COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA (MA)
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.
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.
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
???Jump to:
- 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.
