Master of Arts in Mass Communication

Students can opt to produce media content or they can carry out research projects. Examples of media work include documentaries about robot journalism; immigrants from El Salvador; the rise of activist girls; and Black women’s hair.  Other media project examples include the creation of an app to help schedule group travel and a graphic novel about a refugee-serving institution. Recent research projects include a study of smart city initiatives in Medellín, Colombia, and studies of refugee media practices in Scandinavia. 

We have graduates working as a producer at public radio’s Marketplace, as an editor as Sage Publications, Deutsche Welle news agency in Germany, BBC in London, marketing and public relations in the health care and entertainment industries.

While most of our applicants major in a media-related field such as journalism, public relations, communication, cinema/television, etc., we can accept other majors. Consult with the Graduate Program Coordinator, who is a professor in the Journalism Department. 

We expect a GPA of 3.0 (“B”).  If you have worked professionally in the journalism or related fields, this can be waived. If your GPA is lower, consult with the Graduate Coordinator.

No.

We ask applicants to achieve an 89 or higher on the Internet Based Test (IBT) of the TOEFL and a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS.

Most students finish in two years. 

1) Apply online at CSU APPLY.

2) Submit two letters of recommendation from professors who have taught you and can judge your ability to do graduate level work.  If you have been out of school for a while, your supervisors at work can write letters instead. Letters from politicians, celebrities and other luminaries are not appropriate. Ask someone who knows you and your work.
 
3) Submit an approximately one (1) page letter that explains why you want to enter our program and what experiences you have had that make you a strong candidate. This might include media jobs held, internships, projects carried out as a student that involved producing original media content or research, etc. 

Submit the recommendation letters and statement to melissa.a.wall@csun.edu (don’t leave out the .a)

Usually 10 (30 credit hours). For information about course offerings, check the CSUN catalog.