Graduate Application FAQs

We do not mail information packets or application materials to prospective applicants. If you have a specific question that cannot be answered after visiting our website, please contact our Graduate Adviser Lisa Aarli at aarli@wisc.edu.

The application submission deadline is December 15 for admission in the following fall semester. We will accept letters of recommendation for up to two (2) weeks after that date.

The graduate committee pays careful attention to an applicant’s ability to outline clear and appropriate goals for graduate study. Provide a brief, focused statement of your educational and career goals and your reasons for selecting this graduate program. Discuss those factors — personal, professional, academic — that have prepared you to pursue a graduate degree. All Professional M.A. applicants should indicate in some detail what kind of specialty they will seek and why. The statement should be about 750 words in length.

Applicants to the Professional M.A. program, Research M.A. program and Ph.D. in SJMC must submit a writing sample.  Please limit any supplementary materials to 25 pages. Please do not submit CDs, DVDs, etc.

No, but you should demonstrate a strong interest and genuine aptitude for the field that might help you compete with applicants with a background in mass communication.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication no longer requires or reviews GRE scores for any applicants to our graduate programs. The Graduate Committee takes a holistic approach to admissions, reviewing all parts of the application to get a picture of the person’s academic and professional background, interests and goals, and fit with what our program offers. For applicants to the PhD in Mass Communications in LSC, the GRE scores are optional. Please refer to their website for information.

A five-member committee of faculty members examines all aspects of an application — grades, statement of purpose, recommendations, resume/CV — and provides an overall judgment of the applicant’s qualifications.

You will be notified by March 1.

Yes. Please make arrangements with our Graduate Adviser Lisa Aarli. You can email her at aarli@wisc.edu. We host a visit day in March every year for prospective recruits.

There are approximately 85 students in our graduate degree programs at various levels of progress.

The Research M.A. degree usually requires four semesters. Professional M.A. students typically graduate in three semesters.

Typically, completing a doctorate, including coursework, preliminary exams, research, and dissertation defense, takes four to five years.

The Professional M.A. focuses on specialized training in journalism and communication skills that lead to careers in the information industries. The Research M.A. focuses on developing skills in mass communication research and writing a thesis and often leads to enrolling in a doctoral program. You may only apply to one of the Named Options. If you are unsure which one fits your goals, please reach out to Graduate Advisor, Lisa Aarli, to discuss.

Officially, any class designated 300 and above can count towards a graduate degree. However, doctoral students are strongly advised to register for courses with small enrollments and avoid large lecture courses. Skills courses such as 400-level undergraduate offerings on reporting or strategic communication would count towards the professional M.A. degree, but not towards other graduate degrees.

Generally, students take about nine credits per semester.

New Ph.D. and Research M.A. students enroll in J901, Mass Communication Colloquium.  Course work for the Research M.A. should be planned in consultation with your advisor. As for the Ph.D., you will work with your advisor to select courses from departmental offerings as well as from other appropriate departments to craft a plan tailored to your interests and needs. As a general rule, doctoral students should strive to balance theory and methods, deepen their knowledge in areas of specific interest, and broaden their intellectual horizons.

The Professional M.A. requires enrollment in J335: Intermediate Reporting in the first semester. In the first semester, students develop a program plan in consultation with their advisor.

We offer funding to our top ranked PhD and Research MA applicants. The typical funding package includes 4 years for PhD and 2 years for Research MA as a teaching assistant (TA) or project assistant (PA). These positions include tuition remission, a biweekly stipend and eligibility for high-quality, low-cost health insurance. Depending on available funds, we offer scholarships to our top ranked Professional MA students. Some students work as TAs or PAs in other departments on campus. They apply through the UW student job center website.

No, you do not need to identify an advisor or supervisor before applying. If you are admitted to our graduate program, we will match you with temporary faculty contacts who will help you select courses for the initial semesters. After a year or more, we ask that PhD and Research MA students identify who would be the best fit as an advisor for your program. Professional MA students will work with the program director and may identify a closer fit for advisor after one semester.

Please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website for the estimated cost of attending Graduate School at UW Madison.