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M.A. in Media, Culture, and Communication Info Session

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What is the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication?
Established in 1971 the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication is committed to the proposition that society is a form of communication. Our core pursuit is advancement of research, scholarship, and teaching in the various ways that human beings make, disseminate, and share meaningful symbols as individuals and social groups. To us, communication is the foundational practice of human experience and culture is the shared, lived realities of particular groups. The department offers undergraduate, MA, and PhD degree programs in media, culture, and communication. We are part of NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, which has a primary mission to advance knowledge, creativity, and innovation at the critical crossroads of human learning, culture, development, and well-being.

What kinds of courses are offered?
A full list of our courses and sample syllabi are available on our Course Offerings page. The current course schedule and an archive of course schedules from previous semesters is available on the Forms and Procedures page.

Can MA students in MCC take courses in other departments?
Our program allows students to take up to 12 elective credits (3 - 4 courses). Electives are a combination of courses in other departments and internship credit. Our program is a total of 36 credits, so one-third of the program can be electives.

Is it possible to take courses as a non-degree student?
Students interested in taking courses as a non-degree student must complete a Non-Matriculated (Special/Non-degree) Application through NYU Steinhardt’s Office of Graduate Admissions.

Can I enroll as a part-time student?
Approximately 30% of our students are enrolled on a part-time basis. Many of our graduate courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening; typical time slots are 2 – 4:10 pm, 4:55 – 7:05 pm, and 7:15 – 9:25 pm. Please note that the bulk of classes are offered in the 4:55 - 7:05 pm time frame. Students who can only take courses after 6 pm are unable to complete the degree.

How many students are enrolled in the program?
Currently, there are about 140 Media, Culture, and Communication MA students. Approximately 14 graduate courses are offered each fall and spring semester. During the summer and winter sessions, 2 – 3 graduate courses are offered.

Is a master's thesis required?
All students will complete a culminating experience which synthesizes their MA course work. Students can elect to take the MA exam or write the thesis.

Can I study abroad as a master's student?
Yes. The department sponsors several outstanding study abroad opportunities. Visit our Study Abroad page for more information.

Are there internship opportunities?
Yes, the department has strong ties to the communication industry and offers internship opportunities. Visit our Internships page for more information.

What is the total cost of the MA in Media, Culture, and Communication?
The total cost of our degree varies slightly depending on the cost of tuition and fees in a particular semester and how quickly a student completes the program. Our program is a total of 36 credits. You can find detailed information about the per credit cost of tuition and fees here. The cost of tuition and fees are the same for all students (including international and out-of-state students). Please note that room/board, books, transportation, health insurance and other personal expenses are additional.

Is financial aid available?
NYU Steinhardt is committed to assisting graduate applicants in the process of financing their education. One way we do this is by offering partial tuition scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships that are based on merit and financial need. Such types of aid, combined with loans, college work-study, and student employment help both full-time and part-time students complete their advanced degrees. View a selection of internal and external funding resources and application deadlines (subject to change).

School-wide, over 50% of all financial aid applicants receive some sort of financial assistance in the form of loans, scholarships and grants. Only those U.S. citizens or residents who apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline are considered. Departmental funding, including teaching and research assistantships, is set aside for doctoral students.

Most of our international students are self-funded or receive financial support from their government and/or employer. The NYU Financial Aid Office website provides information specifically for international students.

How long does it take to finish?
The length of time required to finish the MA degree depends on several factors: full- or part-time status, summer courses, and the culminating experience.

The academic year consists of a fall and a spring semester. In addition, some students take summer courses. Full-time students typically take at 12 credits each semester while part-time students usually take a minimum of 4 credits. Some students take summer courses which allows them to complete the degree more quickly.

Students must complete one of two culminating experiences: an MA exam or a thesis. In most cases, the thesis option adds an additional semester to the length of time required to complete the degree. The total number of credits required for the degree (36) is the same for each option.

Full-time students who do not take summer courses typically complete the degree in 3 semesters (MA exam option) or 4 semesters (thesis option). Part-time students typically complete the degree in 4 – 8 semesters.

The degree is flexible enough that students can switch between full-time and part-time status as work commitments require. Some students may be required to be enrolled full-time for student visa or financial aid reasons.

What do Media, Culture, and Communication MA students do after they graduate?
Approximately 30% of Media, Culture, and Communication MA students intend to continue their scholarship as PhD students. Approximately 70% of our students intend to take their in-depth study of media, culture, and communication theory and pursue jobs in a variety of industries. These include marketing, TV, publishing, education, public relations, digital media, etc. This MA degree is theory-driven and non-vocational, and its methodologies/approaches are akin to study in the humanities and social sciences. The MA is grounded in serious scholarly inquiry and focuses on theoretical means to explore human culture and communication.

The department's extensive internship opportunities offer access to the communication industries located in New York City and this type of preparation often paves the way to entry-level work within the communication industry. The deep, interdisciplinary investigation of media, culture, and communication is rigorous and relevant to the human condition; and it is satisfying as a course of continued study. The student will need to translate the relevance of this MA's coursework (theoretical as it is) to future employers.

How many students apply?
The number of applicants varies from year to year. Admissions is selective with the emphasis on the personal statement and records of academic achievement.

Are GRE scores required?
Master's and doctoral applicants to the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication are required to submit official GRE scores. Applicants should submit a photocopy of their scores with their admissions materials and request that official scores be sent using NYU Steinhardt's ETS institution code of 2556; a department code is not required.

What are the minimum GRE and TOEFL scores for your program?
We do not have minimum GRE or TOEFL requirements, and no applicant will be admitted nor denied admission solely on the basis of a single score. The strongest applicants have a minimum Verbal GRE score of 600 or above and a combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 1100 or higher.

Applicants whose native language is not English or who did not receive a bachelor's degree at an English-speaking college or university are required to submit a TOEFL score. Successful applicants typically score 100 or above on the internet-based TOEFL or 600 or above on the paper-based test.

Can I submit GRE, TOEFL or other components of my application after the deadine?
All components of the application must be in our admissions office by the deadline. Our department will only review complete applications. If you submit a part of the application after the deadline, your application may be evaluated after we review all on-time applications.

Do you accept the IELTS as proof of English proficiency?
No, the TOEFL is the only test that we accept.

Do I need work experience?
The MA program in Media, Culture, and Communication has a theoretical focus and is not a professional program. As such, work experience is not a requirement for admission. That said, professional experience derived from full- and part-time employment as well as internships can enhance an applicant's admissions file.

Do I have to take certain media or communication courses as an undergraduate student in order to be eligible for admission to your program? Do I need an undergraduate degree in media or communication?
Applicants do not need a background in media or communication in order to be eligible for admission. Our program is uniquely interdisciplinary and our students and faculty come from a variety of academic backgrounds. The most
successful applicants have completed some undergraduate coursework in the humanities and/or social sciences.

My undergraduate major was not communication. Can I still apply to your program?
Our program is interdisciplinary and our faculty have diverse academic backgrounds. In addition, our students have undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of majors including literature, economics, anthropology, art, politics, computer science, sociology, philosophy, etc. While previous coursework in media or communication is helpful, it is not required.

I will complete my undergraduate studies after the application deadline. Can I still apply?
Applicants who are completing their undergraduate degree can apply, but undergraduate degree requirements must be complete before beginning our master's program. If you are admitted, you will be asked to submit a final transcript showing final grades and degree conferral.

Do you accept applications from transfer students? What is the application process?
We welcome applications from transfer students. Applicants not from NYU Steinhardt, must apply as a new student. Up to 10 transfer credits may be accepted; department approval of course syllabi is required. See other rules for graduate transfer credit.

To whom should my letters of recommendation be directed?
Letters of recommendation can be addressed to the Admissions Committee. If recommenders prefer to address their letters to an individual, letters can be addressed to Professor Rodney Benson, Director of Graduate Studies. All recommendations should be submitted through the online system or mailed (with a Document Cover Sheet) as instructed here.

Who should I contact to confirm that my application has been received?
Please contact our admissions office to confirm that your application has been received.

Can I submit a part (i.e. GRE score, TOEFL score, letter of recommendation, etc.) of my application after the deadline?
An application will be reviewed only if all parts of the application are received by our admissions office by February 1.

When will I receive my admission decision?
Decisions are rendered in roughly six to twelve weeks after the application deadline.

If I am admitted to the MA program, am I admitted to the PhD program automatically?
No. Admission to the PhD program is a separate process.

Can I reapply if I have been declined admission?
Yes, applicants may reapply if there is a significant change in their profile such as successful completion of graduate level coursework in a relevant field or gaining relevant experience.

Can I take a campus tour?
New York University's Student Resource Center offers Graduate Student Tours. These tours are designed to give prospective and newly admitted graduate students a hands on view of NYU. Lasting approximately 1 hour, these tours provide information regarding building locations, student services, and some history behind NYU. Reserve a space here.

Can I sit in on a class?
Applicants who would like to sit in on a class can review coure listings on our currrent course details page. Contact mcc.graduate@nyu.edu to schedule a class visit and include the following in your email: the class number and name, the date(s) you would like to visit, and your mailing address. A minimum of two weeks notice is required.

Please note: class visits are not possible during the first three weeks and last two weeks of a semester. A university calendar is available here.

Can I talk with a professor?
Given the sheer number of inquiries we receive from prospective graduate students, our faculty are usually unable to speak directly with most applicants. Departmental events and classroom visits are the best way to meet faculty. See our department calendar for a list of upcoming events, including our annual Neil Postman Graduate Conference which is typically held annually during the fall semester.

Who advises master's student in your program?
Mary Taylor is the academic advisor for all master's students. As students advance through the program, they also develop relationships with faculty who offer advice. In addition, students who write theses have a designated faculty thesis advisor.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
After carefully reading each answer provided above, and on the graduate admissions page, additional questions can be directed to graduate advising in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication via online chat sessions. If you are unable to participate in one of the scheduled sessions, for an in-person or telephone appointment please call (212) 998-5191.

Due to the high volume of inquiries we receive, email questions are answered once every two weeks. We respond to phone inquiries more frequently.

Department of Media, Culture, and Communication

Master's Programs - Media, Culture, and Communication

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