Future Students

Below is some general guidance, but please refer to our How to Apply page to see specific application deadlines for all our programs.

• 16-month Master of Arts in Journalism program: January
• 16-Month Master of Arts in Journalism with Spanish-language concentration: January
• 20-month Master of Arts in Entrepreneurial Journalism program: January
• 16-month Master of Arts in Social Journalism program: January 
• 25-week Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurial Journalism: End of July

Candidates to any of our programs should visit our application checklist to begin working on their materials to ensure a complete application.

It is required that applicants who have not studied and earned a degree in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand or Australia take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or The International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

The minimum score requirement on the TOEFL Computer-Based Test (CBT) is 260, and the Internet-Based Test (iBT) is 105 and The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a 7.5.

Please note: TOEFL or IELTS is also required for students from Puerto Rico and for students from non-English territories in Canada, unless the student attended an English-only speaking institution.

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

There is no minimum undergraduate GPA or GRE requirement. 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.

The GRE is optional. Students are not required to take the GRE to complete their application. However, if a student believes the scores may enhance the application, he or she may submit the scores to the CUNY Graduate Center (code 2113). 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.

Applicants with little or no reporting experience may want to consider doing informational interviews with a reporter or other news professional, taking an introductory journalism course, or applying for internships with news organizations in their communities. In New York City and other cities, there are many educational institutions, including community colleges, continuing education programs and professional journalism associations (mediabistro.com, etc.) offering introductory classes in non-fiction writing or reporting.

• M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Journalism with Spanish-language concentration, M.A. in Social Journalism: Admission decision letters will be emailed by mid-March.
• Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurial Journalism: Admission decision letters will be emailed in September.

Join our email list to receive information regarding our programs.

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

You can then contact the professor teaching the class to demonstrate your interest. You should be prepared to submit work samples so the professor can evaluate how prepared you are for a graduate-level course. If the professor decides the work samples show the appropriate level of preparedness and allows you to take the class, you will need to obtain an application for non-matriculated students from yahaira.castro@journalism.cuny.edu. 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.