Students may complete a master’s degree in three semesters (16 months), or they have the flexibility to customize their schedule over four, five, or more semesters, depending on their work and family obligations.

Please refer to our How to Apply page to see specific application deadlines for all our programs. Candidates to any of our programs should visit our application checklist to begin working on their materials to ensure a complete application.

Applicants who have not studied and earned a degree in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand or Australia are required to take an English-proficiency test. Below is a list of tests we accept and minimum score requirements:

TOEFL (iBT) = 105

IELTS = 7.5

PTE Academic = 73

Duolingo English Test = 125

Please note: An English-proficiency test is also required for students from Puerto Rico and for students from non-English territories in Canada, unless the language of instruction was English only. 

Applicants will receive notification of any scholarships awarded in their admission decision letter.

There is no minimum undergraduate GPA. Our application review process is holistic; we look at candidates from many perspectives, so a relative weakness in one area is not necessarily a disqualifier. We want to know more about you than your grades and standardized test scores, and invite you to tell us about yourself and your interest in our program in your statement of purpose and admissions interview.

The GRE is optional. However, if a student believes the scores may enhance the application, they may submit the official scores to us. It takes us approximately two weeks to receive the official scores.

All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from a CUNY college (or receive this degree prior to enrollment in the program). We look for applicants who have a broad liberal arts background, and have demonstrated a commitment to the field, a passion for current events and a strong sense of curiosity.

Admission decision letters will be emailed by mid-March for the M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish and English) and M.A. in Engagement Journalism programs.

You may join our email list to receive information regarding our programs, contact admissions@journalism.cuny.edu to schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admissions representative and/or refer to our Check Us Out page to attend an upcoming information session.

Some students may decide they’d like to take a class as a non-matriculated student before applying to the J-School. You should contact studentaffairs@journalism.cuny.edu to learn which classes may be open to students who are not enrolled in the master’s program.

The application must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which you are taking the class. You are not guaranteed a spot while you are going through the application process.

Please review the latest tuition costs and registration fees information.