Masters Degree
Master’s Degrees
Overview
At Grady College, we offer an M.A. degree that does more than simply provide you with a title. Our program is crafted for you to grow as an intellectual, explore the many pathways of mass communication and learn skills in preparation for careers in advertising, journalism, health and medical journalism, public relations or the pursuit of higher education.
Tailor your academic journey to best suit your needs. Choose between our thesis or non-thesis pathways and earn more than just a degree. Achieve personal growth, excel professionally and explore the limitless potential of your media and communication career.
Concentration Areas
The M.A. degree is administered in cooperation with Grady’s three departments: the Department of Advertising & Public Relations, the Department of Journalism and the Department of Entertainment & Media Studies.
The master’s in advertising program prepares students for jobs in a variety of advertising, marketing communication, health communication and social/digital communication as well as for future graduate studies. Students will acquire skills as managers, analysts, strategists, creative decision-makers and planners in advertising and related marketing communication fields.
The Integrated ADPR program is designed for students who majored in advertising or public relations at Grady and want to complete an accelerated master’s program, as well. This program builds on students’ undergraduate studies, preparing them for management-level careers in PR, advertising and integrated communication in business, government or nonprofit sectors.
The Emerging Media master’s concentration focuses on the intersection of technology and design, allowing individuals to explore the various facets, roles, and applications of emerging media across an array of disciplines and careers. The Emerging Media master’s program focuses heavily on interactive digital media through a project-based curriculum and encompasses the following: design, development, digital storytelling, social strategy, data analytics, brand identity, user research, product ideation, project management and emerging technologies. Designed to accommodate students and professionals from a variety of backgrounds and industries, this program is intended for individuals who wish to further their personal career goals through the leveraging of emerging media and innovative technologies.
Students can choose to earn their EM degree online or through our residential program.
The master’s degree in Journalism prepares students for jobs in news organizations and for doctoral programs in mass communication. Students develop advanced skills in finding and telling important stories in audio, visual and written forms, while also learning about the research that supports the disciplines of journalism and mass communication.
A non-thesis concentration that provides graduate students with understanding, insights and experiences in theories and best practices for communicating about health-related topics and issues. Courses in risk communication, public relations, advertising and health, global health and e-health are some of the courses offered to prepare graduates for careers in health media and communication.
A thesis or non-thesis track concentration in Mass Media Studies provides graduate students with understanding and professional-level skills in mass communication, entertainment and news media and media industry issues and practices. Courses in visual storytelling, film and entertainment media and mass media research methods equip students with advanced skills for a wide range of professional careers.
The master’s program with a concentration in public relations is designed to prepare aspiring students to be highly competent, socially conscious and engaged leaders in public relations with advanced knowledge, expertise, critical thinking, digital analytical skills and a global vision. The program is tailored to help students step up from the gained tactical knowledge to a more strategic, innovative, and managerial approach to launch their careers in public relations and related fields.
Master’s Program Policies and Procedures Manual
The MA degree is designed to accomplish three basic goals:
- To contribute to an individual’s intellectual growth.
- To develop a critical understanding of the institutions, processes, and effects of mass communication.
- To provide advanced preparation for communication careers in advertising, journalism, public relations, mass media studies, and entertainment and media studies or for further graduate study in communication-related fields.
This handbook teaches you about the policies and procedures of the MA program within the Grady College of Mass Communication and Journalism while guiding you through your chosen degree program.
Frequently Asked Questions
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All of your admissions application materials will be submitted online to UGA Graduate Admissions including your application for admission, transcripts, resume, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. If offered admission, official transcripts should be sent electronically from your institution or mailed. The application process begins by submitting your application and materials to the UGA Graduate School, at their website Graduate Studies website.
The Grady College MFA degree has different requirements. See the MFA Narrative Media Writing webpage or the MFA Film, Television and Digital Media website for more information about those degrees.
Upload the following items to the Graduate School: (1) completed application form, (2) all transcripts (from every institution of higher learning at which you were enrolled; for even one course), (3) current resume, (4) Three letters of recommendation (completed via email after you submit your recommenders email addresses. Ph.D. candidates should submit 3 former professors as recommenders), and (5) a 2-3 page Statement of Purpose (SOP). The SOP should provide information about your educational background and interests, your reasons or interests in pursuing a graduate degree in a journalism or mass communication area, and the reasons Grady College’s graduate program is a good match for you and your professional, academic, or research interests.
A small number of competitively awarded graduate assistantships are available to admitted MA students. These assistantships usually involve 13 hours of work per week for the 9-month assistantship period, with most assignments being teaching or research assistants. These assistantships provide a monthly stipend (with 10 monthly payments) and a reduction of tuition to $25 per semester. These are renewable for up to two years based on academic and job performance. MA assistantship awards often involve a competitive application and selection process, where interested students submit a cover letter and resume in response to a provided assistantship opening.
If you wish, you can apply for assistantship consideration when you complete the Grady College Supplemental Application. This form lets us know that you would be interested in being considered and enables us to send you graduate assistantship position announcements
The length of the MA degree program will depend on your undergraduate degree and the courses taken to complete that degree.
It takes from 3 to 5 semesters to finish the MA program assuming registration for a full credit load fall, spring, and summer semesters. The typical MA student spends 3 to 5 semesters taking courses and writing a thesis; the typical MA non-thesis student spends 3 to 4 semesters taking courses.
An additional semester is normally required if prerequisites are required. MA students without courses in journalism and mass communication-related areas will most likely have to satisfy prerequisite courses, which will require additional time.
For planning purposes, it is best to think about the MA as two-year degree program.
Our Ph.D. degree takes a minimum of three years to complete. The first two years are spent taking courses. The third year of the program is spent doing dissertation work. Comprehensive exams and the dissertation proposal are completed during the student’s second summer or third fall semester.
Most graduate students are admitted for fall semester entry. Emerging Media master’s students start in the summer. An accepted student may begin his or her studies summer semester; however, a limited number of undergraduate and graduate courses are offered each summer. Most students begin classes in the fall.
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Think of the Graduate School as the U.S. Federal government and the Graduate Office of the Grady College as a state. As a state, we are subject to the rules, policies, and regulations of the Graduate School. In effect, the Graduate School tells us what we can and cannot do. For example, the Graduate School approves degree programs and sets the required hours for each degree. Therefore, if you are a MA thesis student, you must complete 27 hours of course work and complete and defend a thesis. If you are a MA non-thesis student, you must complete 33 hours of course work and pass a comprehensive exam.
As a state, we set degree prerequisites, concentration requirements, course-specific hour limitations, and such. The Graduate School does not sign off on the waiver of prerequisites, the substitution of an elective course for a required course in a particular concentration, or taking 6 hours of JRMC 8050 instead of 3 hours. The authority to make Grady program-specific modifications/changes resides with the advisor/major professor.
Any advisor-approved modifications/changes in your program of study must be submitted in letter form to the Grady Graduate Office. The letter will then be co-signed by the Associate Dean and placed in you official file. If there is a problem with the approval, the advisor will be contacted to correct the problem.
You can find information about Graduate School rules, policies, and regulations in three places:
1. The UGA Graduate Bulletin (see sections on General University Information and General Degrees)
2. https://grad.uga.edu/
3. Grady Graduate Student listserv: enrolled students can subscribe. How to add yourself: email listserv@listserv.uga.edu. Type “subscribe gradygrd” in the body of the email. Send the email. Follow the subsequent steps to verify your email.Similar information about the Grady College can be obtained online:
An advisor is the person who helps you select courses and plan your program of study. A major professor is the person who directs your thesis/dissertation research, or your MA non-thesis requirements. Your advisor and major professor may be the same person. Often a student migrates from an assigned advisor to a major professor during the course of his/her program of study. Your major professor then becomes your advisor.
Your advisor or major professor should be prepared handle all your routine questions about curricula, Graduate School and Grady policies, and such. Your advisor has the authority to exercise judgments about program-of-study modifications, course exemptions/substitutions, and such, as long as such decisions are within the guidelines and policies of the Graduate School.
You will be assigned an advisor in your first semester. However, you may change advisors during the course of your program of study. The call is yours — you simply ask another faculty member to serve as your advisor, and if the person agrees, you complete and file an Advisor Assignment/Advisor-Major Professor Change Form. Anne Hurne can help you with this.
Research faculty interests and specialties. When you identify a faculty member who matches your scholarly interests, ask that person to serve as your major professor. Once selected, the major professor assumes advising duties and is responsible for directing your program of study, administering any required examinations, and directing thesis/dissertation research or MA requirements.
Don’t forget to complete and file an Advisor Assignment/Advisor-Major Professor Change Form once you have secured your major professor.
Centers
Brain, Body and Media Lab (BBAM)
Features facial electromyography and electrocardiography equipment
that measures activity in the heart and face, and electroencephalography (EEG) equipment that measures brain wave activity.
- Evaluates mediated messages through psychophysiological research
- Investigates cognitive and affective messages
Digital Media Attention and Cognition Lab (DMAC)
Features sophisticated eye tracking and facial expression analysis Equipment. Studies how consumers consume and verify news.
- Evaluates the connection of emotion with social media and advertisements
SEE Suite
Features 20 computer stations with Crimson-Hexagon software and large screens for social media listening and analytics.
- Researches engagement and strategic insights
- Analyzes big data and theory building
Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems
The Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) is an interdisciplinary research center for a human-centered approach to investigating virtual experiences and how they influence the attitudes and behaviors of users. The center makes forward-thinking inquiries into how interactions in virtual worlds can shift traditional rules and norms of social interactions in the physical world. Projects apply frameworks of psychosocial and behavioral sciences to explore, test and evaluate the impact of virtual and augmented environments on a wide range of social issues.
Qualitative Research Lab
Founded in Spring 2022, the Qualitative Research Lab, directed by Dr. Karin Assmann, an assistant professor in the Journalism Department, has the software needed for students, both undergraduate and graduate, to conduct qualitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data, such as interviews and documents. Under Dr. Assmann, the lab also provides a space for student researchers to interact and brainstorm with their peers. The Qualitative research lab is located in room 252.
Double Dawgs
Double Dawgs is an initiative that encourages undergraduate students to start planning for their master’s degree while they are still in school.
The Latest
Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.
MFA alumnus shares Pulitzer Prize finalist story with Sunday Long Read Podcast
The intersection between investigative reporting and narrative writing almost always delivers powerhouse journalism. And that’s what alumnus Max Blau (MFA ’18) discussed with Jacob Feldman, host and co-founder of The […]
InternViews: Melisa Bordianu
InternViews is a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Melisa Bordianu, a public relations master’s student, interned for IHG hotels & Resorts in Atlanta this […]
Alumni, faculty and students participate in Athens Film Festival
Fresh off a successful first year, the Athens Film Festival returns Aug. 14-17 and will feature involvement from several students, alumni and faculty of Grady College. Grady College is one […]
Grady College faculty and graduate students showcase their achievements at the 2025 AEJMC Conference
Faculty and graduate students from Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will present research, serve as panelists and network with other educators at the Association for Education in Journalism and […]
Glen Nowak and Hye Jin Yoon named Kennedy Professors
Grady College is proud to announce Glen Nowak and Hye Jin Yoon (MA ’06, PhD ’10) each have been named a Jim Kennedy Professor of New Media. “Dr. Nowak and […]
MFA Narrative Screenwriting student recognized for script in Atlanta Film Festival
For Shonté Hodnett, a Master of Fine Arts Narrative Media student, “Hidden Lines” is more than just a script she wrote for an assignment. It’s important cultural history that has […]
Crisis Communication Hedge Fund motivates graduate student research
On April 14 at Grady College, Hedge Fund: Venture Between the Hedges, once again helped contribute to the graduate Crisis Communication and Strategic Conflict Management course at Grady College. In […]
AdPR faculty and graduate students receive honors at AAA Conference
Congratulations to the faculty and graduate students from the Department of Advertising and Public Relations who received honors at the American Academy of Advertising Conference in Pittsburg March 6-9. Jooyoung […]
Grady College faculty and graduate students showcase their research at 2025 AEJMC Colloquium
Faculty and graduate students from Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will present research and network with other educators at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication […]
MFA Film student hires undergraduates to work with feature film
It is seldom that undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on a professional film set and get paid for that work. But that unique experience came to fruition when […]
Celebrating Jeff Springston
Jeff Springston has worn many hats throughout his years at Grady College, but perhaps his most indelible legacy will be his contributions to the Grady College graduate program. And, his […]
MFA Narrative Nonfiction mentor receives 2025 American Mosaic Journalism Prize
Latria Graham, a mentor in the Masters of Fine Arts Narrative Nonfiction program at Grady College, is one of two recipients of the prestigious American Mosaic Journalism Prize. Graham will […]
Faculty and MFA Film students participate in inaugural Athens Film Festival
The film industry is thriving in Athens, Georgia, as evidenced by the 2022 opening of the new Athena Studios; growing momentum of the UGA MFA in Film, Television and Digital […]
Grady College faculty and graduate students showcase their achievements at 2024 AEJMC Conference
Faculty and graduate students from Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will present research, serve as panelists and network with other educators at the Association for Education in Journalism and […]
Graduate Certificate in Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication approved for Fall 2024
The University of Georgia has been approved to offer a Graduate Certificate in Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication (CRDC), a program that will educate students in skills needed for proactive, […]
Events
Fall 2025 Grady Convocation Ceremony
Grady College’s Fall 2025 Convocation Celebration will take place on December 11, 2025.
Fall 2025 Graduation Celebration
Graduates and their parents are invited to celebrate with other graduates and faculty/staff at this drop-in celebration. Guests will enjoy light refreshments and photo opportunities with faculty and friends. Tickets are not required for the celebration at Grady.
2026 Grady Salutes
We look forward to recognizing our Alumni Award honorees and Grady Fellowship inductees at Grady Salutes on March 27, 2026. More information coming soon.
Spring 2026 Grady Convocation Ceremony
Grady College’s Spring 2026 Convocation Celebration will take place on May 6, 2026. More information can be found at https://grady.uga.edu/graduation/
Apply
Your advanced education starts here. Admission to Grady College’s graduate studies is a collaborative process involving Grady College and the University of Georgia’s Graduate School.
PERSPECTIVES
“Everyone at Grady genuinely wishes to help us learn and succeed, and I knew the major and the community would provide a great foundation for my career in advertising.”
Heaven Robinson
Advertising AB ‘22, Current MA Student
PERSPECTIVES
“Grady College has done a fantastic job with its people, first and foremost. All the faculty and staff are there because they want you to succeed. They will give you all of the resources and advice that you need.”
Bailey Pelletier
EMST AB ‘22, Emerging Media MA ‘23
PERSPECTIVES
“I want to be a great storyteller and journalist. I knew that Grady is the best of the best, therefore I felt as though it was only right to join the UGA community.”
Riley Armant
MA ‘22
PERSPECTIVES
“While I have worked in journalism for 30 years, I never did study it at a collegiate level, but . . . I decided there was no better place to get training in that field than at Grady.”
Eduardo Morales
Current MA Student
PERSPECTIVES
After the career fair, I was invited to an upstairs suite to meet the managing editor of a
major legacy newspaper, and that’s one of the coolest things I’ve been able to say out loud.
Overall, I’m thankful for the many opportunities professors at Grady entrusted me with.”
Alander Rocha
Health and Medical Journalism MA ‘23
PERSPECTIVES
“I want to tell stories that matter, and Grady has the classes and extracurricular opportunities to help me do that.”
Jacqueline GaNun
Journalism AB ‘23, Current MA Student
PERSPECTIVES
“My campus involvement serves as a great source of motivation for me. Being able to give back to the UGA and Grady community and support my peers is something I truly enjoy. I am constantly on the lookout for new opportunities to get involved, take on leadership roles and continue making a positive impact on campus.”
Raynor Manley
Public Relations AB ‘23, Current MA Student
PERSPECTIVES
“The knowledge from both of my degrees has made me well-rounded in understanding both traditional and digital media strategy while prioritizing the needs of the target market.”
Rachel Ziner
Public Relations AB ‘22, Emerging Media MA ‘23