Graduate Program

Media Studies

Note: The M.A. in Media Studies was known as the M.A. in Mass Communication prior to Fall 2008.

Media communication brings information, persuasion, and entertainment to our neighborhoods, our nation, and our world. As the choices expand and the reach of the media becomes more global, media producers can be anyone from a major corporation to an individual activist with a website, and media consumers can interact with the products they encounter in a multitude of ways. Those who study mass communication examine the processes, responsibilities, and consequences of this mediated world.

The Media Studies master's program is wide-ranging and interdisciplinary. The goal of the program is to foster knowledge and understanding of mass media and society through critical, cultural, historical, legal, ethical, or social scientific approaches. One particular emphasis of the program is the relationship between the media's commercial or ideological tendencies and the public interest.

The program is oriented toward academic study rather than instruction in technical skills. The curriculum focuses on research and critical thinking about the media. Students complete 24 credits of coursework and a 6-credit thesis. They work closely with their faculty advisers to prepare coursework plans and to conduct original research for their theses.

The Media Studies master's program has one of the best graduate faculties in the nation for a program its size. The faculty have national reputations for research in a wide range of specialties. Students in the master's program are also active in research.

The program's alumni apply what they have learned to a range of purposes, including media-oriented careers, teaching, and advanced academic work. An increasing number continue their scholarship in Ph.D. programs.

We invite prospective students to contact us for more information.

Admissions and Assistantships

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Media Studies must meet the general requirements of UWM's Graduate School. They must also have satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination, strong undergraduate records (including GPAs of 3.0 or higher), solid letters of recommendation, and interests that fit the program's emphases on research and critical thinking. Students need not have backgrounds in journalism or mass communication to be considered for admission.

UWM offers competitive salaries for half-time teaching assistantships. If you wish to explore this opportunity, please mention it when applying.

For more information on how to apply or visit, contact the graduate director, Professor Barbara Ley, or contact the JMC office.

Courses Offered

To view a course list, visit the UWM Graduate School Web site.