Professionals in strategic communications – currently employed in an advertising, public relations or marketing firm, or in a communications function within a corporation or non-profit organization – must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution or its foreign equivalent and at least two years’ professional experience.

Applications are evaluated in what's known as a "rolling admissions" process. In other words, applications are evaluated and a decision is made, usually within one month after the application is complete. So you don't have to wait until next spring to find out whether you have been admitted. This policy means that the sooner you submit a completed application, the sooner you will find out whether you have been admitted to the program.

Departmental application materials include:

• Departmental application form
• Statement of objectives
• Transcripts from each institution attended at the undergraduate and graduate levels (photocopies are acceptable for the SJMC. Official transcripts are required by the Graduate School)
• GRE general test scores, unless exempted by the Academic Director*
• Three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from a current or previous employer who can verify your professional experience
• A writing sample of no more than three professional clips
• TOEFL/IELTS scores, if appropriate

Applicants may be required to offer further evidence that they meet professional experience requirements. In addition, applicants are required to complete a Graduate School application. Applications to both the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the University of Minnesota Graduate School must be received after October 1, 2004 and before June 15, 2005.

All applicants will need to download the following forms:

Application directions

SJMC application
This form is an interactive .pdf. Directions: Save the document to your desktop, fill out the form, save the changes and email to sjmcgrad@umn.edu.

Graduate School application:
http://www.grad.umn.edu/application.html

* To apply for a GRE waiver, send an e-mail with an explanation of your educational background and work experience to the Academic Director, John Eighmey, at eighmey@umn.edu.