The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism accepts official transcripts only.

An official transcript is a record of your academic coursework and degree awarded, sent directly from your institution to the Office of Admissions. We require official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, not just the institution that awarded your degree. Official transcripts may be delivered electronically through an approved transcript service or mailed directly by the institution in a sealed envelope.

Electronic Transcript Submission
Official electronic transcripts should be sent directly to:
admissions@journalism.cuny.edu

Mailing Address
Attention: Office of Admissions
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
219 West 40th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Transcripts submitted by applicants themselves, opened transcripts, screenshots, student portal records, advising reports, or unofficial copies cannot be accepted as official documents for accreditation purposes.

International Applicants

Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States should review the following requirements carefully.

The Office of Admissions can directly evaluate academic credentials from Canada. Applicants with degrees from any other country must obtain a professional credential evaluation from a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Your evaluation must include:

• A course-by-course analysis
• Degree type and accreditation information
• U.S. degree equivalency
• Graduation date
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA)
• Verification that the degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

While we do not endorse a specific provider, commonly used evaluation agencies include:

• World Education Services (WES)
• The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran)
• Education Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Applicants choosing The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) should use the school’s referral link to receive the appropriate evaluation type and available discounts.

Complete the online application for one of the following programs:

• M.A. in Journalism
• M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish/English) (in-person)
• M.A. in Engagement Journalism

Applying to Multiple Programs

Applicants to the M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (in-person), and M.A. in Engagement Journalism may apply to more than one program using a single application and application fee waiver.

Most application materials, including recommendation letters, may be used across multiple applications. The only exception is the Bilingual Program, which requires additional Spanish-language writing materials

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Getting Started

1. Access the online application portal.
2. Select “Create a New Account” if you are a first-time user.
3. Returning users may log in using their existing credentials.
4. Complete all required sections and upload supporting documents before submitting your application.

Resume

Submit a current one-page resume highlighting your academic background, professional experience, leadership activities, community involvement, and any journalism-related work.

Personal Statement

In no more than 1,000 words, tell us about your background, interests, and goals.

We encourage you to reflect on:

• What draws you to journalism
• Issues, communities, or topics you hope to cover
• Experiences that have shaped your perspective
• Why graduate study is the right next step for you
• What do you hope to gain from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

Letters of Recommendation

Recommendations should come from professors, editors, supervisors, employers, community leaders, or other non-family members who can speak to your academic ability, professional accomplishments, character, and potential for success in journalism.

Required Recommendations:

• M.A. in Journalism:
  • Three recommendations
• M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (in-person):
  • Three recommendations
• M.A. in Engagement Journalism:
  • Three recommendations

Applicants pursuing the Documentary Specialization should ensure that at least one recommender can speak specifically to their visual storytelling, multimedia, filmmaking, or documentary production skills and potential.

Once you enter your recommenders’ contact information, they will receive an email with instructions for submitting their recommendation directly through the application system.

Writing Samples

Your writing sample helps the Admissions Committee assess your reporting, storytelling, critical thinking, and communication skills. Applicants must submit one non-fiction writing sample that is single-spaced and no more than five pages in length.

Your writing sample may include:

• Published journalism
• Academic papers
• Essays
• Research-based writing
• Other non-fiction work

Multimedia Option

Applicants to the M.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Engagement Journalism may submit one multimedia sample in place of one writing sample. Multimedia submissions should be shared via URL within the application.

Examples may include:

• Audio reporting
• Video journalism
• Podcasts
• Interactive or digital storytelling projects
• Multimedia news packages

Additional Requirements for Bilingual Applicants

Applicants to the M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual programs must submit:

• One writing sample in English
• One writing sample in Spanish

Bilingual applicants may also submit a multimedia sample; however, it does not replace any of the required English or Spanish writing samples.

Documentary Specialization Applicants

Applicants interested in the Documentary Specialization will be asked to respond to an additional essay question:

“Documentary storytelling has the power to inform, challenge, and inspire audiences. Please discuss one or two documentaries that have had a significant impact on you. What made these works meaningful, and how have they influenced your understanding of storytelling, journalism, social issues, or the role of documentary media?”

The $75 application fee has been waived for all Fall 2027 applicants. No payment is required to submit your application.

As part of the admissions process, applicants to the M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (In-Person), and M.A. in Engagement Journalism are required to complete the Admissions Exam.

The exam is designed to assess skills that are essential to success in graduate journalism study, including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, editing, and clear, concise writing. Applicants will have 90 minutes to complete the exam.

After starting your application, you will receive an email within 1–2 business days with instructions for scheduling your Admissions Exam.

The exam is administered online and must be completed independently. Applicants should plan to take the exam in a quiet, distraction-free environment with a reliable internet connection. No prior journalism experience is required; the exam is intended to evaluate an applicant’s aptitude for graduate-level journalism study rather than their existing knowledge of journalism.

Applicants who require accommodations should contact the Office of Admissions prior to scheduling their exam. Requests for accommodations must be supported by appropriate documentation and submitted in advance to allow sufficient time for review and arrangement of approved accommodations. For assistance, please contact the Office of Admissions at (646) 758-7900 or .

Learn more about the admissions entrance exam here.

The admissions interview is an optional opportunity to connect one-on-one with a member of the Admissions team. Interviews are informal, conversational, and typically last 15–20 minutes.

Applicants may choose to participate if they would like to share additional context about their background, experiences, goals, or interest in the program that may not be fully reflected in their application materials.

To be considered as part of the admissions review process, interviews must be requested and completed before you submit your application. Because interview appointments are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, we encourage applicants to schedule early, particularly if applying by the Early Decision or Priority Deadline.

After you start your application, you will receive information on scheduling a virtual interview via Zoom.

Please note: Participation in an admissions interview is entirely optional. Applicants who choose not to interview are not disadvantaged during the admissions review process. In some cases, the Admissions Committee may invite applicants to interview if additional information would help evaluate their applications.

Applicants to the M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual (Spanish/English) program, are required to complete a brief Spanish-language interview as part of the admissions process.

The interview helps the Admissions Committee assess your Spanish-language proficiency and ensure you are prepared to succeed in a bilingual learning environment.

To schedule your interview, please use the registration link below.

register

Please note: You must begin an application before scheduling your interview. Interview availability is limited, so we encourage applicants to schedule as early as possible.

Applicants whose bachelor’s degree was earned at an institution where English was not the primary language of instruction and that is located in a country where English is not recognized as an official language are required to demonstrate English language proficiency as part of the admissions process.

Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree from a university in Puerto Rico must also submit English language proficiency test scores unless their degree program was taught exclusively in English.

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism accepts the following exams:

Submitting Test Scores

Official test scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions at by the testing agency. Electronic score reports are accepted and can be submitted by selecting the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY as a score recipient when registering for or completing your exam.

Please note:

• Test scores must be official to be considered for admission.
• Scores must be from an exam taken within the past two years.
• Self-reported scores, screenshots, or unofficial reports cannot be accepted.

English Language Testing Exemptions

Some applicants may qualify for an exemption based on their country of education or the language of instruction at their institution. Please review the list of English language testing exempt countries to determine whether this requirement applies to you.

If you have questions about your eligibility for an exemption, we encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions before submitting your application.