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CNS

Capstones

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism offers a number of capstone experiences that give our undergraduate students focused, hands-on journalism experience. Completion of a capstone is a Merrill College graduation requirement.

To enroll in a capstone course, students must fill out the college’s common capstone application by Sunday, March. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

In each capstone course, students work with faculty and classmates to produce original journalism that may be distributed through the college’s Capital News Service.

Merrill College administrators and capstone faculty will review applicants and inform students of their placement prior to the start of registration.

The following courses satisfy the capstone requirement. Please note that our offerings vary from semester to semester*:

  • JOUR325/625, JOUR655 or JOUR367/667: Full-time Capital News Service Bureau (9 credits for undergraduate students/6 credits for master's students). Students work four days a week in a Capital News Service bureau in Washington (reporting/writing), Annapolis (reporting/writing) or College Park (audience engagement and social media, broadcast or data and graphics). Washington and Annapolis prerequisite: JOUR320/JOUR620. Audience Engagement and Social Media prerequisite: JOUR368D/JOUR384/JOUR657 or JOUR389D. Broadcast prerequisite: JOUR361/JOUR661. Data and Graphics prerequisite: JOUR352/JOUR652.
  • JOUR328G/628G: Sports Enterprise Reporting (3 credits). Students will work as a team on a sports enterprise project. Previous topics have included gender equity in sports, youth sports & the media, betting and college sports, the economic impact of a new stadium on a city, and the future of football. Prerequisite: JOUR320/JOUR620.
  • JOUR328K/628K: Business & Economic Reporting (3 credits). Students will explore why economic and business themes are among the top stories generating reader interest. Topics vary each semester but can focus on the economic impact of immigration, employment, income inequality, wage stagnation, trade wars and affordable housing. Students will learn to identify newsworthy stories and interpret and integrate numbers and financial data into stories in a compelling way. Prerequisite: JOUR320/JOUR620.
  • JOUR353 or JOUR355 or JOUR357: Part-time Capital News Service Bureau (6 credits). Students work two days a week in a Capital News Service bureau in Washington (reporting/writing), Annapolis (reporting/writing) or College Park (audience engagement and social media, broadcast, data and graphics, and investigative reporting). Washington, Annapolis and Investigative Reporting prerequisite: JOUR320/JOUR620. Audience Engagement and Social Media prerequisite: JOUR368D/JOUR384/JOUR657 or JOUR389D. Broadcast prerequisite: JOUR361/JOUR661. Data and Graphics prerequisite: JOUR352/JOUR652.
  • JOUR362/662: Broadcast News Producing (3 credits). Students work as producers overseeing the Capital News Service’s newscast, “Maryland Newsline.” Prerequisite: JOUR262/JOUR347/JOUR603 and JOUR360/JOUR660.
  • JOUR368K/668K: Video and Documentary Lab (3 credits). Students will explore the intersection between social media, video and a live broadcast by creating new and innovative ways to “broadcast” news to an audience. The class will encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and give students the opportunity to produce a show from scratch, with content aired on UMTV and online.
  • JOUR368O/668O: Advanced Studio Production (3 credits). This course will take you through every production aspect related to studio production and work as production support for live sports or video game news shows. Prerequisite: JOUR368L/JOUR636.

*For more information on courses, visit the common capstone application.

Below is a list of the capstone courses that have been offered recently. While some may appear every semester or multiple times, past appearances are not a guarantee of future offerings. Applications for fall capstone courses are due in March, while those for spring capstone courses are due in October of the preceding year.

Spring 2026
CNS Annapolis (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS DC (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS Broadcast (JOUR357 or JOUR367)
CNS Audience Engagement (JOUR355)
CNS Data (JOUR355)
Covering Overlooked Communities (JOUR328B)
Enterprise Sports Reporting (JOUR328G)
Business and Economic Reporting (JOUR328K)
Broadcast News Producing (JOUR362)
Enterprise Sports Reporting (JOUR328G)
Advanced Studio Production (JOUR368O)
Advanced Visual Storytelling (JOUR368Q)
Local News Investigation (JOUR389L)
Reporting on Cheltenham (JOUR389Y)

Fall 2025
CNS Annapolis (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS DC (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS Audience Engagement (JOUR355)
CNS Data (JOUR355)
CNS Investigative Reporting (JOUR353)
CNS Broadcast (JOUR357 or JOUR367)
Reporting on Journalists Imprisoned Overseas (JOUR328F)
Sports Enterprise Reporting (JOUR328G)
Broadcast News Producing (JOUR362)
Advanced Podcast Reporting (JOUR364)
Video Lab (JOUR368K)

Spring 2025
CNS Annapolis (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS DC (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS Broadcast (JOUR357 or JOUR367)
CNS Audience Engagement (JOUR355)
CNS Data (JOUR355)
CNS Investigative Reporting (JOUR353)
Urban Affairs Reporting (JOUR327)
Business and Economic Reporting (JOUR328K)
Enterprise Sports Reporting (JOUR328G)
Broadcast News Producing (JOUR362)
Advanced Podcast Reporting (JOUR364)
Advanced Studio Production (JOUR368O)
Advanced Visual Storytelling (JOUR368Q)
Local News Investigation (JOUR389L)

Fall 2024
CNS Annapolis (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS DC (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS Broadcast (JOUR357 or JOUR367)
CNS Data (JOUR355)
CNS Audience Engagement (JOUR355)
Journalists Imprisoned Overseas (JOUR328F)
Enterprise Sports Reporting (JOUR328G)
Broadcast News Producing (JOUR362)
Advanced Podcast Reporting (JOUR364)
Advanced Studio Production (JOUR368O)

Spring 2024
CNS Annapolis (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS DC (JOUR353 or JOUR325)
CNS Broadcast (JOUR357 or JOUR367)
CNS Data (JOUR355)
CNS Audience Engagement (JOUR355)
CNS Investigative Reporting (JOUR353)
CNS Data Investigations (JOUR355)
Urban Affairs Reporting (JOUR327)
Enterprise Sports Reporting (JOUR328G)
Business and Economic Reporting (JOUR328K)
Broadcast News Producing (JOUR362)
Advanced Podcast Reporting (JOUR364)
Video & Documentary Lab (JOUR368K)
Advanced Studio Production (JOUR368O)
Local News Investigation (JOUR389L)

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