Graduate Studies in Mass Communication

Dr. Clare Bratten
Director of Graduate Studies in Mass Communication
Office: COMM 215
Tel: 615/898.5874 (MC grad office) | 615/898.2795 (direct)

Thank you for your interest in the Mass Communication master's program at Middle Tennessee State University! Our program provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their media experiences and prepare for advancement in their careers. We do this through classes that blend the practical and theoretical, providing you with new managerial and empirical skills as well as a deeper qualitative understanding of what occurs when we place media messages before mass audiences. Thus, our courses are designed to enrich your understanding of mass media and to develop skills for the workplace or for doctoral study.

MTSU has the only master's degree program in the study of media in the middle Tennessee region. The College of Mass Communication offers two degrees; the Master of Science (M.S.) in Mass Communication and the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Recording Arts and Technologies. Graduate study in Mass Communication (MS in MC) is ideally suited to working professionals seeking a broader understanding of their jobs or traditional students on the path toward a doctoral program. Students take courses in theory and methodology as well as more applied professional courses and typically interact with professors in small, seminar-style classes that afford ample opportunity to apply ideas.

MTSU allows students to take up to three courses even before taking the GRE test. This gives you a chance to see if the program is right for you before you invest your time, money and emotional energy into the GRE.

We have a slogan for the program: "A time to reflect. A time to advance." Reflection occurs through your readings and discussions with faculty and fellow graduate students. Our small class sizes (usually 10 to 15 students maximum) provide an opportunity for thoughtful consideration of past and present professional experiences as we together pursue a deeper understanding of communication to mass audiences.

This deeper understanding, when combined with managerial and empirical skills (such as how to produce surveys that accurately measure public perceptions), provide the tools you need for career advancement, either in the workplace or in pursuit of a Ph.D.

Both online and in person, on weeknights and weekends, our classes will prepare you for your next step.

The 500 acres of Middle Tennessee State University make up the oldest and largest public campus in the area. Easy to access because of its location at Tennessee's geographic center, the university is only 30 miles from Nashville, the state capital and home to one of the largest recording and media production economies in the country. MTSU is proud of its status as a comprehensive doctoral/research-intensive university. The College of Graduate Studies oversees more than 55 programs, including graduate certificates, master's, specialist's, and doctoral degrees. Total student enrollment is over 22,000; there are approximately 2,000 graduate students at any given time.

The Mass Communication program is located in Bragg Mass Communication Building, a facility that contains state-of-the-art broadcasting, recording, and digital studio and editing equipment. An example of the many university resources supporting graduate study is the James E. Walker Library, which has resources for reading, research, and group study. More than 350 computers are available for accessing local and international information and searching electronic databases.

Admission Criteria

All applicants to the master's in mass communication degree program must formally apply to the College of Graduate Studies (call 615/898-2840) as degree-seeking students. Relevant forms and materials may be found on the College of Graduate Studies Web site or in the printed catalog. At least four weeks prior to the anticipated date of registration, all of the following materials must be submitted to the college:

• application for admission
• application fee
• official transcripts
• certifying coursework from each college or university attended
• three letters of reference

If you have any questions or worries about the following criteria, call the Graduate Studies in Mass Communication office at 615/898-5874 or 615/898-5871. We'll help you determine whether your academic and professional experiences have prepared you for our master's program. While exceptions are made ("Conditional Admission"), we seek students with the following:

• a minimum GPA of 2.75
• a combined score at or above 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• at least one year of professional work experience in a media field.

Students may enroll in up to three courses before being formally admitted into our program (even before taking the GRE; see gre.org). However, two of those courses must be our introductory MC 6000 and MC 6010. Graduate applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. International students are also required to submit a TOEFL score of 173 (computer-based) or 525 (paper-based). International students on F or J visas must also provide verification of financial support prior to admission, as required by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Quick Links

Academic Integrity

Admission Criteria

Help with Admissions

Email your Questions

Faculty

Courses (PDF: 2 pages, 48 KB)

Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-candidacy Form (PDF: 1 page, 112 KB)

Candidacy Form (PDF: 1 page, 75 KB)

Admission Applications

Graduate Assistantship Application (PDF: 2 pages, 116 KB)

GRE (test) Website

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to complete the M.S. degree?

A: If you were to take two courses in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, you would complete the degree in two years (12 courses). Most working professionals take one or two courses per semester and complete their degree in two or three years. Many full-time students take three courses per semester and complete their degree in about four semesters. You have up to six years to complete the degree.

Q: Where do I send my application materials?

A: Admission forms can be found in the Graduate Catalog or online at the College of Graduate Studies. Send admission forms and fees, transcripts, and three letters of reference to the MTSU College of Graduate Studies, 114 Cope Administration Bldg., Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

Q: May I enroll in classes before being formally admitted into the program?

A: Yes. MTSU is an open enrollment university, which means that you may enroll in up to three courses before being formally admitted into our program (and even before taking the GRE test). However, two of those courses must be our introductory MC 6000 andMC 6010.

Q: Is financial aid available?

A: Yes. Limited numbers of graduate teaching assistantships, research assistantships, scholarships, and doctoral fellowships are available in addition to other forms of aid. Applications may be obtained from the College of Graduate Studies or from the academic department. Those seeking an assistantship must meet requirements for admission to graduate school and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. The Student Financial Aid Office in 218 Cope Administration Building has information on various kinds of financial aid.

Help with Admissions

Admission to the University is handled primarily by Glenda Vandygrift. Her phone is 615/898.5494. She will send the MS in MC office your completed file (admission application, transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, etc.) for a decision on your admission.

If you have any admission problems (or questions about exceptions to our requirements), contact the MS in MC office or call 615/898.5874. Once you're officially admitted to the University you'll begin talking to the MS in MC office about what courses to take, and when to take them. And remember, MTSU allows students to take up to three courses even before taking the GRE test. This gives you a chance to see if the program is right for you before investing your time, money and emotional energy into the GRE.