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Application Materials
To be admitted to the Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising, 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:
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Online application and $40 domestic application fee, $75 international application fee.
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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 (Essay questions should be saved as .doc or .pdf and uploaded into online application or e-mailed to gradcom@depaul.edu):
- What factors contribute to your decision to enter graduate school now?
- How does studying public relations and advertising relate to your personal and professional goals?
(In your response, identify how this program suits your specific needs, goals, interests, etc.)
- What demonstrates your suitability for graduate study in this program? Build an argument for your admission.
- What understandings should admission reviewers bring to a reading of your application?
(What additional information or explanations seem important?)
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Writing sample that demonstrates an applicant's ability to communicate clearly and concisely with a variety of audiences (for example: academic papers, scholarly articles, work-for-hire).
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Two or more letters of recommendation from work supervisors and faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic and/or professional achievements.
NOTE: At least one of the letters should ideally be from a faculty member, such as a former professor, and the second letter from a work supervisor or hiring manager, not a peer co-worker.
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Résumé or curriculum vitae.
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Official GRE scores (only required for students who have a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 in their undergraduate coursework). The GMAT will also be accepted in place of the GRE if an applicant has already completed the GMAT exam. The admission committee reserves the right to require the GRE after reviewing the applicants’ documents.
Alternate Writing Prompt
The following instructions offer an alternative writing sample option for applicants that do not have an undergraduate background in public relations or advertising.
Use the general prompt below to write a critical paper that applies to your primary interest in public relations or advertising. Using research sources to support your ideas, write a single-spaced essay that is at least four pages long, including a bibliography (any citation style) that uses at least five third-party sources of support. This essay will allow the review committee to assess your writing and analytic skills.
Prompt: How have the roles of public relations and/or advertising changed over the past 10 years? What is responsible for such change, and what individuals or organizations today have emerged as recognized industry leaders?
Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with PRAD program faculty as part of the application process. Interviews are held by video conference. The Office of Graduate Admission contacts applicants to schedule the interview, if one will be required.
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 consideration of 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 into the MA PRAD program are required to take coursework in DePaul's
English Language Academy until their English language proficiency exceed all of the minimum levels required for consideration of full admission. Only upon successful completion of the English Language Academy are conditionally admitted students permitted to then enroll in the MA PRAD graduate courses.
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 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 statement of purpose, writing samples, 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 Public Relations and Advertising 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.