Start by completing our prospective student form and someone from the program will follow up with you. 

When you’re ready to apply, visit the VCU admissions website and choose the graduate application.

Applicants are encouraged to see the VCU Bulletin information regarding admission to graduate study.

To apply, complete the online application. You will be expected to:

• Pay the online application fee
• Send official, sealed transcripts for all graduate and undergraduate work to the VCU Graduate School

And submit:

• An updated resume
• A personal statement of educational and professional objectives
• Three official graduate references, using the graduate reference forms available on the VCU Graduate School Website
• Portfolio material from your undergraduate and/or graduate and/or professional experience
• Unofficial or official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
• And your responses to a series of questions that you may answer via text or video

International applicants without a degree from an English-language university must also submit TOEFL scores.

For the M.S. in mass communications degree, the application opens Dec. 1, and the deadline to apply is March 15, although the deadline has been extended to May 5. Please not that our program begins in June. Late applications may be considered on a rolling basis though May. Please note that our program begins in June. 

The graduate certificate in media and leadership application also opens Dec. 1, and the deadline to apply is May 1. Late applications may be considered on a rolling basis though July. Classes begin in August.

For information related to admission requirements for any of our programs, contact Online Education Coordinator Jonathan Brown. 

No, you are not required to take the GRE. The Robertson School chooses to waive that requirement.

The Robertson School does not require a minimum GPA and applications are considered holistically. 

The Robertson School only accepts graduate applications online.

You may only apply to one of our graduate programs at a time. However, if you complete the 12-credit certificate program, you may apply to continue into the master’s program. At that point, you will only have 18 credits remaining to earn a master’s degree in mass communications.

Also, there is only one master's program you are able to apply to — the degree in mass communications. However, there are two concentrations (Media Leadership and Integrated Communications). You may only choose one of those two options.

Yes, there are two. One is for the Robertson School and the other is hosted by the VCU Graduate School.

Yes, there is a nonrefundable application fee of $70. 

We are currently waiving the application fee. Just submit your application without paying the fee! We will waive the pending charge after you submit your application. For questions related to this, contact Jonathan Brown. 

Yes, the VCU Graduate School requires you to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). More information can be found on the Graduate School website. 

Follow these links to learn more about the requirements specific to VCU’s Graduate School:

• Student Financial Services
• Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
• Graduate School funding opportunities

The estimated cost for our M.S. in mass communications program is $23,574 for in-state students and $24,444 for out-of-state students. The estimated cost for our graduate certificate in media and leadership is $9,243 for in-state students.

For additional information regarding VCU’s tuition and fees, please visit Student Financial Services or call (804) 828-2228 to speak with Student Accounting.

The VCU Robertson School offers the Judy VanSlyke Turk Scholarship for students who have been accepted into our Integrated Communication concentration. The Judy VanSlyke Turk Scholarship was established in the Robertson School to honor Dr. Turk’s leadership as director of the School from 2002-2010. It was awarded for the first time in 2012.

We also offer the opportunity for students to apply to work as teaching assistants for our undergraduate classes. These positions pay $3,000 for up to 10 hours a week, or $6,000 for up to 20 hours a week. Once students are accepted into our program they can apply for these positions.

Application questions for these opportunities can be directed to Robertson School Online Education Coordinator Jonathan Brown. 

In order to graduate with a M.S. in mass communications degree in one full year, students should take two courses per summer semester and three courses each in the fall and spring semesters. 

In order to complete the certificate in media and leadership in one academic year, students should take two courses each in the fall and spring semesters. 

The M.S. in mass communications program is offered year-round — fall, spring and summer — with a June start date. Classes span a regular 16-week semester during the fall and spring, and span eight to 10 weeks during the summer semesters.

All courses for both the M.S. in mass communications and certificate in media and leadership programs are offered online. 

Classes for the graduate certificate in media and leadership are offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Yes, by doing so, you will be considered a nondegree-seeking student. You will need to have graduated (or are in the last semester of your bachelor’s) from an accredited university. More information can be found on the Records and Registration website.

Please see the VCU Bulletin to view required courses. Review the curriculum requirements for the media leadership and integrated communication concentrations of the M.S. in mass communications program, and for the certificate in media and leadership.

Please note that students in the M.S. in mass communications program who wish to embark on an individual research project may choose to do so after consultation with the director of graduate studies if they prefer that over the professional project completed in the capstone.

We hope to provide our students with classes that have a study abroad opportunity, but it is dependent on demand, enrollment and instructor availability.

Please review our list of required and recommended equipment.