The 1 years Masters program in Science writing at MIT is on the short list. Essentially I am going to go ahead and apply, but I am not counting on getting in. From what I have been told, not many folks end up applying to that particular program so it's not exactly a pipe-dream. It would be very intense, and would run me about $45,000 not including housing...so that price tag is a huuuuge issue right now. If I get accepted...I will deal with that decision then.
Apart from that, I have started the application process at University of North Dakota. They have a M.S. program in Space Studies that is pretty much right up my alley. They have both an online and on-campus option, so I might be able to move back to Michigan to help out my folks for a year, take a few classes, and then move to Grand Forks, ND to finish everything up. I can get everything done if I live on campus (with ND residency) in 2 years for about $25,000 (including housing). If I end up doing it online, my out of state tuition would run about $28,000 for the whole program...plus/but I am living at home with my parents. I'm leaning toward a mix of the two.
I would be able to concentrate in Observational Astronomy/Planetary Science so the majority of my coursework before my Thesis would be Astronomy, Radio Astronomy, Asteroid Science, and Mars Science. Since it is an interdisciplinary program I have to take courses outside of my concentration so I will have some classes in Space Policy, Economics of Space, and Resource exploitation. Overall it seems like a great, challenging, and exciting mix of coursework.
So with my B.S. in Tech Comm & Journalism of Science, and a M.S. in Space Studies, I would have a golden ticket to work at any NASA Center, Planetarium, or Space Center (ie JPL) in the country. My dream job would be working for Planetary Resources, the start-up Asteroid Mining company (Stock Options!) but we can cross that job-bridge when we come to it.
After this semester I only need 21 more credits to graduate, so this is looking more and more like what and where I will be next Fall.
But....North Dakota. :/
