UCF's Master of Arts in Communication prepares students for a wide range of professions in academia and the public and private sectors. This program, comprised of industry-leading scholars and professionals, provides students with the knowledge to succeed as expert communicators - all within a convenient and practical curriculum.
Housed in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, the MA in Communication is part of UCF Downtown, a 21st-century campus with access to arts, culture, nightlife, and business. While some courses are offered online, required core courses and most electives are offered in a face-to-face or mixed-mode formats, typically Monday - Thursday evenings at UCF Downtown.
The MA degree program in Communication is a four-semester program for full-time students. Part-time students make take up to seven years to complete the program. Both thesis and nonthesis options are offered and both consist of a minimum of 33 semester hours of work.
Total Credit Hours Required: 33 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
Applicants should adhere to the application requirements outlined below. An application will not be reviewed for admission until it is verified as complete by the UCF College of Graduate Studies.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- Official transcripts
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- Résumé or CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.
The following information is required for those who wish to be considered for funding initiated by the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, but is recommended for all applicants:
- Additional letter of recommendation (total of three)
Application Deadlines
| Communication MA | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | March 1 | | |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | | |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
The majority of financial assistance provided by the Nicholson School of Communication and Media graduate program is granted through assistantships. The number of total Assistantships at the Master’s level is limited, and varies year-to-year. Preference will be given to applicants who complete their application for admission prior to the January 15th priority deadline. It is the applicants' responsibility to ensure they have a complete application on file by the priority deadline. Applicants may indicate their interst in an assistantship in the application and follow up with the admission specialist or program coordinator. Students on assistantship are paid a stipend, receive tuition support, and are eligible for health insurance. For general information regarding assistantships at UCF, refer to the Assistantships (www.students.graduate.ucf.edu/assistantships) section of the College of Graduate Studies website.
- Graduate Teaching Assistants are assigned to work with faculty members and assist them with their teaching responsibilities. This includes assisting with large lecture classes, grading exams, compiling information for lectures, and working with students, as instructed, to help keep a class operating smoothly.
- Graduate Teaching Associates are graduate students who, after completing eighteen hours of their graduate program of study and the required university and department training, are assigned to teach their own sections of undergraduate courses. Typically, Graduate Teaching Associates teach SPC 1608 (Fundamentals of Oral Communication) or SPC 1603 (Fundamentals of Technical Presentation).
