Our Process
Fall 2025 Cohort Deadlines
The Fall 2025 Application is now open:
For international students: June 1, 2025
US Citizens: June 15th, 2025
Degree Requirements
Students in the Mass Communication’s master’s program may select between a project or a thesis track. Both tracks require a combination of three core classes (9 credit-hours) and electives that allow students to customize their courses on emerging digital media and strategic storytelling to fit their goals and interests. All students are required to make a minimum 3.0 GPA in the required courses and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the electives.
Professional Project
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Professional Project Overview
The 36-hour professional project track includes the core of 18 hours, 3 hours of project, and 15 hours of mass communication electives. The electives allow students to select courses in areas that support their special research or job-related needs and interests.
Students on the professional project track will work with a two-member committees to complete the professional project.
Thesis Track
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Thesis Track Overview
The 33-hour thesis track requires the core of 18 hours, 6 hours of thesis, and 9 credits of electives. The electives may allow students to select courses in areas that support their research or career-related needs and interests.
The thesis will consist of original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in mediated communication.
Coursework
Both tracks require a combination of three core classes (9 credit-hours) and electives that allow students to customize their courses on emerging digital media and strategic storytelling to fit their goals and interests. The program offers a variety of skills based, analytical and critical-thinking oriented electives.
In addition, students can choose to earn internship credits, independent studies, have the opportunity to study abroad and may select to take up to 2 graduate classes (9 credit-hours) outside of the department (with approval).
Core Classes
Research Methods in Mass Communication
Investigation of the tools and techniques of both qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the study of mass communication, including surveys, content analysis, experimental designs and case studies.
Digital Media Issues
This course will examine the role of digital media, including the Internet, Web and mobile technologies. Issues discussed will include social media and cyberculture research, technology diffusion, data journalism, analytics and the effects of digital technologies on society and culture, with a focus on ethics and regulation.
Storytelling Across Platforms
Students learn the tools, channels and techniques available for multimedia storytellers The course introduces new and emerging ways to tell stories, including social media, photo and video platforms, branding and audience engagement, mobile media and data visualization.
Electives
The program offers a variety of skills based, analytical and critical-thinking oriented electives.
Our prescribed electives include:
- Media Product Strategy (MC 5340)
- Digital Story Production (MC 5328)
- Seminar in Strategic Communication (MC 5308)
- SxTXState Project (MC5332)
- Social Media Campaigns (MC 5306M)
- Data storytelling (MC 5306I)
- Digital Media Design (MC5312)
- Latinos and Media (MC 5321)
- Psychology of Social Media (MC5306)
- Creative problem solving (MC5315)
Additional electives are also available, including special topics electives, such as Digital Politics and Immersive Technologies.