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The University of Montana's Master's program in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism was created in 2010. Housed in the school of journalism, the graduate program accepts eight students a year that wish to specialize in reporting environmental issues. The two year interdisciplinary program requires course work in both journalism and hard sciences.

The School of Journalism, established in 1914, is one of the oldest accredited journalism programs in the United States. The dean of the journalism school is Peggy Kuhr The graduate program director is Henriette Lowisch.

About
The masters program in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism trains graduate students to communicate environmental issues through various platforms such as print and photo stories, multimedia projects, and web and broadcast documentaries.

Curriculum
The program is based on a total of 36 credits. Graduate level journalism courses consist of 18 credits, while 12 credits must be earned in non-journalism graduate courses in environmental sciences.

The journalism graduate courses available to students range from skill focused classes like learning documentary photojournalism to covering and reporting on Native American issues across the Montana's seven reservations. An internship is also required for the degree, but the program challenges students to apply for intern positions at natural resource and environmental science organizations, like the United States Forest Service. The program's website explains how the "externship" works.

"The purpose of the externship is to "switch sides": Rather than working as reporters, editors or communications specialists, as they would during an internship, students work as firefighters, field technicians, farmhands, lab assistants or contract laborers. They shadow company executives and contribute to research, but they don't help develop publications or write press releases."

Campus
The University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana. The University sits on 220 acres with the Clark Fork River to the north and Mount Sentinel to the east. Total population of undergraduate and graduate students is 14, 207.

Faculty
Graduate students have the opportunity to work with accomplished science faculty, including Nobel Laureate Steve Running. Students also learn from a knowledgeable professional journalism faculty with professional journalism experience.

Admissions
The Master's program accepts applicants with undergraduate degrees in science and environmental studies, along with applicants with degrees or professional experience in journalism.

Application materials requested:


 * Resume
 * Statement of Interest
 * Samples of professional or academic writing, at least five samples.
 * Three letters or recommendation
 * Official Transcripts
 * GRE scores
 * $60 nonrefundable application fee.
 * Completed application

Applications are only accepted for fall semester. The application deadline is February 15th.

Ranking
According to U.S. News and World Report 2013 Edition of Best Colleges in National Universities is 199.

Missoula, Montana was ranked one of the top college towns by the American Institute for Economic Research in their 2012-2013 College Destinations Index.

(1) http://www.jour.umt.edu/prospective-students/graduate (2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Montana_School_of_Journalism (3) http://www.jour.umt.edu/users/henriette-l%C3%B6wisch (4) http://www.jour.umt.edu/about/dean (5) http://www.jour.umt.edu/prospective-students/graduate/curriculum/externships (6) http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-montana-2536# (7) https://www.aier.org/cdi