Media Studies MA FAQ

What are the requirements for admission?

For admission to Queens College: All students applying for admission as master’s matriculants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or the foreign equivalent. If ten years have elapsed since completion of undergraduate work, additional undergraduate courses may be required as a condition of admission.

Additional requirements for the Media Studies MA:

1. A 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate degree work.
2. At least three letters of recommendation from past professors, work supervisors or other people familiar with your personal potential and work ethic. In some instances an interview with the Master’s Program Coordinator may be required.
3. An 800 to1000-word, persuasive OpEd-style statement of interests, explaining what you want to accomplish with media or your media scholarship, and why your social justice goals or accomplishments matter. You are applying to a program where the faculty will be actively supporting your efforts, so convince us to join your cause, or make us understand your motivations, influences, and values. This should not be a simple biography or general statement of interest in this field, but a supported argument for your research, art, political or social justice agenda.Consider answering such questions as:
   • What is the problem you want to research or address, and why does it matter for society or your own community?
   • How do you want to make a difference? What is your focus for social change, and how do media enable or undermine that goal?
   • Has your work already made a difference? Tell us how.
   • If there are concrete projects or issues you hope to explore, how might a collaborative, interdisciplinary graduate program help you to pursue this work?

   If possible, append the essay with examples or links to any of your writing, videos, artwork, websites, or other work you feel supports your case.

Prospective students must also submit an application online and send in a check for $125 to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The applicant uploads transcripts, supplementary information, department-specific material, and letters of recommendation. Once completed, the information then becomes available online to the graduate program.

International Students must submit a TOEFL score if you did not earn your undergraduate degree in residence at a university in an English-speaking country. Students whose TOEFL score is lacking (below 100) may have to take ESL courses before being formally admitted.

The GRE is not required, but can be submitted in support of your application.

What is the Deadline for Application for Admission?

Applicants are advised to apply by March 1 for first consideration, as well as an admissions decision by the end of March or early April. We will consider applications on a rolling basis after that as space allows, until June 15. Earlier applications have better odds of admission. You may contact the director of the program for status on your application.

Note for deferment: The department has rolling admissions. Simply indicate on your application what semester you are applying to begin.

May I take Masters Classes if I am an undergraduate student?

Yes. We welcome undergraduates in MA classes,. You must get permission from the instructor, and will be enrolled if there is space in the class.

In addition, undergraduates with a 3.5 GPA in their major (3.0 overall GPA) and less than 125 UG credits are welcome to apply to the Accelerated Master’s program in Media Studies. Find details about the program and how to apply at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/ms/accelerated-ma-program/

What are the tuition cost for the Masters program?

Costs vary based on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. For current costs, click here.

Are there scholarships available?

All matriculated students in the MA program in Media Studies are eligible to apply for graduate scholarships made available through the Queens College Foundation as well as tuition assistance awards provided through departmental funds as available each year. Please find details under Applying.

What if I have a full time job? When are classes scheduled?

Most classes are offered at night to accommodate working students.

How long will it take to complete my degree?

The MA in Media Studies is 30 credits. The program culminates with a 3-credit thesis. If a student takes 2 classes per semester, the coursework can be completed in 2 years. Undergraduate students admitted to the Accelerated MA program who are also admitted to the MA program after they graduate with their Bachelor’s degree may be able to complete their MA degree in one year.

Accessibility note: 

If you require assistance filling out the graduate application, please contact Cassandra Winter at Cassandra.Winter@qc.cuny.edu.

What are the required courses?

All candidates in Media Studies are required to complete two core courses – MEDST 702, Capitalism and Media and MEDST 703, Media and Social Justice. These course should be taken early in your graduate coursework trajectory.

Students must also complete 27 additional credits of elective graduate coursework and a 3-credit Thesis seminar. Subject to approval by the MA Committee, students prepare a thesis based upon independent research under the supervision of a thesis adviser and give a thesis colloquium during their final semester in the program.

How many credits are required to graduate with an MA degree from our program?

30 credits. That may include either 3 or 6 credits from thesis work and up to 12 credits earned elsewhere (contact the director for more information on credits earned elsewhere).

What is the Masters Thesis?

Download the Master’s Thesis Handbook here.​​​​​​​​​​​

What is the suggested sequence for taking courses?

For full time matriculation, you should plan to take 3 courses per semester (9 credits) for the first three semesters followed by a thesis semester to conclude your studies (2 years).

Can I take courses in other programs at Queens College or at other Colleges in the CUNY system?

Yes, depending on space availability. You will need to contact the professor for permission. For courses at other Colleges, you must get a CUNY permit prior to registration. You can get this pre-approval form through the CUNY Portal. If you are interested in taking courses at the CUNY Graduate Center, you will need pre-approval. To do this, contact Kris Nappi in the registrar’s office (Kris.Nappi@qc.cuny.edu).

May I take courses at other New York Institutions and transfer the credit?

Queens College is not part of a consortium. If you would like to take individual classes, you can register as a non-matriculated student. On conferral with the department, we will determine whether we can accept the credits.

What courses should I take as a non-matriculated student?

Non-matriculated students register after all of our degree students have already signed up for courses. So it will not be a question of what’s best for you so much as what’s left. There may only be spots in two or three classes still available by the time you register. It is best to be as open-minded and flexible as possible as each semester the schedule changes and you are encouraged to take as many classes as you are able.

What if I want to take a course but it says “Closed”?

A course is “closed” if it already has its maximum enrollment. There are two ways to get into the course under these circumstances.
1) You can keep monitoring the CUNY Schedule of Classes website, waiting for someone to drop the course, at which point you should pounce on the opening and get the MA Director to register you for the class immediately.
2) You can ask the professor for an overtally. Feel free to contact the professor before the class begins to find out whether you can get an overtally, but be aware that most faculty wait for the first day of class before granting overtallies because they have to see how many registered students show up, how big the room is, etc. You may, however, get lucky and find someone willing to give you an overtally before the course begins or put you on a waiting list.

How may I get permitted for an overtally?

Only the faculty member teaching that course has the right to overtally students into it. The MA Director cannot place you in a course without the knowledge and consent of the instructor. An overtally is a permission note allowing you to enroll in the course even though it is over the maximum allowable number of students. The note should essentially say: “Professor Penelope H. Doctor gives John Q. Student, EMPLID 123445678, permission to enroll in my course, Media Studies 777, course code 12345.” Have the overtally permission signed by the professor and provide it to the MA Director.

It is your responsibility to keep track of courses, their scheduling, and their current enrollment.

May I transfer credit in from another institution to matriculate?

Yes, you are allowed to transfer up to 12 credits to the MA program in consultation with the director.

How do I pay for the courses?

Ask at the Registrar’s or Bursar’s office in Jefferson Hall. They handle this, not the department. But you do need to check because if you miss paying the fees on time you will be dropped from the class.