Double Dawgs Pathways
Double Dawgs
Pathways
Overview
Double Dawgs is an initiative that encourages undergraduate students to start planning for their master’s degree while they are still in school. The advantages are great: in many cases, students can complete two degrees in five years, saving time and money. Most importantly, it makes these students more marketable to future employers once they graduate. Grady College is pleased to support this initiative by currently sponsoring approximately twenty Double Dawgs Pathways. Visit DoubleDawgs.uga.edu for more information. Students may express their interest in a Grady Double Dawgs Pathway or request an application to apply via Athena.
Applications for Emerging Media Double Dawgs pathways are open every fall semester. Applications for all other Grady MA Double Dawgs pathways are open every fall and spring semester and are due by the withdrawal deadline.
At the end of your Grady Double Dawgs Pathway application, you will be prompted to upload a PDF version of your Statement of Purpose. Guidelines and resources for the Statement of Purpose are below.
Statement of Purpose Tips
Your Statement of Purpose for this application should be a 1–2-page, double-spaced, typed essay. This is your opportunity to explain your goals and what you can bring to the program as a student, so be sure to include details that help explain why you’re choosing to pursue graduate-level study!
Statement of Purpose Resources
• UGA Career Center: The Career Center’s page on Personal Statements outlines general advice, questions to get you started, and more. Please refer to their website for information on scheduling an appointment.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: this website can help walk you through drafting your statement. There are four questions answered in a Statement of Purpose: What kind of work are you interested in doing in graduate school? Why is the program you are applying to a good fit for you? What matters to you—and why? How are you unique from the other candidates?
• The UGA Writing Center: The Writing Center can provide professional feedback on a wide range of writing, from an English 1101 essay to a statement of purpose for medical school to a dissertation draft. Please click here to schedule an appointment.
Submit an Application
Application Link: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eVfCCE2STASoRUy
Contact
Melissa Garber
Director of Undergraduate Services
M.A. in Emerging Media
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 and those of their employers through the leveraging of emerging media and innovative technologies.
Students can choose to earn their EM degree online or through our residential program.
Nine Double Dawg pathways are available including Advertising, Computer Science, Entertainment and Media Studies, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Management Information Systems, Communication Studies, and Agricultural Communication. For more information visit: https://nmi.cool/dd/ or https://doubledawgs.uga.edu/
Applications for Emerging Media Double Dawgs pathways are open every fall semester.
M.A. in Journalism
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, and they also learn about the research that supports the disciplines of journalism and mass communication. We prepare leaders in online media, television, magazines, newspapers and any career that values ethical, credible communication skills.
M.A. in Health & Medical Journalism
This master’s degree program prepares students to write, report and produce multimedia content about topics related to science, health and medicine. Students learn to confidently translate complex topics for lay audiences and have many opportunities to publish their writing in local, state and national outlets. Coursework combines classes in journalism theory, research and practice with classes in scientific and health-related fields of students’ choosing. The program is open to applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in any field, with or without prior experience in journalism.
M.A. in AdPR – Integrated
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. Building on their undergraduate programs, students will further develop their understanding of and skills in strategic communication by studying theory, research methods, ethics and practices of both advertising and public relations, particularly in how they interact on social and digital platforms. Students will be prepared for management-level careers in PR, advertising and integrated communication in business, government or nonprofit sectors.
M.A. In Advertising
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 acquire skills as managers, analysts, strategists, creative decision-makers and planners in advertising and related marketing communication fields. Students explore the social, ethical and economic order in which advertising operates as well as the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in communication campaigns. Graduates work in traditional and digital advertising agencies, social media outlets and advertising/communication departments at various media, health and health-related organizations as well as in the advertising and marketing communication departments of leading companies.
M.A. in Public Relations
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 career in public relations and related areas such as corporate communication, stakeholder engagement, crisis & internal communication, external relations, public affairs, financial communication, integrated communication, etc. The intensive program features courses in theory learning and application, digital analytics, ethics & diversity, research, data-driven strategy creation, leadership capabilities & capacity and trends in global communication. Students will have many opportunities to learn from and interact with top leaders in the industry and from the world to gain real-world work experience and industry insights.
Perspectives
“Grady allowed me to join a field with colleagues who have goals beyond themselves. I knew it would give me the leeway to find my passion and the opportunity to write with purpose.”
William Newlin
Journalism AB ‘21, MA ‘22
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
“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
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 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
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Events
Report for America Online Information Session
Join this information session with Earl Johnson, Vice President of Recruitment for Report for America to learn about their mission and the application process for 100 reporter job positions they are offering for emerging, early-career and experienced journalists. Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities across the United States and its territories.
Upcoming May graduates, as well as recent graduates, are welcome to join. Positions start in July 2025.
Hosted on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81971659327
Intern Hours
Join us for Intern Hours, a peer networking event for Grady College students. Each session features a group of current Grady students who had or have internships in Summer/Fall 2024 or Spring 2025. Get tips on how they found their internships, how to prep for internship applications, what they did in the role and more. See details on this month’s featured interns on Instagram @UGAGradyCareers.
2025 DiGamma Kappa Banquet
DiGamma Kappa and the Georgia Association of Broadcasting presents its annual Distinguished Achievement Award in Broadcasting and Cable award and welcomes the newest DGK members during a lunch reception.
Journalism and Mass Communication Career Day 2025
Career Day connects organizations with students seeking internships and full-time roles in digital, print and broadcast journalism, entertainment, film, production, advertising and public relations. In recent years, the event has drawn 30-40 employers and 450+ students. We welcome all Grady College students and employers interested in hiring them to join us, along with our college faculty and staff.
This event is presented in partnership with the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and the UGA Career Center.
Employers interested in attending: find all event details and the registration link here.
Students: pre-registration is not necessary to attend. See the list of employers attending and details on prep events here on Handshake.
Washington DC Alumni Event
Join Grady alumni and friends at the Henri in Washington DC for a networking reception to welcome current students visiting the city. More information forthcoming.
Small Talk 101
Through our hit Professional Fridays series, the NMI has gathered years of feedback from industry partners about what traits help graduates land jobs. One common request is the development of soft skills. They need employees who can work on a team, solve problems, and demonstrate rockstar interpersonal skills. Just like with new technology, the NMI believes it takes practice to master a skill. Small Talk 101 will bring our current students together with industry experts, alumni and University friends to expand professional connections and practice networking skills. We will highlight tips and tricks to better relate in professional settings.Small Talk 101 is made possible by the support of Brooke MacLean (ABJ, 2011), CEO at Marketwake. Help our students build critical interpersonal skills. Join us on February 21 – and share with your colleagues! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/smalltalk2025