To be considered for admission into the PAR program, students must apply directly to the program. The deadline for filing applications with the program director is April 1. Application forms may be obtained by contacting the program office . As part of the admissions process, applicants selected as finalists are expected to come to Springfield in late April for an interview with the PAR Admissions Committee, composed of faculty and journalists. The Master of Arts in Public Affairs Reporting requires 40 hours of graduate-level coursework.
Students choose other courses after consultation with their advisers.
Students also begin an internship with an experienced professional journalist covering state government and the Illinois General Assembly, for which 16 credit hours are awarded. Advising The program director serves as principal adviser for PAR students, although special advising requests may be referred to other faculty members with particular expertise. After students are accepted into the program, they should contact their advisers for an appointment before initial registration. To receive credit toward the degree, PAR students must receive a grade higher than C on any required course. In addition, they must complete course work with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 to earn the degree.