Admissions FAQ
Your guide to our most frequently asked questions.
What are my options for online graduate education?
A graduate certificate is a shorter term of study where students complete four courses or 12 to 14 credit hours in a communication concentration of their choice. UF CJC Online graduate certificates feature introductory and core courses that give students the opportunity to learn new skills. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the four courses. Certificate courses can sometimes be used to satisfy degree requirements for a master’s degree dependent upon the institution’s requirements. Learn more…
A master’s degree is a longer term of study consisting of at least 30 credit hours. Students who complete all degree requirements in a UF CJC Online master’s concentration graduate with a Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree with a concentration in the area of their choice. Learn more…
Key differences include:
- Graduate certificate students do not qualify for federally guaranteed financial aid (student loans).
- Graduate certificate students have a shorter application process than do master’s students.
- Master’s degrees allow for greater flexibility for degree customization through elective choices.
- A master’s degree is a formally recognized graduate degree.
Most Common Application Questions
There are three enrollment periods each year in Fall (August class start date), Spring (January class start date), and Summer (May class start date). Apply early to ensure you meet all application requirements and satisfy all deadlines. For specific application information, review the application checklist.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and we encourage applicants to submit their materials well before the application deadline. Our course registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so staying responsive and replying to any admissions communications early may result in more course options for your first semester.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall:
Priority – April 1
Final – June 1 - Spring:
Final – October 1 - Summer:
Final – February 1
Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for either the certificate or master’s degree program:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- GPA of 3.0 or better for all upper-division undergraduate work
- Submit a UF application and pay the application fee
- Submit a Statement of Purpose
- Submit a current resume/CV
Additionally, applicants for the master’s program must:
- Submit three letters of recommendation
All applications are reviewed holistically. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
The upper-division division GPA usually includes classes completed after the first 60 credit hours of a degree. Typically, these courses are completed during the applicant’s junior or senior year. To help you calculate your self-reported GPA for the UF Application, please use the GPA Calculator. For applicants with a nontraditional GPA, the UF Office of Admissions will calculate an equivalent GPA.
UF CJC Online requires official transcripts only from the institution that has conferred your undergraduate or, in applicable situations, your master’s degree.
The most efficient way to submit copies of your official transcripts from your school’s option is via electronic transmission and by selecting the University of Florida. If your institution does not include the University of Florida as an option and instead requires an email address, please have them sent to te@admissions.ufl.edu. Please remember that transcripts must come directly from the institution to be deemed official.
International applicants are required to submit an official copy of each transcript, mark sheet and diploma/degree certificate from each university or college attended. All documents must be in their native language. If their native language is not English, a certified English translation is required.
We request that applicants send all documents directly to our offices using a trackable shipping method including a self-addressed paid envelope that we will use to return documents to applicants after they have been evaluated by our international admissions team.
The appropriate shipping address is included below:
University of Florida
Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall
P.O. Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
The GRE is not required for master’s programs at the College of Journalism and Communications. It is required for admission to the CJC Ph.D. program. If you have already taken the GRE, you can submit your scores for consideration through the application portal.
The Statement of Purpose is an opportunity for the applicant to express his or her goals and reason behind pursuing graduate education. The Statement of Purpose is a personal reflection that provides the admissions committee with a more robust understanding of the applicant. The submission should be at least 300 words.
The following questions can provide talking points for your Statement of Purpose.
- What interests you about the field of study for which you are applying and how did you learn about it?
- What are your relevant work experiences (if any)? Previous work experience is not required.
- What are your career goals? How will this program help you achieve your career goals?
Once completed, send your Statement of Purpose to an Enrollment Coordinator at onlineadmissions@jou.ufl.edu.
The Resume/CV is an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about your professional accomplishments. The Resume/CV should include your education history, internships, jobs, awards, skills, etc. Prior communication experience is not required. Our applicant pool often features diverse backgrounds and accomplishments. Unique perspectives and life experiences enrich the online learning experience.
Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires the inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
Once completed, send your Resume/CV to an Enrollment Coordinator at onlineadmissions@jou.ufl.edu.
Letters of recommendation can be from current or former instructors, supervisors, employers, coworkers, professional connections, etc. You will need the recommender’s full name, title, company/institution, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
Recommenders can submit their letters of recommendation by uploading the information into UF application system or by emailing a PDF attachment with “Letter of Recommendation” in the subject line to onlineadmissions@jou.ufl.edu.
To be a competitive applicant, you must meet the minimum academic and application requirements.
Your application is reviewed holistically by our admissions committee. Where one segment may be weak, other segments may compensate for the weakness.
You do not need prior experience or a degree in communications in order to be successful in the program. Students from various backgrounds succeed in our online programs because each degree plan starts with foundational courses that teach introductory skills. As the students advance through the degree plan, they learn more advanced digital storytelling skills and competencies.
Admission decisions are released after the admissions deadline for each enrollment period. Our goal is to have a decision for all applicants 4-6 weeks after the application deadline but there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that would delay the release of an admissions decision. To prevent some of these delays, we encourage you to submit all of your application materials early and to ensure you have met all application requirements, refer to the application checklist.
Master’s students, with the approval of the UF CJC Online Director and the CJC Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, may petition the Graduate School for permission to transfer credits to be applied towards their master’s degree. The following policies set forth by the Graduate School will apply:
- No more than 9 of the 30 credits (earned with a grade of A, A-, B+, or B) may be transferred from institutions approved for this purpose by the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Only graduate-level (5000-7999) work with a grade of B or better, is eligible for transfer of credit.
- A maximum of 15 transfer credits are allowed. These can include no more than 9 credits from institution/s approved by UF, with the balance obtained from postbaccalaureate work at the University of Florida.
- Credits transferred from other universities are applied toward the degree requirements, but grades earned are not computed in the student’s grade point average.
- All work (including transferred credit) counted toward the master’s degree must be completed within 7 years before the degree is awarded.
- Students must earn at least 30 credits as a graduate student at UF.
- Acceptance of transfer of credit requires approval of the UF CJC Online Director, the CJC Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Petitions for transfer of credit for a master’s degree must be submitted during the student’s first term of enrollment in the Graduate School.
- Students interested in attempting to transfer credits to UF should consult with their advisor early in their first term of enrollment. Students should have all materials submitted to their advisor by the mid-point of their first term.
No assumptions regarding the transferability of past coursework should be made. UF CJC Online staff cannot offer opinions on the likelihood of transfer credits being approved.
Transfer credits are not accepted towards Graduate Certificates.
Materials needed for submission include:
- Official Transcript (already on file if submitted with application materials)
- Syllabus of course completed
- Statement (approx. 200-400 words) from student indicating which course(s) they would like to be transferred, an explanation of what courses those credits should be applied towards the student’s degree plan and an explanation of why the student believes one course is suitable to replace another.
-In the first paragraph, the student should state the name and class number of the course, the grade received, the semester and year of the class enrollment, and the institution where the class was taken. - Grad School Transfer Request Form (Filled out by Advisors)
Applicants must choose one MAMC concentration to apply to. We strongly encourage applicants to be thoughtful about this selection because once admitted to the program, requests to change concentrations go through an approval process that depends on several factors, one being the capacity of the desired concentration. Additionally, if coursework has been taken toward the original concentration, we cannot guarantee that it will be able to be applied toward the new concentration’s degree plan.
What is the cost?
Tuition varies by concentration and the number of credit hours associated with the degree plan. UF CJC Online master’s concentration range from $17,441 – $34,545. You can find the per credit hour tuition amounts on each concentration page or in the Information Packet.
| Program Name | Location | In-State Tuition (per credit) | Fees (per credit) | Total (per credit) | Out-of-State Tuition (per credit) | Fees (per credit) | Total (per credit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.A.M.C - Digital Journalism and Multimedia Storytelling | Online | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 |
| M.A.M.C - Digital Strategy | Online | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 |
| M.A.M.C - Global Strategic Communication | Online | $850.00 | $35.75 | $885.75 | $850.00 | $35.75 | $885.75 |
| M.A.M.C - Public Interest Communication | Online | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 | $448.73 | $35.75 | $484.48 |
| M.A.M.C - Public Relations and Communication Management | Online | $550.00 | $35.75 | $585.75 | $550.00 | $35.75 | $585.75 |
| M.A.M.C - Social Media | Online | $780.00 | $35.75 | $815.75 | $780.00 | $35.75 | $815.75 |
| M.A.M.C - Web Design and Online Communication | Online | $564.00 | $35.75 | $599.75 | $564.00 | $35.75 | $599.75 |
| Graduate Certificate - Audience Analytics | Online | $850.00 | $13.32 | $863.32 | $850.00 | $13.32 | $863.32 |
| Graduate Certificate - Global Strategic Communication | Online | $850.00 | $13.32 | $863.32 | $850.00 | $13.32 | $863.32 |
| Graduate Certificate - Social Media | Online | $780.00 | $13.32 | $793.32 | $780.00 | $13.32 | $793.32 |
| Graduate Certificate - Web Design and Online Communication | Online | $564.00 | $13.32 | $577.32 | $564.00 | $13.32 | $577.32 |
UF CJC online master’s and graduate certificate programs do not charge different tuition rates based on residency (in-state/out-of-state).
Degree-seeking online students are eligible for the same financial aid as campus-based students as long as they meet the required number of credit hours per semester. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to satisfy the first requirement requested by the Financial Aid Office. Click here for instructions and details.
Graduate certificates are not eligible for federal financial aid.
UF CJC Online programs are not eligible for graduate assistantships or fellowships.
Current online students may review financial obligations through MyUFL. Student Financial Aid and Scholarships handles student financial matters including payment deadlines and online billing and fees. Financial aid funds are not disbursed until after Drop/Add. Students can check fund disbursement and tuition payments prior to the fee payment deadline in MyUFL.
How can I get more information?
Submit general questions through our Contact Us form. An enrollment coordinator will respond via email. You may also schedule an appointment with an enrollment coordinator by emailing onlineadmissions@jou.ufl.edu.
What questions should I be asking when considering graduate education?
Employers need educated people to lead their digital communication initiatives. They want proof you have the kind of expertise that can only come from a structured educational environment that teaches everything from campaign concept to execution to measuring results. A master’s degree gives you a substantial edge over your competition.
UF CJC Online transforms lives through graduate education founded in theory and influenced by industry. We offer the most comprehensive, digitally focused online graduate programs in the world. Choose from several master’s concentrations and graduate certificates that offer unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and advancement. UF CJC Online’s flexible programs are demanding by design and competitive by nature. Equipped with the skills needed to move communication forward, UF CJC Online graduates are an unstoppable force for the Gator Good.
To ensure our graduates are always on the cutting edge, we’re proud to offer Master Access, a one-of-a-kind benefit to our students. Master Access allows our graduates to audit as many courses as they’d like to gain skills in specialized areas. For example, a Web Design graduate can audit Digital Strategy and Audience Analytics courses for the low annual subscription cost of $500.
With a master’s degree specializing in communication, you’ll unlock a world of opportunities. Upon graduation, you will have the skills you need to create impactful campaigns, engage with audiences around the world, solve global problems through communication, increase ROI for your organization, and more. Your dreams are limitless, and UF CJC Online can help reach new heights both personally and professionally.
UF CJC Online degree concentrations are professionally focused, which means that students do not complete a thesis. Instead, students in the UF CJC Online master’s program complete a Capstone as their final degree requirement. In the Capstone, students will develop solutions to real-world communication problems for an assigned client.
The UF CJC Online master’s program is a professionally focused master’s program instead of a research-based, thesis program. Typically, Ph.D. programs prefer candidates who have completed a thesis and substantial research projects. An in-residence master’s program may be a better fit if you plan to pursue a Ph.D.
Your diploma or graduate certificate will not have any mention of “online” as the online programs are just as rigorous and respected as their in-residence counterparts. Your diploma and transcript will be indistinguishable from the diploma and transcript of students who complete an on-campus degree.
Earning a degree from the University of Florida connects you to an elite group, a family of more than 415,000 living Gator alumni across the globe. The Gator Nation is everywhere, which can open doors you never thought possible. Ranked as a top ten public university, the University of Florida provides an excellent education at an affordable cost. At the University of Florida, you’re more than a student…you’re a Gator. Some people are Gators. Are you?
Need more convincing? Read for yourself why employers love Gator graduates.