Graduate Studies
Graduate Admissions Information
Master’s Programs
Description | Deadlines | Requirements | How to Apply
Description
Master's students learn the ideas and skills they need for satisfying life-long careers in mass communication. A dozen specializations are offered, plus a joint J.D./M.A.M.C. program with the College of Law. Most specializations are designed for students with specific career goals in mind, while one specialization offers a highly flexible, individualized framework for students with different goals.
Fields of Study
- Advertising - Fall only
- International/Intercultural Communication - Spring/Fall
- Journalism - Spring/Fall
- JD/MAMC - Spring/Fall
- Mass Communication Law - Spring/Fall
- Public Relations - Fall only
- Science/Health Communication - Spring/Fall
- Telecommunication - Spring/Fall
- Web Design and Online Communication - Spring/Summer/Fall
Thesis specializations only are offered in international communication, law of mass communication and research in mass communication. Project in lieu of thesis specializations are offered in journalism, public relations, science/health communication and telecommunication.
Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- International – January 30
Domestic – April 1 - Spring Semester
- International – July 15
Domestic – September 15 - Summer Semester
- Domestic – February 15
International – October 15 - Assistantship/Fellowship
- March 15 (each assistantship begins in Fall, good for one year)
All admissions materials must be received by the deadline.
Applications may be considered after the April 1 deadline for domestic applicants only, if space is available.
When submitting your application online, please e-mail Sarah G. Lee, Admissions Coordinator at , so she can print it out and add it to your application materials.
Requirements
Note: Revised GRE test changes as of August 1, 2011
- First administration of the revised test will be August 1, 2011
- Changes:
- More test-taker friendly
- Verbal will contain more text-based materials such as reading passages
- Verbal will be less dependent on vocabulary knowledge alone
- Verbal will no longer contain antonyms and analogies
- New question types will be added such as highlighting relevant sentence to answer a question
- Quantitative will contain more real-life scenarios and data interpretation
- Quantitative will contain an on-screen calculator
- Verbal and quantitative will be reported on a new scale of 130-170, in one-point increments (current scale is 200-800 points, in 10-point increments)
- August 1, 2011 : first day revised test will be offered
- November (first week): those taking the revised test in August receive scores
- November (second week): those taking the revised test in September receive scores
- November (third week): those taking the revised test in October receive scores
- November (fourth week): those taking the revised test in early November receive scores
- December forward : those taking the test in December will receive scores 10-15 days after taking the test
Test Score Requirements
GRE - |
550 / 156 Verbal |
|
550 / 146 Quantitative |
|
1100 / 302 Total |
GRE scores are valid for five years.
Exceptions are considered based on entire packet of application materials. Some applications with scores slightly below the minimum will be considered.
TOEFL - |
550 Paper-based |
|
80 Internet-based |
IELTS |
6 |
TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.
The GRE codes are 5812 for the University of Florida and 4503 for the College of Journalism and Communications. The TOEFL code is 83.
To obtain information on the GRE or to request that official scores be sent to the university, write:
Educational Testing Service
CN 6004
Princeton, NJ 08541-6004
Minimum Requirements- The Graduate School, University of Florida, requires both a minimum grade average of B for all upper-division undergraduate work and a minimum verbal-quantitative total score on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants are expected to have received a minimum grade average of B for all core courses within the Journalism and Mass Communications area and their area of special interest.
Admission is determined by several factors beyond the application material including space availability, financial availability and supervisory availability particularly in specialized areas. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
Direct admission to the Graduate School is dependent upon presentation of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Two copies of the official undergraduate transcript should accompany all applications—one for the department and one for the Registrar. These transcripts must be received directly from the registrar of the institution in which the work was done. Official supplementary transcripts are required as soon as they are available for any work completed after application for admission has been made.
How to Apply
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide complete documentation to the Office of Admissions AND the intended department. Failure to submit forms to the correct offices will delay application processing.
Important Addresses:
Address #1: |
Address #2: |
- Graduate Application: Online
Submission - When submitting application online, notify Sarah G. Lee at
so she can be looking for it. You must submit contact information for references during online application process. References will be automatically contacted and letters of recommendation will be requested by the Graduate Admissions Office.
In the specialization field, please list one of the following areas; International Communication, Journalism, JD/MAMC, Mass Communication Law, Public Relations, Science/Health, Telecommunication, Web Design & Online Communication, and Global Strategic Communication.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three Letters of Recommendation - University forms are required (Download form). Written letters should be on letterhead and attached to the forms. The same letters of recommendation may be used for both admission and financial aid applications. Ask authors of your letters of recommendation to send them directly to Address #2 or send as a pdf file to . If you submitted your recommenders' e-mail addresses on the online application, they do not have to send hardcopies.
- Statement of Goals: You will need to submit your statement of goals during the online application process. Describe your career plans following completion of your master's degree. Tell what experiences have led to your goals and how you think graduate study will help you prepare for the career. Minimum length is 300 words. Please do not center text. Title this document "Statement of Goals" and be sure to include your name and date. Send to Address #2. or send as a pdf file to . If you submitted your statement of goals on the online application, you do not have to send a hardcopy.
- Supplemental Application for College of Journalism: (Download form): Send to Address #2.
- $30.00 Application Fee: Make Check or money order payable to the University of Florida. Send your application fee to Address #1. Please used Fee Payment Cover Memo (Download form) if paying by check or money order.
- Official Transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions: Contact all colleges and universities you have attended and listed on your application form and have them send certified official transcripts in your original language as well as translated into English. An average grade of "B" for the last two years of undergraduate studies is required. Send one original to Address #1 and one original to Address #2.
- Official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Scores: Contact the Educational Testing Service and have them send your official report. A verbal and quantitative score of at least 550 is strongly preferred. Some applications with scores slightly below the minimum will be considered. Applications with GRE verbal scores below 400 will not be processed. Self-reported scores are accepted temporarily to help speed up processing. GRE scores are valid for five years. Send originals to Address #1 and copies to Address #2.
- Resume: List all work positions held. Include names, addresses, and telephone numbers of supervisors. Also, remember to include your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number(s). Send to Address #2. or as a pdf file to . If you submitted your resume on the online application, you do not have to send a hardcopy.
- Application for Graduate Assistantship: This is optional. This is only for those applicants seeking financial assistance (Download form). Send to Address #2.
- Samples of Your Work: This is optional. Send to Address #2.
International Applicants Only
- Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report: Contact the Educational Testing Service and have them send your official report. A score of at least 550 (paper-based), and 80 (internet-based) is required to be considered for admission. We also accept IELTS scores with minimum of “6”. This requirement applies only to applicants from countries in which English is not the official language and include U.S. territories and protectorates where English is not the primary language. You will not be required to submit a TOEFL score if you have spent at least one academic year at a college or university in a country where English is the official language. Intensive English language programs are excluded from the year of study provision. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years. Send originals to Address #1 and copies to Address #2.
- Certification of Financial Responsibility: All admitted International students who have accepted our admissions offer, are required to submit this form. The International Student Services Office will send you the form via email with instructions. Without it, the University of Florida will not issue an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility). (Do not send CFR form and bank documents to our office. The International Student Services office will contact you via email with instructions.)
Contact Sarah G. Lee at or 352-392-6557 if you have any questions regarding your application.
Statistics Requirement
If a student's transcripts do not include a statistics course with a grade of "C" or better, one course must be taken, preferably prior to or during their first year of study. Exact means of demonstrating knowledge in statistics will be determined in discussion between the student and an adviser. Among the ways knowledge may be demonstrated are reading and/or assignments directed by the adviser; prior professional experience; completion of a correspondence course; passage of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test with a 50 th percentile or better score; course work with a grade of "C" or better at the University of Florida or another university, college or junior college.
If a student has passed a course in statistics, was exempted through CLEP, or has satisfied the requirement in any other way, they should provide written verification to the Graduate Division.
Background Reading
Many new students have little or no academic or professional background in the specialties they intend to pursue. Consequently, the graduate coordinators and other specialty heads of the College have suggested some reading that might be useful before the start of classes.
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