Mass Communication (Graduate Program)

For information regarding the UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

Program Overview

The Manship School of Mass Communication has a 100-year tradition of communication education and a world-class faculty equipped to carry out advanced training and research. The school counts among its graduates many journalists, corporate executives, agency heads, political consultants, and other leaders in mass communication. Alumni are active in mobilizing public support for the school, providing internships, and assisting students with career advice.

The school’s faculty has been recognized for its high level of scholarly productivity. In addition, the school is home to the nation’s only doctoral program in media and public affairs in partnership with the Department of Political Science.

Professional mass communication programs offered by the school at the master’s level feature an appropriate theoretical and applied research foundation relevant to those who will shape the information age. The emphasis on applied research also means graduate students will have the opportunity to be involved in public service and research through the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs and seminars in journalism, advertising, public relations, political communication, broadcasting, and Internet technologies.

Diversity is a major focus of the school. Some graduate students are selected to participate in The Forum on Media Diversity (www.mediadiversityforum.lsu.edu), a comprehensive resource on media diversity research and issues for both the media and scholars.

Administration

Master of Mass Communication & Juris Doctorate/Diploma in Civil Law Dual Degree

The Manship School and the LSU Law Center offer a concurrent degree program through which a student may receive both a Master of Mass Communication degree and a Juris Doctor/Diploma in Civil Law in approximately four years. This dual degree program is designed for those who wish to specialize in First Amendment law or to work as professionals in mass communication in fields related to law. For completion of the Master of Mass Communication degree within the dual degree program, a total of 34 credit hours are required, including 10 hours of core courses, nine hours of elective courses within the Manship School, nine hours of electives within the LSU Law Center, and six hours of thesis research. In addition, students must complete and defend a thesis. (For information about the requirements for the JD/DCL degree, please consult the LSU Law Center.)

Admission

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School. Official transcripts, official test scores, and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: Graduate Student Services, 114 West David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

Applications for the PhD program are accepted for the fall semester only; applications for the master’s programs are accepted for the fall and spring semesters, although most students begin the program in the fall semester. Applicants must adhere to the application deadlines established by the Graduate School. Applicants for all programs are evaluated only after supporting documents and credentials are received.

Students seeking admission must submit satisfactory credentials from previous study, acceptable GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resumé, and writing samples. International students whose native language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

Graduate students in mass communication are required to have their own wireless Internet access laptop computer upon entering either the master’s or the doctoral program. Information regarding the type, specifications, and software may be obtained on the Manship website (www.manship.lsu.edu) or from 211 Journalism Building.

Further information concerning admission or program requirements may be obtained from the Manship School’s associate dean for graduate studies and research or online at www.manship.lsu.edu.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to some students. The Manship School offers financial aid in the form of graduate assistantships. The stipend for master’s students is $11,000 for nine months. For doctoral students, the stipend is $25,000. In addition, graduate assistants receive a full tuition exemption. Assistants who are on contract for the academic year may also receive a tuition exemption for the following summer semester. Students are responsible for paying applicable fees. To ensure consideration for financial aid, all application materials should be submitted by January 25 for the fall semester for the PhD, and in accordance with deadlines established by the LSU Graduate School. Master’s degree program admission is on a rolling basis for start in the fall or spring semester, but not summer.

Facilities

Graduate students in the Manship School have access to a full range of Internet, e-mail, word processing, graphic layout/desktop publishing, SPSS, digital camera, visual communication, nonlinear editing, and other computer- and electronic media-linked peripherals. Staff members are available for instructional and consulting purposes. Graduate students also have opportunities to work with the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs and the Manship School Research Facility, which includes the Public Policy Research Lab and the Media Effects Lab. The Manship School also provides students opportunities to work with the Social Media Analysis and Creation (SMAC) Lab, giving them expansive tools to monitor social media communication and develop content.

Student Organizations

The Mass Communication Association of Graduate Students (MAGS) is a social and support group especially for graduate students. All full-time or part-time students in the school are eligible to join. The association’s primary purposes are to act as an effective channel of communication between graduate students and faculty; serve as an educational resource; undertake an annual service project; assist with fundraising and promotional events; and engage in networking, career planning, and social activities.

Other school-sponsored organizations open to graduate students include the American Advertising Federation, Association of Black Communicators, Public Relations Student Society of America, Radio/Television News Directors Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Graduate Faculty

(check current listings by department by clicking this link)

Programs

• Mass Communication & Public Affairs, Ph.D.

• Mass Communication, MMC

• Dual Degree: JD/MMC

• Strategic Communication