Applying to the MA Program

The Masters program is open to wide range of scholars, practitioners, artists, and activists. We value your commitment to your scholarship and cause more than your particular modality. Applicants must fulfill the basic requirements for admission for graduate study at Queens College, as well as the particular requirements of this program, listed below, in order to be considered for admittance.

Applications will be evaluated primarily on the basis of what each candidate brings to the program. We choose students as if we were choosing colleagues, based on our belief in the promise of your own research and practical goals. The most important part of your application is your essay. We are not asking for a standard personal statement but rather a persuasive argument for what you want to do with media or learn about it, and why this work matters.

Appended to your essay, you may post links to any examples of relevant work: writing, videos, music, journalism, media coverage of you work, portfolio, websites — whatever you have that helps make a case for your goals or your ability to reach them.

Applicants are strongly urged to apply by the priority deadline of March 1. You should receive a decision by the end of March. After that, we will accept applications as long as there is space in the program, but in no case later than July 15.

The application process occurs online. If you have questions about the application process, or would like to schedule a visit to campus, please email the MA Director.

Requirements for Matriculation

These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for admission.

1. A 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate degree work.

2. At least three letters of recommendation from past professors, work supervisors or other people familiar with your personal potential and work ethic. In some instances an interview with the Master’s Program Coordinator may be required.

3. If you did not earn your undergraduate degree in residence at a university in an English-speaking country, you must submit a score of 92 on the TEOFL, 6.5 on the IELTS, or 62 on the PTE. Students whose scores are below these levels may be accepted on special conditions, or may have to take ESL courses before being formally admitted.

4. An 800-1000-word, persuasive OpEd-style statement of interests explaining your commitment to media or media studies, and why your goals or accomplishments matter. Consider answering questions such as:

• How are you studying or practicing media, and why does it matter?
• What are you trying to find out or accomplish, and how will it impact others?
• What do you want for society or your own community, and how do media enable or undermine that goal?
• Has your work already made a difference? Tell us how.
• If there are concrete projects or issues you hope to explore, how might a collaborative, interdisciplinary graduate program help you to pursue this work?
• If you can, append the essay with examples or links to any of your writing, videos, artwork, websites, or other work you feel supports your case.

5. The GRE is not required, but can be submitted in support of your application.

6. The credentials of each applicant will be examined by the MA Committee, who will decide whether to accept the applicant, accept with conditions, accept on probation, or inform the applicant the that their application was denied.

Matriculation with Conditions

Under certain circumstances, students with an undergraduate average below B may be matriculated under the condition of “Probation.” A student admitted on probation must achieve a B (3.0) average in the first 12 credits of graduate work. Students admitted on probation who fail to attain fully matriculated status after completing 12 graduate credits will not be permitted to continue.

Apply as a Non-Matriculant Student

Register for Classes as a Non-Matriculant Student