About Master’s Program,
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s MMC degree program immerses students in the practices of journalism and strategic communications, preparing them for careers in news, documentary storytelling, advocacy, community engagement or corporate communications.
This 36 credit hour master’s degree program begins with a multimedia boot camp, teaching students how to tell stories with text, photo, video and audio elements. In the second semester, students choose from a selection of more advanced courses, such as those focused on narrative writing, podcasting, advanced broadcast production, documentary production, health reporting, Spanish-language news, transborder coverage, public relations research, strategic communications storytelling and media entrepreneurship.
The program culminates in a professional immersion experience in one of the Cronkite School’s strategic communication labs or news bureaus in Los Angeles, Phoenix or Washington, D.C. Working under the guidance of award-winning journalists and strategists, these capstone programs offer practical experience in a professional news or agency environment.
This program is offered concurrently with degrees from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and ASU’s School of Sustainability. It is also offered in a dual MD/MMC degree with the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor’s degree program OR have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in an applicable master’s degree program.
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. These applicants must provide documentation of a TOEFL score of at least 100 for the internet-based TOEFL iBT, except for applicants of the Master’s of Arts in Narrative and Emerging Media program. Please review the other requirements of international graduate applicants on ASU’s graduate college webpage.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Applicants may use Arizona State University’s Tuition Estimator to estimate the cost of Cronkite School programs. Please note, students should plan for 12-15 credits per semester for a total of three semesters. Summer credits may have a different cost than estimates for fall and spring.
All applicants to the Master of Arts in Investigative Journalism, Master of Mass Communication and the Master of Arts in Sports Journalism are considered for merit-based funding in the form of assistantships and fellowships. The Cronkite School gives priority to candidates who complete applications before Dec. 1.
Assistantship packages include full tuition, health benefits and a stipend ($8,000/semester) for the first two semesters. During those two semesters, graduate assistants work 20 hours per week for the school, usually assigned to conduct research with individual faculty members or serve as teaching assistants for online courses. The graduate assistantship package also covers tuition for the third semester of the program. Because of the demands of the capstone experience, graduate assistants do not take on work hours or receive a stipend in the third semester.
Graduate assistants with an interest in nonprofit leadership or coverage of issues relating to disabilities may be assigned to work at the National Center on Disability and Journalism, housed within the Cronkite School. Graduate assistants with an interest in border coverage may be assigned to work with Cronkite School Southwest Borderlands Initiative programs. Graduate assistants with experience in digital audience strategy may be assigned to work in the Cronkite Digital Audiences Lab.
Application Requirement,
Personal information
Academic history
Residency
Degree selection
Unofficial transcripts
Statement of purpose or writing sample,
Portfolio,
Curriculum vitae or biographical sketch or resume
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2025
Application Fee,
$70: US Citizen, US Permanent Resident,
$115: International students on any non-immigrant
