College of Communication College of Communication The University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism School of Journalism

Public Opinion Concentration

Students sitting at a conference table listening to Alumna Tamara Bell
UT journalism alumna Tamara Bell (Ph.D., 2004) talks to graduate students in a political communication class taught by Max McCombs, right. Bell studied the press coverage of the Democratic members of the Texas Legislature who fled to Oklahoma to stop Congressional redistricting during the regular session of the legislature.
Photo/Sangil Han

The School of Journalism offers a four-course concentration in public opinion that can be taken as part of either the research and theory track or the professional track. For more information regarding the concentration, you may contact Professor Max McCombs.

This 12-hour concentration is an intellectual gestalt that educates students in key areas of journalism and mass communication. The requirements for the concentration in public opinion can be met by master's students in both the research and theory track and the professional track as part of the regular degree requirements for their track.

Required courses

• J381 Survey Research OR J 395 Advanced Social Science Research Methods

• J382 Seminar in Mass Communication: Topic 3 Public Opinion and Persuasive Theory; Agenda Setting; or other appropriate topics when offered

• J331K Projects in Professional Experience: An internship in public opinion research (This is an undergraduate course.)

• J389 Tutorial in Public Opinion Theory and Research Methods.

There is an opportunity here to bring together faculty and students in an occasional proseminar. It is assumed that students taking this concentration will do a related thesis (J698A and J698B) or report (J398R).

The fit with the Research and Theory Track: J381.3 specifies which course will be taken to meet the requirement for an advanced methods course. J382 specifies two options for meeting the requirement of an additional seminar in journalism. The remaining six hours would fall in the six hours of other journalism courses allowed in this track. Only three of these hours, the internship, would be at the undergraduate level. Up to six undergraduate hours are allowed.

The fit with the Professional Track: The 12 hours specified here would fall in the 12 hours of other journalism courses allowed in this track. Only 3 of these hours, the internship, would be at the undergraduate level. Up to 6 undergraduate hours are allowed.