Communication and Media Admission Requirements

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• Application Materials
• Requirements for International Students
• Tuition Award Available
• Submitting Materials
• Application Deadlines
• Information Sessions
• Apply

Application Materials

To be admitted to the Master of Arts in Communication and Media, applicants must demonstrate a capacity for achievement through past academic or professional work. The College of Communication looks at each application as a unique presentation of a candidate's profile and will consider a variety of information sources. Admission decisions will be based on the following:

• Online application and $40 domestic application fee, $75 international application fee.
• Official undergraduate transcript showing the completion of a bachelor's degree (minimum grade point average preferred is 3.0 on a 4-point scale).
• Four essay questions (3-4 double-spaced pages):
• What factors contribute to your decision to enter graduate school now?
• How do studies in communication and media relate to your personal and professional goals?
• In your response, identify how our Communication & Media program and its specific areas of study suit your specific needs, goals, interests, etc. and how such studies connect with your future objectives. Which courses would you take and why? Which faculty members in our graduate program have research interests related to your own?
• What demonstrates your suitability for graduate study in this program and concentration? What subjects, theories, methods, case studies, etc. do you plan to study, and how will you approach them within our program? Build an argument for your admission.
• What understandings should admission reviewers bring to a reading of your application? (What additional information, contexts or explanations seem important?)
• Writing sample (research paper that demonstrates the applicant's ability to synthesize and criticize scholarly work).
  
• Applicants without a background in communication or media studies can submit an alternate writing sample.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with the applicant’s academic achievements (for those who have extensive professional experience, letters from supervisors familiar with the applicant’s critical thinking skills and intellectual abilities are acceptable).
• Résumé or curriculum vitae.
• GRE scores are not required, but may be submitted to strengthen an application.
  

Alternate Writing Prompt

The following instructions offer an alternative writing sample option for applicants that do not have an undergraduate background in communication or media studies.

International Students

An English language examination is required for applicants who have completed their undergraduate education outside the USA. The College of Communication requires the following English language proficiency scores for admission to any of its graduate programs:

Students who accept conditional admission are required to take coursework in DePaul's English Language Academy until their English language proficiency reaches the level required for full admission.

International students (those who were educated outside of the U.S. and/or require an F1 visa) must take additional steps to be considered for admission. Please review International Student Admission for exact information.

Tuition Award Available for the Academic Year

DePaul is offering a tuition award to new students starting a College of Communication graduate program in Autumn, Winter or Spring quarters. The tuition award is for $525 toward each four-credit hour course – up to two courses per term. The award amounts to a total of $6,300 towards a twelve-course graduate program and $6,825 towards a thirteen-course graduate program.

For details including eligibility requirements, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at (773) 325-4405 or gradcom@depaul.edu.

Submitting Materials

Application materials including the four-question essay, writing sample, and resume, can be uploaded directly into the online application. Applicants also have the option of submitting the application without these items and emailing them separately to gradcom@depaul.edu. Students may request recommendations through the online application and track whether they have been submitted.

Transcripts (and letters of recommendation not submitted through the online application) should be mailed to:

Office of Graduate Admission
College of Communication
DePaul University
1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-2287

Application credentials (including official electronic transcripts) also can be emailed to the Office of Graduate Admission at gradcom@depaul.edu. Please make sure your name is on all documents.

Application Deadlines

Admission decisions for College of Communication graduate programs are made on a rolling basis. However, the college establishes regular application deadlines for each program so that applicants can be fully considered for admission and financial aid. The preferred deadlines for each term are listed below.

Applicants will be considered for an admission scholarship at the time of review. Admission scholarships are based on merit. A minimum 3.7 GPA is required to be considered for an admission scholarship.

Fall Quarter
We review applications for Fall quarter on a continuous basis. To be considered for fall admission, applicants should submit an application by August 15.

Winter Quarter
We review applications for Winter quarter on a continuous basis. To be considered for winter admission, applicants should submit an application by December 1.

Spring Quarter
We review applications for Spring quarter on a continuous basis. To be considered for spring admission, applicants should submit an application by March 1.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Communication and Media graduate program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Learn more about Graduate Admission.

Ready to apply?

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at (773) 325-4405 or gradcom@depaul.edu.