M.A. in Public Media Admissions Information/Requirements

Three double spaced pages, submitted via the online application.

Respond to the following prompt:

With an ethos of, "Media with a mission," the Public Media MA (PMMA) program focuses on training multi-platform journalists and strategic communication professionals to use media as a force for social change. In what ways does this mission connect to your personal and/or professional interests? What experiences in your undergraduate and/or professional career have prepared you for the PMMA? What personal and/or career objectives will this graduate program help you pursue?  

You may choose to answer this optional essay question. Your answer will help the admission committee get a better understanding of your unique perspective and potential contributions to our community. 

Please discuss how your life experiences, perspective, or worldview have motivated or inspired you, posed challenges, helped you build skills, or taught you valuable lessons. We are eager to learn how these experiences have helped shape who you are and prepared you for graduate study, in keeping with our mission of "graduate education for the global good."

Submitted directly via the online application in Word or PDF format.

Three letters of recommendation in total, which can be academic and/or professional.

• At least one recommender should be a faculty member from the applicant's undergraduate institution. 
• The recommender should be familiar with the applicant's academic or professional experience to help the admissions committee better understand the applicant's qualifications.

Letters are submitted directly, via the online application. Enter the following information for each of your recommendation providers:

• name;
• address;
• email address;
• phone number;
• and institution.

Make sure you enter your recommenders' email addresses correctly so that they each receive an automated email instructing them on how to submit their recommendations online. Mark the waiver statement for each recommender you enter.

A maximum of three writing samples may be submitted. These may take the form of essays and articles (either analytical or journalistic); the articulation of internship experience(s); or other written work that demonstrates applicants' writing ability.

At least one writing sample should be a piece of academic writing, preferably a piece of analytical writing or a research paper. In addition, applicants may also include a link in their personal statements to relevant work. We only accept writing samples in English. 

Only one of the work samples may be co-written by applicant with others. Students may submit less than three writing samples, but we do recommend that applicants upload three pieces of work so that the admissions committee has the maximum amount of information about the applicant's ability to write analytically.

Note: Required for multiplatform journalism applicants, optional for strategic communication applicants (except for the required video by international applicants).

The portfolio is a supplement to the writing sample and offers applicants the opportunity to showcase multimedia, digital, visual, audio, written or web-based production materials as part of the application process (e.g., a website, a creative work, a short film or video, piece of multimedia journalism, audio piece or podcast, a data visualization or motion graphic, or materials from a group project).

If you are a non-native English speaker applying to either track, you must add a video submission as one of your portfolio samples demonstrating your English language skills. This video should be between 2 an 5 minutes in length and will ideally have you speaking directly to the camera, using either prepared remarks or speaking extemporaneously about your interest in the program and previous experience that has prepared you for the Public Media MA at Fordham.

Please be sure to order official final transcripts from all previously attended institutions confirming degree conferral (if applicable) at least one month before the posted application deadline. Transcripts should be sent directly from your prior institution(s) via secure electronic delivery to the Office of Admissions at [email protected].

If electronic delivery is not available, please request that your transcripts be submitted by postal service in a sealed envelope from the institution to: 

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Office of Admissions
Keating Hall Room 216
Fordham University
441 E. Fordham Rd.
Bronx, NY 10458

Please note: We strongly recommend that you upload unofficial copies of your academic transcripts to your application while the Office of Admissions awaits receipt of your official transcripts. 

Please ensure that all official transcripts from previously attended post-secondary institutions are submitted in English, or are accompanied by a certified English translation. For academic transcripts from institutions outside the United States, applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain a course-by-course credential evaluation. Transcripts and credentials conversion information is available on the GSAS International Students page.

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete and submit to GSAS prior to matriculation their official scores from one of the following accepted English language competency exams:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - GSAS accepts the following TOEFL tests:
  • TOEFL iBT including the Home Edition (we will accept the Paper Edition if less than two years old)
  • TOEFL Essentials
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)—Cambridge English Proficiency Level
• Duolingo English Test
• PTE Academic
• Cambridge English Qualifications - We accept the B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams

Official TOEFL, IELTS, DET, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Qualifications scores should be sent directly by the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (our ETS TOEFL score code #2259). 

Minimum score requirements for most programs:

We will expect our most competitive applicants to have scores above 100 on the TOEFL and 7.5 overall (with 6.5 in each sub-score) or above on the IELTS.

Exemptions to the English Language Requirement

Exemptions from this requirement can be requested by the applicant in her/his application, or can be made in writing by the applicant to [email protected]. Exemptions are generally permitted for international applicants who:

1. are native English speakers from countries where English is an official language; and/or
2. have completed, within the past five years, at least two years of study at an undergraduate or graduate institution in the United States or in a country where English is the official language of instruction.

GSAS retains the right to request language evaluation from any applicant. The Fordham English Language Test (FELT), administered by Fordham’s Institute of American Language and Culture (IALC), may be required for those students whose English proficiency scores do not meet GSAS program requirements. Additional coursework may also be recommended by the IALC.

Students are permitted to register for two GSAS courses during the academic term in which they are completing any IALC-recommended coursework, which generally occurs during their first semester of study.

Please note: Tuition costs associated with the learning of English as a second language are the responsibility of the student and will not be covered by a GSAS tuition scholarship. GSAS merit-based tuition scholarships are not applicable to the costs of additional coursework recommended by the IALC.

If your native language is not English a skype interview may be required for non-native English speaking applicants.

As noted in the Writing Sample section, if you are a non-native English speaking applicant, you must add a video submission as one of your work samples demonstrating your English language skills. This should be between 2-5 minutes and will ideally have you speaking directly to the camera, using either prepared remarks or speaking extemporaneously about a topic of your choice (for instance, your interest in the program or previous experience that has prepared you for the program).