A graduate certificate is a shorter term of study where students complete four courses or 12 to 14 credit hours in a communication specialization 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 specialization graduate with a Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree with a specialization in the area of their choice. Learn more…  

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.

We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage applicants to submit their materials well before the application deadline. Our course registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so applying early may result in a greater number of course options for your first semester.

Application Deadlines:

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:

• Earn suitable scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – 156 verbal, 146 quantitative
• Submit three letters of recommendation

All applications are reviewed holistically. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

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.

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
College of Journalism and Communications
Attn: Distance Education
1060 Weimer Hall
PO Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

The GRE is a standardized test required for all master’s degree applicants. Historically, our most competitive applicants achieved scores in the range of 156 Verbal and 146 Quantitative. Writing scores are subject to consideration. To be eligible, GRE scores must be from within the past five years.

To allow for ample processing time, schedule your GRE exam no later than 4.5 weeks BEFORE the application deadline.

While the GRE is not required for graduate certificate applicants, applicants need to take the test at a later time if they plan to transfer into a full master’s degree track.

For GRE tips and tricks, read our article on tackling the GRE.

Due to our competitive admissions standards, applicants are only eligible for a GRE waiver if they have previously received a graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.

COVID-19 UPDATES
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.

Yes, you can retake the GRE and submit new scores. If you have already received your scores, you can review a diagnostic test to identify areas of improvement for your next test attempt.

Absolutely! Many of our students start with a UF CJC Online graduate certificate while they’re preparing the rest of their master’s application materials. Once you complete the GRE, obtain three letters of recommendation and submit a master’s application, you will be reviewed by the admissions committee for admittance to a master’s specialization of your choice. Completing a graduate certificate does not automatically guarantee admittance to a master’s specialization.

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.

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 issued on a rolling basis. Applicants typically receive an admissions decision within two weeks of submitting a complete application packet for review. To ensure you have met all application requirements, refer to the checklist. You can also check your application status online.

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 to be approved.

Transfer credits are not accepted towards Graduate Certificates.

Materials needed for submission include:

1. Official Transcript (already on file if submitted with application materials)
2. Syllabus of course completed
3. 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.
4. Grad School Transfer Request Form (Filled out by Advisors)

Tuition varies by specialization and number of credit hours associated with the degree plan. UF CJC Online master’s specializations range from $17,441 – $34,545. You can find the per credit hour tuition amounts on each specialization page or in the Information Packet.

Current online students may review financial obligations through MyUFL. Student Financial Services 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.

Submit general questions through our Contact Us form. An enrollment coordinator will respond via email. You may also call an enrollment coordinator at 352-273-3412 Monday-Friday.

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 7 master’s specializations and 4 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 in order 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.

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.