7765 Alumni Dr.
Knight Hall
College Park, MD 20742
Academic Year Represented
2021
Mission Statement
The Philip Merrill College of Journalism’s faculty of acclaimed researchers and repeat winners of journalism’s top awards — including the Pulitzer, Peabody and Emmy awards — prepares students to join a dynamic profession. Students leave the college with strong writing and visual skills, a command of technology and nuanced understanding of data analysis and audience engagement. The college recruits diversity throughout its ranks, helping prepare students to search for and tell meaningful stories in all communities. The college seeks to benefit the journalism profession and inform the public by supporting and promoting the research of its faculty and the development of future scholars. Master's mission statement: Master’s Mission Our master’s education concentrates on professional development, providing post-graduate education to those seeking to enter the field and intensive professional training for mid-career journalists with a particular focus on investigative, sports, security, and computational journalism.
Technology/Equipment/Facilities
Most of the college's operations are under one roof in Knight Hall, which offers meeting, lab and lounging spaces, and modern connectivity. Merrill College has state-of-the-art facilities, including four broadcast facilities, three large newsrooms, four dedicated computer labs, two 30-seat general purpose classrooms and two large flexible classrooms. The college provides computers and cameras of various types for all students.
Undergraduate Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science in Journalism
Graduate Degrees Offered
Master of Journalism Master of Arts in Journalism Master of Professional Studies in Data Journalism
Majors
Journalism
Tracks within Majors
There are no tracks.
Internships Accepted for Credit
Two required credits earned from a journalism job (not PR, communication, strategic communication, etc.) One optional credit is allowed in journalism or a related field (PR, Communication, marketing, etc.)
Internships Facilitated
The only "internship" facilitated by the college is a three-credit summer Howard Center for Investigative Journalism project internship, limited to a dozen undergraduate and master's students.
Experiential and/or Immersion Programs for Credit
Merrill College requires at least one upper division "capstone" course for undergraduates. Masters students must also take a capstone course. Merrill College offers numerous skills-based elective capstone courses that require students to engage in journalism under the supervision of Merrill faculty members. Reporting, photos, videos, graphics, motion graphics, web sites, social media and data are published via the Capital News Service.
Online Options
A handful of Merrill College undergraduate and graduate courses are offered online. Merrill's data journalism master's degree (done in conjunction with the School of Information Studies) is not up for accreditation. That degree can be earned entirely online.
Study-Abroad Options
Merrill College periodically offers study abroad reporting courses. In the past, they have included reporting trips to Latvia, Hungary and Austria. A photography study abroad course is taught every year in Mexico. In summer 2023, Merrill College plans to sponsor a sports reporting trip to Senegal.
Graduate Programs
Master of Journalism - up for reaccreditation Master of Arts in Journalism - up for reaccreditation Master of Professional Studies in Data Journalism - new and not up for accreditation PhD in Journalism Studies
Department Budget
$5,666,831
Amount Spent per Student
$10,083
Undergrad Student Fees
$769
Undergraduate Student Fees Exclusive of Housing and Meal Plan
$0
Undergraduate Student Fees for Housing and Meal Plan
$14,576
Undergrad In-State Tuition
$11,233
Undergrad Out-of-State Tuition
$39,468
Average Undergraduate Financial Aid
$13,610
Average Undergraduate Student Debt
$30,983
Graduate Student Fees
$1,210
Graduate In-State Tuition
$16,238
Graduate Out-of-State Tuition
$35,386
Average Graduate Financial Aid
$28,800
Average Graduate Student Debt
$0
Total Accredited Unit Enrollment
562
Undergraduate Enrollment
469
Graduate Enrollment
93
Number of In-State Students
295
Percentage of In-State Students
52
Number of International Students
15
Percentage of International Students
3
Male
192
Female
370
Not Specified
0
White
371
Black
59
Asian
39
Hispanic/Latino
39
Pacific Islands or Native Hawaiian
0
Native American or Native Alaskan
0
Other
39
Average Size of Skill Based Classes
12
Average Size of Non-Skill Based Classes
29
First Year Student (Freshman) Retention Rate at University
96
Four Year Completion Rate
75
Six Year Completion Rate
88
Full-Time Employment within Six Months of Graduation
77
Full-Time Employment Within Field of Study
70
Part-Time Employment Within Field of Study
9
Full-Time Employment Not In Field of Study
7
Part-Time Employment Not In Field of Study
1
Attending a Graduate Program
9
Unemployed
1
Unknown Status
30
Full-Time Faculty
25
Part-Time Faculty
66
Faculty with Tenure
12
Faculty on Tenure Track
3
Untenured Part-Time Faculty
7
Untenured Full-Time Faculty
11
Percentage of Faculty within Scholarship or Research Field
31
Male
45
Female
39
Unspecified
0
White
68
Black
9
Asian
3
Hispanic/Latino
1
Pacific Island or Native Hawaiian
1
Native American or Native Alaskan
0
Other
1
Faculty-to-Student Ratio for All Classes
20
Faculty-to-Student Ratio for Skill Classes
12
Comments on Quantitative Numbers
The amounts for graduate student average debt and undergraduate fees minus room and board are not measurement kept by UMD. Only 38 percent of UMD undergraduates leave the university with debt. Of those who have debt, the average amount is $31,000.