The SciCom class of 2025
“The Science Communication Program is widely regarded as one of the best science writing programs in the world; we believe that reputation is well deserved. Its graduates are making strong contributions to the public understanding of science.”
—from an external review of the program
The Science Communication Program bestows a master’s degree. The program:
- consists of nine months of coursework and a final summer internship
- requires part-time professional internships throughout the academic year
- does not require a thesis
- offers practical training with professional journalists and editors as instructors
- emphasizes news, long-form writing, and multimedia skills, with an eye toward substantive reporting on research and policy
- features small class sizes (10 students) in every course, ensuring extensive feedback from lecturers
- stresses the creation of original writing and multimedia production for the public, rather than theory and critique
- subjects all projects to rigorous editing at the highest standards, with some peer review by students
Our students practice science writing and multimedia production as a fine art as well as a craft. They emerge from their year in Santa Cruz with dozens of published stories, a broad set of journalistic skills, and distinct voices as writers.