Innovate communication across digital platforms

The master’s in Digital Communication and Media Arts (DCMA) will give you the technical skills and tools to effectively navigate the digital communication landscape. This flexible program allows you to tailor your coursework across interests such as branding, content strategy, social media, data-driven marketing, media literacy, documentary production and design.

This interdisciplinary degree program is offered through the College of Communication and the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. Students interested in the Digital Communication track should apply through the College of Communication. Students interested in the Media Art? track should apply through the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. The Digital Communication track offers courses in Public Relations and Advertising, Journalism, Media and Cinema Studies, and Digital Communication. 

The program is typically completed in about two years. Classes are offered weekday evenings on the Loop or Lincoln Park campuses. Some classes are offered online.

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A dynamic market for digital media professionals

With major production companies, media outlets, startups and nonprofits just steps from campus, you’ll find opportunities to work at organizations of any size, across every enterprise in Chicago. DCMA students have interned at places like DKC, Facets Multimedia and LX MGMT. You’ll use the same tools in the classroom that you will in the industry—our state-of-the-art facilities include a converged newsroom, two writing labs, a television studio, audio booths, an 82-seat film screening room and black box theater.

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 (Certificate in Digital Communication only): February 15

Admission Requirements

Submit the online application, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and résumé or curriculum vitae.

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Required Courses

You’ll take an introductory course, four core courses and nine electives. Complete your degree with a comprehensive exam, scholarly paper or master’s project.

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91%

of Digital Communication and Media Arts graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Study with faculty who are noted industry contributors

Assistant Professor Samantha Close, PhD, spends her time studying competitive video gaming on college campuses. She is collaborating with Arizona State University to learn how different campus cultures might impact how welcome student gamers feel and with DePaul students to understand the upsides and downsides of the passion that drives esports players and fans.

“If you have many interests in communication and media, this program allows you to dip your toe into all of the areas you’re interested in, giving you a base foundational knowledge across the board! I inherited a really valuable combination of theory and practice in communication, as well as the skills for working in production, design and post-production environments.”

Taylor (MA ’18, BA ’16)

Creative Resource Manager, Design – U.S., The Mill 

Alumni Network

Alumni of the master’s in Digital Communication and Media Arts program have gone on to careers as visual specialists, social media managers, digital advertising designers and more. They work in government, nonprofits, theatre, digital media, and PR and entertainment. You’ll also be connected to a network of more than 8,500 College of Communication alumni.

Scholarships

The College of Communication offers a tuition award and scholarship opportunities. In addition, the DCMA program has a limited number of graduate assistantships that include a one-course tuition waiver. Learn more about the opportunities available to you.

Digital Communication and Media Arts 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 Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication or the Master of Arts in Digital Communication and Media Arts (Digital Communication track), 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:

• Completed online application and $40 application fee
• Undergraduate transcript showing the completion of a bachelor's degree (minimum grade point average 2.5 (3.0 preferred) on a 4-point scale)
• Statement of Purpose which explains the applicant's interest in pursuing the degree, their future goals, as well as attributes and skills they may bring to the program
• Two letters of recommendation written by work supervisors and/or faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic and/or professional achievements
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Writing sample optional (Analytical writing, like former course papers, preferred but not mandatory)

International Students

An English language examination is required for applicants who have completed their undergraduate education outside the USA. Minimum English language proficiency score requirements for the MA-DCMA program are listed as follows:

Test Type	Minimum Score for Full Admission
TOEFL iBT	80 (each section at least 17)
TOEFL paper version	550
Duolingo	110
IELTS	6.5

The DePaul institutional code for the TOEFL is 1165.

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 in a College of Communication Master of Arts graduate program in Autumn or Winter 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 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 (Certificate in Digital Communication only)
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 Digital Communication and Media Arts graduate programs and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Learn more about Graduate Admission.

Degree Requirements

??Concentration requirements:

Digital Communication

Media Art

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Specific course requirements are determined by the concentration chosen. Please see each concentration page for detailed information. 

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree program must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours in addition to any required competency courses of the designated degree program.
• Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
• Earn a grade of C- or better in all courses of the designated degree program.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.

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.

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