Looking For A Communications Graduate School? Here’s What To Look For

Making the decision to continue your education and attend graduate school is a big decision to make. In general, grad school is expensive and most programs in the U.S. take 2 years to complete. As a student in grad school, you spend more money to attend more school and you do not have income because you are discouraged from working.

With that said, you owe it to yourself to make sure that your grad school experience is worth it—worth the time and money you put in. This means choosing the right school and choosing the right program FOR YOU.

This also means getting the best return on investment (ROI) possible. Are you going to get what you put in back, plus more? We hope so. Here’s what to look for when searching for communications master’s degree programs:

Accredited Universities

Before you give your money and time to a “university,” you better make sure the school is legitimate. To find out if a university is accredited, consult the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education.

The Benefits of Particular Programs

The good thing about universities is that admission boards don’t look for reasons to keep applicants away from their school. They simply want to know what students can bring to the table in regards to knowledge, experience, and success. However, you have to make sure that the school and the specific program the school offers is a good match for you too (not just you are a good match for them). Even if a university and its communication program is #1 in the nation, it’s worthless to you if the program does not benefit you specifically.

We encourage you to research master’s degree programs in depth. Think about how specific programs will benefit you, your interests, and your career aspirations. Will a program help you get where you want to go? You can look at reviews of the program in addition to past students who attended. Where are the students now? Are they working in jobs and industries you see yourself working in?

Payment and Other Requirements

Beyond knowing which programs are best for you, it’s important to know what is expected from you once you are accepted into a program. For example, how much will the program cost? Find out how much time and money you are expected to contribute to the program. Also take a good look at the requirements for the program before applying. An undergraduate degree is a must, but beyond that universities take into account work experience, life experience, and more.

Learn More About Florida International University’s Global Strategic Communications – Creative Track Program

Visit Florida International University’s website to learn more about the Global Strategic Communication Creative Track Master’s Program. Contact Grizelle De Los Reyes, Director of the FIU-MAS Creative Track Program at gdelosre@fiu.edu or fill out the contact form for additional information.

About Global Strategic Communications – Creative Track Master’s Degree Program

The Global Strategic Communication Creative Track is a 39-credit hour program leading to a Master of Science in Mass Communication degree. This interdisciplinary program combines Florida International University’s Global Strategic Communications graduate curriculum in communications theory, research, and strategy with Miami Ad School’s advanced skills curriculum in Copywriting and Art Direction.