Our Process
Fall 2024 Cohort Deadlines
For international students: June 1, 2024
US Citizens: June 15th, 2024
Admission Requirements
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication takes a holistic approach to reviewing graduate applications. All the documents submitted are carefully considered to evaluate the applicant's academic qualifications as well as the skills and experience that indicate the ability of the applicant to successfully complete the graduate program.
The program has a flexible application deadline, which means we can review applicants past the priority deadline. However, our priority deadlines enable full consideration for certain types of funding and may be necessary for international students for visa purposes.
-
Application Requirements
-
Application
- completed online application
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
or
- $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
-
Transcript
- Submit one official transcript from each college or university attended.
- Copies of official transcripts can be sent.
- A GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale).
- Students who do not have a preferred GPA may be admitted conditionally and must fulfill specific GPA and/or course requirements.
-
Statement of Purpose
A 500-word statement of purpose for pursuing graduate studies in mass communication at Texas State University. The purpose statement should include the following:
- Why are you applying to graduate school?
- How will the courses aid in your professional goals?
- How will you apply the courses in your current or future career?
-
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation from individuals competent to assess the applicant's capacity to pursue graduate education in mass communication (for example, former professors, work supervisors, etc.). The names and contact information will be entered into the application system.
-
Resume
A current resume with information on educational background, work experience, and extracurricular activities.
-
TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS Scores
Non-native English speakers who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver must submit:
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 100 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 68 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 7.0 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.5
- official Duolingo scores required with a 130 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with a 10.0 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
-
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with a major in Mass Communication requires 36 semester credit hours, including a professional project. 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
-
Project Track Overview
-
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 committee. The student will select a project advisor who will provide guidance about the project the semester prior to the final semester. During the final semester, the student will create a professional project and have an oral defense of the project with the two-member committee.
-
-
Required Courses
-
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.
3 Credit Hours. 3 Lecture Contact Hours.
-
Theories of Mass Communication
Examination of the literature of mass communication theory and discussion of theoretical approaches and models.
-
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. Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC 5302.
-
Media Writing
This course is designed to impart media writing skills. Students learn information gathering, interviewing skills, and writing techniques pertinent to different media. Students produce content (e.g., stories and digital pieces) that could be published across a wide variety of media outlets.
-
Digital Story Production
This course involves discussion, development and analysis of multimedia stories, documentary video, and digital media. Students explore digital media techniques used in writing and producing multimedia stories. They learn visual aspects of storytelling and how to produce digital stories. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Media Law and Ethics
Study of laws and regulations as they pertain to media operations and the internal and external codes that guide media behavior. Freedom and responsibilities of the mass media practitioners and institutions will also be explored within the framework of ethical theories. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
-
Prescribed Electives
-
Mass Media and Society
-
Health Communication Campaigns
Provides an overview of the theory and practice of designing, producing and evaluating health-communication campaigns. Examines persuasive approaches to behavioral change as well as audience, message and channel factors in health-campaign development. Emphasizes communication approaches, including mass media, social networking and new media.
-
The Psychology of Social Media
This course reviews social cognitive theories and research about the way social media users both produce and consume social media messages. It will examine clinical psychological and psychiatric effects that take place among social media users who do not have a clinical diagnosis. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Content Analysis
Content analysis is a systematic way to analyze the content of documented communications, whether they are written, audio/visual or digital. This course will examine the methodological steps involved in conducting a quantitative content analysis, design and execute a content analysis study. Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC5302.
-
Foundations For Mass Communication Graduate Studies
-
Collecting, Analyzing and Presenting Data
This course will introduce students to skills for working with data as well as perspectives from which to think critically about the use of data in contemporary society. It will focus on three stages of working with data: collection, analysis and presentation.
-
Refugees, Nonprofit Organizations and Strategic Communication
This course analyzes strategic communication of nonprofit organizations serving refugees and asylum seekers. Students are introduced to organizations that serve these marginalized populations in Texas and to the problems, challenges and opportunities these organizations face. Students will conduct research and produce a project on an issue related to this topic.
-
Social Media Strategies, Campaigns and Analytics
This course will expose students to the principles and strategies behind social media campaigns. It will discuss the interactions, channels, SEO, and social media metrics used to gauge the success of a social media campaign. Students will also examine successful social media case studies. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Mass Communication History
History of Mass Media is a course that examines the development of the American mass media, including advertising and public relations, from 1690 to the present.
-
Seminar in Strategic Communication
This course broadens students' understanding of issues related to advertising and public relations through an integrated communication perspective. Students learn the decision-making process, learn what problems real organizations experience and evaluate how they resolve issues in such areas as client-agency relationships, strategic planning/management and globalization. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Gender, Race, and Class in the Media
-
Global Media Issues
This course examines the media systems worldwide in different socioeconomic contexts and studies the patterns of international information flow. The course includes theories governing international communication. Students learn how and why communication takes place between different nations and the impact of this communication on individual nations. (MULT). Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC 5302.
-
-
MC5307 (Project)
A major communication effort to demonstrate command of the skills necessary to work at advanced levels in mass communication. For example, it may be broadcast documentary, advertising or public relations campaign, or a newspaper series. This course is the master's capstone for those on the professional project track.
Thesis Track
-
Thesis Track Overview
-
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 mass communication. The thesis is a scholarly study of communication behavior, the purpose of which is to broaden understanding of what mass media communicators do through what media channels, how they do it, and with what effects. It may be quantitative or qualitative.
Students will enroll in Thesis A during the fall of their last year in the program. They work with their thesis advisor to produce a complete thesis proposal that includes the first three chapters of the thesis (introduction, literature review, and a complete method section). After having a thesis proposal meeting, students can then enroll in Thesis B during the last semester in the program. The students will collect the data, write the results and discussion section.
The thesis track students are required to take and pass an oral comprehensive exit examination.
-
-
Required Courses
-
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.
3 Credit Hours. 3 Lecture Contact Hours.
-
Theories of Mass Communication
Examination of the literature of mass communication theory and discussion of theoretical approaches and models.
-
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. Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC 5302.
-
Media Writing
This course is designed to impart media writing skills. Students learn information gathering, interviewing skills, and writing techniques pertinent to different media. Students produce content (e.g., stories and digital pieces) that could be published across a wide variety of media outlets.
-
Digital Story Production
This course involves discussion, development and analysis of multimedia stories, documentary video, and digital media. Students explore digital media techniques used in writing and producing multimedia stories. They learn visual aspects of storytelling and how to produce digital stories. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Media Law and Ethics
Study of laws and regulations as they pertain to media operations and the internal and external codes that guide media behavior. Freedom and responsibilities of the mass media practitioners and institutions will also be explored within the framework of ethical theories. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
-
Prescribed Electives
-
Mass Media and Society
-
Health Communication Campaigns
Provides an overview of the theory and practice of designing, producing and evaluating health-communication campaigns. Examines persuasive approaches to behavioral change as well as audience, message and channel factors in health-campaign development. Emphasizes communication approaches, including mass media, social networking and new media.
-
The Psychology of Social Media
This course reviews social cognitive theories and research about the way social media users both produce and consume social media messages. It will examine clinical psychological and psychiatric effects that take place among social media users who do not have a clinical diagnosis. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Content Analysis
Content analysis is a systematic way to analyze the content of documented communications, whether they are written, audio/visual or digital. This course will examine the methodological steps involved in conducting a quantitative content analysis, design and execute a content analysis study. Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC5302.
-
Foundations For Mass Communication Graduate Studies
-
Collecting, Analyzing and Presenting Data
This course will introduce students to skills for working with data as well as perspectives from which to think critically about the use of data in contemporary society. It will focus on three stages of working with data: collection, analysis and presentation.
-
Refugees, Nonprofit Organizations and Strategic Communication
This course analyzes strategic communication of nonprofit organizations serving refugees and asylum seekers. Students are introduced to organizations that serve these marginalized populations in Texas and to the problems, challenges and opportunities these organizations face. Students will conduct research and produce a project on an issue related to this topic.
-
Social Media Strategies, Campaigns and Analytics
This course will expose students to the principles and strategies behind social media campaigns. It will discuss the interactions, channels, SEO, and social media metrics used to gauge the success of a social media campaign. Students will also examine successful social media case studies. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Mass Communication History
History of Mass Media is a course that examines the development of the American mass media, including advertising and public relations, from 1690 to the present.
-
Seminar in Strategic Communication
This course broadens students' understanding of issues related to advertising and public relations through an integrated communication perspective. Students learn the decision-making process, learn what problems real organizations experience and evaluate how they resolve issues in such areas as client-agency relationships, strategic planning/management and globalization. Corequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303.
-
Gender, Race, and Class in the Media
-
Global Media Issues
This course examines the media systems worldwide in different socioeconomic contexts and studies the patterns of international information flow. The course includes theories governing international communication. Students learn how and why communication takes place between different nations and the impact of this communication on individual nations. (MULT). Corequisite: MC 5303 or MC 5302.
-
-
MC 5399A (Thesis)
A scholarly study of communication behavior, the purpose of which is to broaden understanding of what mass media do, how they do it, and with what effects. It may be quantitative, historical or rely upon another appropriate methodology. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in MC 5399B. Prerequisite: Completed course work.