Arizona State University has offered journalism courses since 1931. Coursework in radio news broadcasting was first offered at ASU in 1951 and the school began offering coursework in radio-television broadcasting in 1954. The school is well-known for its broadcasting program through the operations of KAET-TV, a public broadcasting station. In 1984, the name of the broadcasting school was changed to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. ASU offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in journalism and mass communication. Admission to the undergraduate program requires that students have a minimum SAT reasoning score of at least 1040 or an ACT score of at least 22 or have been ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school's graduates.
The master's degree program at ASU is a 15-month full-time program that requires service in an apprenticeship at Cronkite News Service or another mass communications company.
The University of Arizona was established by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1891. The school has bachelor's and graduate degree programs in journalism and mass communication that include the opportunity to participate in an internship at the school's TV production station. The TV station is an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System. Alumni from UA have worked at television stations such as CNN and includes graduates who have won Pulitzer Prizes. UA's School of Journalism is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The school considers SAT scores along with other materials submitted by applicants for admission. Applicants for the graduate program must take the GRE test and score a minimum of 1100, although a waiver of this requirement is possible. Graduate-level courses include classes in broadcasting regulations and news reporting.
Alpha Pacific Institute is a privately-owned and operated enterprise which teaches the fundamentals of television and radio broadcasting along with its film production program. While attending API, students will choose an area of specialization which can include emphasis on TV and radio news production. The API radio broadcasting training program lasts four months.
Tuition at ASU's undergraduate program for Arizona residents is approximately $557 per credit hour, as of February 2011. Arizona resident tuition at ASU's graduate degree program is $608 per credit hour. Undergraduate resident tuition for full-time enrollment at the University of Arizona in the 2010-2011 academic year was $8,238 per year. Graduate degree full-time tuition at UA for residents for the 2010-2011 academic year was $9,028.