Admission Requirements

COVID-19 UPDATES

August 14, 2020 update

In light of possible continued testing difficulties here and abroad amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are allowing temporary emergency English test policy adjustments for applicants seeking to start degree programs Spring 2021, Summer C 2021, or Fall 2021 only. We will accept the following alternative indicators of English language proficiency in lieu of IELTS and TOEFL scores if both tests are unavailable to the applicant:

• Duolingo scores (click for details: Duolingo)
• TOEFL ITP Plus for China scores (click for details: TOEFL ITP China)
• Pearson PTE Academic scores (click for details: PTE Academic)
• English3 (click for details: E3PT)

June 24, 2020 update
The temporary waiver of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) requirement for all CJC graduate programs has been expanded to include the Fall 2021 semester.

Posted on June 19, 2020

In response to limited testing options resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications is temporarily waiving the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) requirement for all graduate programs for the Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 semesters. This change affects almost all applicants, both on-campus and online, whose scores have not been received as of June 2020.

The College of Journalism and Communications prioritizes the health and overall well-being of applicants and students during these challenging times, and the temporary waiver serves to better accommodate those who may be struggling.  

If you have already taken the GRE, you may still submit your GRE score for consideration during the application review process.

The application deadline for the Fall 2020 semester will be extended until July 15.

 

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Admission standards are set by the University of Florida Graduate School, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, and the specialization area to which you are applying. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission to a UF CJC Online graduate program include:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• A minimum upper-division undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Grades will be verified through review of official transcripts
  • Applicants who have earned their undergraduate or graduate degree(s) at the University of Florida do not need to submit official transcripts as those records are on file
• A submitted UF application
  •  All applicants must complete, submit the application and pay the application fee
• A Statement of Purpose
  • Write a statement explaining why this certificate or master’s degree would enable you to achieve your personal and/or professional goals and how this specific graduate program will allow you to best reach those goals.
  • Please use this statement as a place to include any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in support of your application.
• A current resume

Additionally, applicants for the master’s program must:

• Submit three letters of recommendation
  • Letters can come from supervisors, co-workers, instructors or any person you feel can speak to your ability to succeed in your graduate studies.
• Submit official GRE Scores
  • GRE scores are valid for five years. 
  • Historically, our most competitive applicants achieved scores in the range of 156 Verbal and 146 Quantitative.
  • Applicants with a previous graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution may be exempt from the GRE. 
  • Work experience cannot be substituted in place of the GRE.

UF CJC Online practices a holistic review admissions process. We consider a broad range of factors including undergraduate performance, professional resume, depth of the Statement of Purpose, letters of recommendation and performance on standardized tests. The admissions committee carefully reviews all of the evidence and data points. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.

It is an applicant’s duty to ensure that materials submitted for the application packet are complete, accurate, display the candidates full potential as a prospective admitted student and are submitted by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.



Professional and respectful treatment of admissions and other staff members, faculty and administrators is required. Unprofessional or disrespectful treatment will result in denial of admission.

For admissions questions, please review our FAQ page or contact an Enrollment and Admissions Coordinator.

To help you complete your application, download the application checklist.

Additional Instructions for International Students:

• International applicants must submit to the Office of Admissions an official copy in the native language of each transcript, mark sheet and diploma/degree certificate from each university or college attended, along with certified, literal (exact) English translations for documents not originally issued in English.
• UF requires proficiency in spoken and written English and accepts the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The university’s TOEFL code is 5812.

Minimum scores acceptable for international admissions are:

• TOEFL: 550 (paper test); 90 (internet-based)
• IELTS: 6
• MELAB: 77
• Verbal GRE: 140
• Please note: The TOEFL ITP is not accepted for admission purposes.

International applicants are exempt from the English proficiency requirement if enrolled for one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a recognized/regionally accredited university or college in a country where English is the official language prior to your anticipated term of enrollment at UF, or if you are from one of the following countries.

Application Deadlines:

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Financial Assistance

Financial aid may be available for full-time and part-time students enrolled in a UF CJC Online master’s program. To be eligible for financial aid, students must demonstrate financial need as determined by results from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information, visit our financial aid page or refer to the UF Financial Aid Office for specific questions.

Federal financial aid is not available for certificate students. If a certificate student applies to a UF CJC Online master’s program and is accepted, he or she is then eligible to apply for financial assistance.

UF CJC Online programs are not eligible for graduate assistantships, Employee Education Program (EEP), fellowships, state tuition waiver, or the Santa Fe College waiver (Florida).