About Master’s Program,
The MA in mass communication is a research-based, academic program designed to prepare students to conduct scholarly research in the field of mass communication. Every year, our graduate students present research at major conferences, have work published in leading journals and books, receive recognition from academic organizations, and work for major media organizations.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Many graduate programs prefer an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher for admission. Consult your program of interest for specific GPA requirements.
An additional 12 credits of course work. Minimum 6 credits of these additional credits must come from HSJMC.
Minimum 6 credits of minor or supporting program courses are also required as part of the total required 25 course credits. This can be achieved by any combination of theory, method, and topic seminar courses taken outside the HSJMC.
Master’s thesis credits (10 credits)
Approved thesis
Final oral examination
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Our mass communication graduate students are among the most highly compensated across U.S. journalism and mass communication graduate programs. Admitted students receive continuous funding (2 years for the M.A. program, 4 years for Ph.D. program) through a combination of assistantships and fellowships. Our funding packages provide a stipend, tuition remission, health insurance, and support for student travel and university fees. All admitted students receive funding (unless they are funded by an external source). We also offer several funding opportunities to support graduate student research. And our students are given office space and computer access in our building, Murphy Hall.
Mass communication graduate students work as research or teaching assistants during their funding window (2 years for the M.A. program, 4 years for Ph.D. program). The normal assistantship commitment is 20 hours per week during the academic year. Our teaching assistants aid faculty with their undergraduate courses, with duties ranging from grading to leading discussions. Advanced students often have the opportunity to teach their own course as an instructor.
Research assistantships are also common, depending on the needs of faculty and center research projects. Students also can receive additional funding through a summer assistantship or instructor position. Additional positions outside of the Hubbard School can be found on the Office of Human Resources website.
Application Requirement,
Graduate school online application and fee
Transcripts
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores
Statement of Purpose
Diversity Statement
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Samples of Work
Recommendation Letters
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2025
Application Fee,
International ($95.00)
U.S. citizen/permanent resident ($75.00)
