Master of Arts - Public Affairs Reporting

The Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) master's degree is designed for the student who wishes to specialize in news coverage of government and politics. A primary goal is for graduates to become professional journalists who can report and interpret governmental activity and public policy for news consumers.

The program aims to develop news reporters able to understand public affairs and communicate those concepts with the clarity, accuracy and speed demanded of professional journalists of the highest rank. The centerpiece of the program is a six-month internship as a Statehouse reporting correspondent working for a professional news organization. The program faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield expect each graduate, whatever the skill level upon entering the program, to be proficient in reporting, writing and editing at graduation.