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. Learn about application materials and admission procedures below, as well as tuition awards and upcoming information sessions.
Application Materials
The College of Communication considers each application as a unique presentation of a candidate's profile and will review a variety of information sources. Admission decisions will be based on the following:
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A completed online application. A $40 domestic application fee or a $75 international application fee applies.
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Official undergraduate transcript showing the completion of a bachelor's degree (minimum grade point average preferred is 3.0 on a 4-point scale).
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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?)
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Writing sample (research paper that demonstrates the applicant's ability to synthesize and criticize scholarly work).
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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).
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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.
Below is a general prompt around which a critical paper could be written that applies to any of our four areas of study within the Communication and Media MA program. Using research sources in support of your ideas, write a scholarly essay that is a minimum of five pages long, and includes a bibliography (any citation style) using at least four academic sources in support. This essay will allow the review committee to assess your writing and analytic ability.
Prompt: How have processes of communication changed over the past few generations? What is responsible for such change, and to what extent do individuals control the way that such processes have evolved?
Requirements for 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:
| Test Type |
Minimum Score for Full Admission |
Minimum Score for Conditional Admission |
| TOEFL Internet-based version |
96 (each section at least 22) |
79 (each section at least 17) |
| TOEFL computer-based version |
243
|
213 |
| TOEFL paper version |
590 |
550 |
| Duolingo |
130 |
110 |
| IELTS |
7.5 |
6.5 |
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.
Readmission
Applicants are admitted to the College of Communication based on their proven competencies measured by academic criteria, recommendations, and demonstrated ability to complete programs of study and research prescribed for the M.A. programs.
Readmission Procedures
Applications for readmission to any of the College of Communication graduate programs after a dismissal will only be considered after one calendar year. Students who were discontinued from the active status roster for a period of one calendar year must file a readmission application. A readmit application should contain at least one letter of support from a faculty member in the program and a personal statement that provides a general summary of the reasons for the student’s departure from the program as well as the reasons they hope to rejoin the program at this time. (This list is not exhaustive and may require additional admission materials as determined by the Graduate Advisor, Graduate Program Director, and/or Associate Dean on a case-by-case basis). If readmission occurs before four years has elapsed, the student may submit new Letters of Recommendation, but may also reuse the older letters of recommendation if they wish. The student may reuse official transcripts.
If more than four years have elapsed since the student has been in attendance, the applicant must file a new application with all new supporting application materials, with the exception of Official Transcripts. Any new schooling that occurred in the intervening years must be documented on additional Official Transcripts. The application must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the term in which the student expects to resume their studies.
Official copies of transcripts recording scholastic work completed while not enrolled at DePaul University must be submitted. As a policy, students are held to the degree requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission.
Tuition Award Available for the Academic Year
DePaul offers 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.
Talk to a Current Student
Get in touch with one of our ambassadors to learn more about graduate programs in the College of Communication. All of them are happy to answer your questions about their program, student life, extracurriculars and more.