Excel as a communication professional

Study communication in the context of popular culture, the corporate world, interpersonal relationships and new media with a master’s degree in Communication and Media. Develop diverse areas of interest while focusing on a specific content area with an optional concentration in Interpersonal Communication, Media and Cinema Studies, Multicultural Communication or Organizational Communication. You’ll master the tools and frameworks to critically examine and resolve real-life communication issues.

The program is typically completed in two year??s. Most classes are offered weekday evenings on the Loop or Lincoln Park Campuses. Some classes are offered online. ?

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Surrounded by Chicago’s media empires

Our campus is in the heart of Chicago’s media and business districts in the Loop. You’ll have access to employers at top companies just steps from campus—including national and local media outlets, Fortune 500 companies and startups.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Priority deadlines for scholarships are as follows:

• Fall quarter: June 1
• Winter quarter: November 2
• Spring quarter: February 15

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, essay questions, writing sample, letters of recommendation, and résumé or curriculum vitae.

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Required Courses

You’ll take three core courses and nine electives. Complete your degree with a comprehensive exam, master’s thesis or master’s project.

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92%

of College of Communication master’s degree recipients were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

 

Professors who include students in their work

DePaul professors pursue their own projects outside of the classroom and have included students in their work as well. Blair Davis, Associate Professor of Media and Cinema Studies, collaborated on a book with two students from his class. Their work examines the history of women’s roles as creators and characters in comic books from the 1930s through the 1950s. “Comic Book Women” is scheduled for release in 2022.

“The Communication and Media program provides fulfilling opportunities and it encourages thoughtful debate and discussion. I gained experience in the world of media production and developed skills in academic research and writing, being critiqued by incredibly successful scholars and teachers. The faculty propel you forward, giving you an incredible environment to develop both as a student and as an individual.”

William (MA ’11) 

Alumni Network

With more than 8,500 College of Communication alumni and 180,000 alumni university-wide, you’ll be connected to a wide network of working professionals. You’ll find our alumni working at companies, agencies and organizations such as Nielsen, NPR/WBEZ, Disney Interactive Media Group and Rolling Stone.

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 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.

Alternate Writing Sample Instructions

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.

Tuition Award Available for the 2022-23 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.

Degree Requirements

Interpersonal Communication Concentration Requirements
Media and Cinema Studies Concentration Requirements
Multicultural Communication Concentration Requirements
Organizational Communication Concentration Requirements

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree program must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours and a degree completion option.
• Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Core Requirements

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Required foundations course		4
CMNS 500	FOUNDATIONS IN GRADUATE COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Choose one core course		4
CMNS 501	COMMUNICATION IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS
CMNS 506	SEMINAR IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
MCS 502	MEDIA AND CULTURAL STUDIES
CMNS 541	ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE
Choose one methods course		4
CMNS 581	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
CMNS 582	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
CMNS 584	METHODOLOGICAL TOPICS
MCS 503	CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Communication and Media Electives

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Choose nine electives 1		36
CMNS 501	COMMUNICATION IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS
CMNS 506	SEMINAR IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
CMNS 509	SPECIAL TOPICS IN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION
CMNS 511	TOPICS IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
CMNS 513	NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
CMNS 522	COMMUNICATING IDENTITY
CMNS 523	GENDERED COMMUNICATION
CMNS 524	NARRATIVES IN HEALTH CARE
CMNS 525	COMMUNICATION TRAINING FOR INTERNATIONAL WORK
CMNS 527	ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION IN ORGANIZATIONS
CMNS 528	THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS
CMNS 530	INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CMNS 532	INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
CMNS 541	ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE
CMNS 542	MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
CMNS 543	COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
CMNS 545	COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
CMNS 548	TEAMS, DIVERSITY AND LEADERSHIP
CMNS 549	SPECIAL TOPICS IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
CMNS 552	RELATIONSHIPS AND INFLUENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
CMNS 563	MULTICULTURAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS
CMNS 570	INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL CMN
CMNS 581	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
CMNS 582	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
CMNS 584	METHODOLOGICAL TOPICS
CMNS 599	RESEARCH THESIS
MCS 501	FILM AND MEDIA THEORY
MCS 502	MEDIA AND CULTURAL STUDIES
MCS 503	CRITICAL ANALYSIS
MCS 520	TOPICS IN MEDIA STUDIES
MCS 521	TOPICS IN CINEMA STUDIES
MCS 522	TOPICS IN CINEMA/MEDIA HISTORY
MCS 523	TOPICS IN GLOBAL FILM & MEDIA
MCS 530	NEW MEDIA AND CULTURE
MCS 533	LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA/MEDIA
MCS 541	AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
MCS 542	TOPICS IN PRODUCTION
MCS 544	TOPICS IN DOCUMENTARY STUDIES
MCS 550	FANDOM AND ACTIVE AUDIENCES
MCS 575	DIGITAL MEDIA ETHICS
MCS 587	SOUND AND VISION
CMN 591	INTERNSHIP
CMN 592	INDEPENDENT STUDY
CMN 593	RESEARCH PRACTICUM
CMN 598	STUDY ABROAD

1	Students can take up to 2 of their 9 electives (8 credits) from departments outside of Communication Studies or Media and Cinema Studies. Outside electives must be approved by the graduate program director or graduate advisor.

Optional Communication and Media Concentrations

Students may opt to complete one of four concentrations. Each concentration requires five courses (20 credits) specific to that concentration; these five courses (20 credits) are included in the 12 course (48 credits) total required for the degree. To view concentration requirements, please view the concentration requirement pages linked below:

• Interpersonal Communication
• Media and Cinema Studies
• Multicultural Communication
• Organizational Communication

Optional Latino Media & Communication Concentration

The graduate concentration in Latino Media & Communication is comprised of at least three graduate courses drawn from the areas of advertising, journalism, media and cinema studies, multicultural communication, organizational communication and public relations. Graduate students in any of the College of Communication Master of Arts programs can elect to complete the Latino Media & Communication concentration. Students may need to use outside electives to complete this concentration.

Students who complete the concentration will:

• Develop an understanding of the heterogeneous and rapidly changing Latino communities locally, nationally and globally
• Ground their knowledge of intercultural studies within a more extensive and concrete knowledge of a particular (even though diverse), rapidly growing, and increasingly important population within the U.S.
• Increase their cross-cultural competence (understanding and ability to dialogue across difference, develop cultural sensitivity and awareness) with Latino communities
• Enhance their capacity to communicate with and learn from Latino populations in the workplace, in community situations and other sites of engagement
• Recognize the impact of the movement of Latinos across the globe and develop the skills to critically consume and produce media, public relations and advertisement representations that communicate to and about Latino communities
• Develop field-specific knowledge of Latino media and communication along with an understanding of how Latino studies shapes other fields of communication

Courses

Students are required to take three courses (12 credits) from the following list:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
CMNS 509	SPECIAL TOPICS IN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
CMNS 542	MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
JOUR 515	SPECIAL TOPICS IN JOURNALISM 1
MCS 521	TOPICS IN CINEMA STUDIES 1
MCS 533	LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA/MEDIA
PRAD 511	CONSUMER INSIGHTS
PRAD 512	ENGAGING LATINX COMMUNITIES
PRAD 514	CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING 1
PRAD 595	SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS & ADVERTISING 1
CMN 591	INTERNSHIP 1
CMN 598	STUDY ABROAD 1

1

Topic must be related to Latino Media and Communication.

Completion Requirement: Comprehensive Final Exam or Project/Thesis

Students in the Master of Arts in Communication and Media complete their degree requirements by passing a comprehensive final exam. Students who attain a 3.75 GPA or higher and obtain prior approval from the graduate program director have the option to complete a culminating project or thesis instead of the comprehensive final exam. Students completing a project or thesis will enroll in CMNS 599 as their 12th and final course in the quarter they defend their project/thesis.  

Grade Requirements  

All students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 in their coursework. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.000, the student will be allowed to complete an additional 16 credits or 3 quarters (whichever comes first) to attain the 3.000 minimum GPA. If the cumulative GPA remains below a 3.000 at the conclusion of this time period, the student may be dismissed from the program. The student's cumulative and term GPAs along with overall academic performance will be factored into the dismissal decision.

Concentration Requirements

• Interpersonal Communication Concentration, Communication and Media (MA)
• Media and Cinema Studies Concentration, Communication and Media (MA)
• Multicultural Communication Concentration, Communication and Media (MA)
• Organizational Communication Concentration, Communication & Media (MA)

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.

Scholarships

The College of Communication offers a tuition award and scholarship opportunities. In addition, the Communication and Media program has a limited number of graduate assistantships. Learn more about the opportunities available to you.