Program in International Media School of Communication American University

Expansions and Renovations Contribute to the Reputation of American University School of Communication

Located in Washington, D.C., American University (AU) School of Communication (SOC) offers degree-granting programs to undergraduate and graduate students in fields related to media, journalism, public and political communication, film and media arts, and international media. AU School of Communication serves approximately 900 undergraduate and 300 graduate students and has approximately 45 full-time faculty members. As communication becomes more prevalent and relevant in twenty-first century society, the school continues to grow. It is planning a $20 million new building, and other expansions are taking place across the entirety of American University. These improvements build on the reputation that SOC enjoys as a top institution for the study of communication-related fields. Its location, position, programs, and professors all provide an advantage in educating and preparing leaders for careers in public service.

The M.A. in International Media Integrates International Communication Theory, Research, and Professional Production

Students in this 45-hour program, offered in partnership with American University's renowned School of International Service (SIS), take courses in both SOC and SIS's International Communication Program, acquiring professional research skills, a broad knowledge of international communication and a deeper understanding of how international media work in international relations, the global economy, and in global culture and society. In addition, students hone their writing skills over a broad range of media while taking production classes in such areas as filmmaking, Web design, news writing, and digital imaging. The media studies component of the program gives students a strong background in research skills and a deep understanding of how the media work, especially in an international environment. The production portion of the program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical groundings to be professionally competent and literate managers/producers/ commissioners contemplating careers in international media management.

Washington, D.C., Is One of the World's Media Capitals, an Advantage for SOC Students

One of the notable qualities of AU School of Communication is its Washington, D.C., location, one of the media capitals of the world. Each of SOC's programs of study is designed to take full advantage of the city, and the programs therefore focus on public affairs and public service. SOC provides the advantages of urban Washington, D.C., while being located in a residential area of the city. The beautifully landscaped campus is a national arboretum.

Cultural Institutions and International Media Organizations Surround the SOC Campus

In addition to being a center of media and government, Washington, D.C., has a rich cultural heritage. It is home to the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Library of Congress. Access to these resources and strategic partnerships with leading local media organizations such as NBC, CBS, Gannett, the Bureau of National Affairs, and the Newseum have helped SOC students complement their classroom experiences. Professional and internship opportunities for SOC students abound; students have worked on the Hill at lobbying associations or with international communication strategists, internationally based and focused non-profit organizations, and humanitarian organizations while attending the school.

SOC Offers Seven Full-Time Graduate Programs in Communication

AU School of Communication offers a wide variety of full-time master's degree programs and will accept its first class of Ph.D. students in fall 2011. The Master of Arts in Journalism and Public Affairs is a year-long, intensive, full-time program that teaches students to produce content on multiple platforms. The M.A. in public communication allows students to concentrate in artistic, governmental, political, or public interest communication, as well as international public communication. Concentrations in the M.A. in Film and Video include film and video production, screenwriting, multimedia, and film history, theory, and criticism. The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) is a terminal degree, allowing graduates to pursue collegiate-level teaching careers, along with other career options. Alumni of SOC's M.F.A. program won the Student Academy Award for their thesis projects in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The M.A. in International Media, offered in collaboration with the School of International Service, offers a combination of theory, research, and professional production skills to give students a global media advantage. The M.A. in Political Communication is offered in partnership with the AU School of Public Affairs and prepares students for careers as politicians, policymakers, political communication strategists, and campaign executives. The Ph.D. in Communication will prepare students to understand how new media are reshaping many aspects of contemporary society. Students will be prepared to foster innovation in civic engagement and political activism.

International Students and the School of Communication

International students must demonstrate their proficiency in English with the following test scores on the TOEFL exam: minimum 100 on the IBT, minimum 250 on the computer based test, or minimum 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam. SOC also accepts a minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS exam. International students must have completed (or may be in the processes of completing) a graduate degree in addition to a four-year undergraduate degree.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Arts (MA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? Yes
• Distance learning programs available? Not reported
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees 1, Required and Alternate accepted
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied56
• Accepted30
• Acceptance Rate53%
• Enrolled11
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Not Reported
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline February 1st April 1st Yes
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline November 15th November 15th Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesGRE General Test, bachelor's degree with minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3, 2 letters of reference
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT, IELTS required, IELTS paper based

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$24,264
• Out-of-state tuition *$24,264
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$430.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsFebruary 1
• Types of financial support availableResearch Assitantships, Career or Field-Related Internships, Federal Work-Study, Scholarship and/or loans, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students16
• Female Percentage88%
• Male Percentage12%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students16
• Part-time Percentage19%
• Full-time Percentage81%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / LatinoNot Reported
• Black / African AmericanNot Reported
• White / CaucasianNot Reported
• American Indian / Alaskan NativeNot Reported
• AsianNot Reported
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific IslanderNot Reported
• Two or more racesNot Reported
• UnknownNot Reported