About the Program
The Digital Communication, Media, Design (MA) combined degree program is open to all undergraduate majors across the university. Students who are interested in this program must apply to the Graduate Admission Office in their junior year, and if accepted, can take up to three graduate courses (12 credits) in their senior year. These three courses count towards both the bachelor’s program and the master of arts degree. Students will pay the current undergraduate tuition rate for these three courses. Once students earn their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from DePaul, they matriculate as a graduate student and complete the remaining required courses for their Master of Arts degree. Students should work with their undergraduate advisor to see how the graduate classes will fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (B or better) in each graduate class taken in the senior year in order to continue in the program.
This option is available for the Digital Communication track only.
Admission Criteria
Admission criteria for the combined bachelor’s + master’s degree program in Digital Communication, Media, Design (Digital Communication Track):
- 3.5 GPA in major courses
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Junior status
- Completion of CMNS 280: Introduction to Digital Media Skills (strongly preferred) or one 300-level communication course
Admission Requirements
Students who meet the above criteria must submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admission no later than six weeks prior to the start of their senior year (i.e., prior to the start of their final three undergraduate quarters).
Ready to Apply?
To apply to the Digital Communication, Media, Design Combined Degree Program please submit the following:
The Graduate Application
Follow the instructions to create a new account or log in to an existing account.
Once you are in the application portal, go to the "Application Details" section and select "College of Communication Combined."
Once you have made that selection, open the application to continue the completion and submission process.
Your official transcript
A statement of purpose
- Submit a 750 words statement explaining why you are seeking admission to the program.
A writing sample
- A research paper that demonstrates your ability to synthesize and analyze scholarly work.
Two letters of recommendation
- Letters should be from professors in the College of Communication or in the major.
Submitting Materials
Application materials, including the statement of purpose and the writing sample, can be uploaded directly into the Graduate Application. Applicants can also submit the Graduate Application without these items and email them separately to gradcom@depaul.edu. Students may request letters of recommendations through the online application and track their submission.
Transcripts and letters of recommendation that are not submitted through the online application should be mailed to:
Office of Graduate Admission
College of Communication
DePaul University
2400 N. Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-2215
*Statement of purpose and writing sample can be e-mailed to gradcom@depaul.edu.
Program Standards
- The three DCMD graduate courses taken as a senior cannot be used to fulfill core major requirements. They can be used to fulfill communication electives (for communication majors) and/or open electives.
- Students are strongly encouraged to take three DCMD core courses during their senior year.
- Students admitted to the program must maintain a 3.0 GPA (B or better) in the three graduate courses taken as a senior.
- If a student fails to meet this GPA requirement, they will not be allowed to continue as a graduate student in the program.
- Students can defer their graduate admission for one year. If students do not matriculate after completing their undergraduate degree or within one year deferral period, the graduate courses taken as undergraduate students will no longer count towards the graduate degree and students must reapply for admission to the graduate program.
Visit the Digital Communication, Media, Design section for more information about the graduate program.