerequisites: None
This 3-credit course is designed to give a broad understanding of promotional mix in the framework of integrated marketing communication (IMC). Major focus is given to advertising as a rational and creative marketing medium – but not the only one.
JMC 5623 Writing for Russian Language Media
Prerequisites: None
This course takes a skills oriented approach to train students in the basics of reporting and news writing in Russian language according to western professional standards. The main objective is to help develop a clear, concise writing style and a passion for thorough, accurate reporting. Students will report on local issues in Russian. The course also includes analysis of local media.
JMC 5656 Broadcast Journalism Practicum
Prerequisites: None
This course serves as an introduction to radio and television journalism. It examines gathering, evaluating, writing, and performing broadcast news copy. The emphasis for the course is placed on the writing of broadcast news. The course teaches students to write simple news stories that are accurate, clear, interesting and concise.
JMC 5704 Persuasive Communication
Prerequisites: None
This course covers key principles, practices, and contexts of persuasion in the current era of changing mass communication patterns. We will cover several important concepts of persuasion, but will mostly focus on practical ways to deal with persuasion….both your own and that of other people. It will introduce main skills of persuasion for professional and personal development, and develop your ability to prepare and create a variety of persuasive messages.
Most of the class will involve using and practicing, as well as critiquing, major and advanced persuasion techniques. Theories of persuasion, as well as essential methods to investigate it, will be featured. The course will also systematically consider the ethical aspects of using persuasion, with individuals, groups and societies.
JMC 5705 Image and Brand Management
Prerequisites: None
Image and Brand Management course discusses essential components of building a strong brand and impeccable image. The course helps students to learn how to create, maintain, and possibly regain an appropriate image of themselves in the eyes of stakeholders. Students will study theories and concepts that are crucial to organization’s well-being, including credibility, identity, image, and reputation. The objective of this course is to master the foundational principles of image and brand management and apply this knowledge to enhance personal or organizational image.
The Master of International Journalism program aims to educate highly-qualified international journalists
(correspondents, editors) and executives for media organizations, PR, and advertisement professionals.