Prospective Students

Applying to the Program

To apply to our program, go directly to the application website here.  Below is the information you need. 

The Masters program is open to wide range of scholars, practitioners, artists, and activists. We value your commitment to your scholarship and cause more than your particular modality. Applicants must fulfill the basic requirements for admission for graduate study at Queens College, as well as the particular requirements of this program, listed below, in order to be considered for admittance.

Applications will be evaluated primarily on the basis of what each candidate brings to the program. We choose students as if we were choosing colleagues, based on our belief in the promise of your own research, practical, or artistic goals. The most important part of your application is your essay. We are not asking for a standard personal statement but rather a persuasive argument for what you want to do with media or learn about it, and why this work matters. 

Appended to your essay, you may post links to any examples of relevant work: writing, videos, music, journalism, media coverage of you work, portfolio, websites — whatever you have that helps make a case for your goals or your ability to reach them.

Applicants are strongly urged to apply by the priority deadline of March 1. You should receive a decision by the end of March. After that, we will accept applications as long as there is space in the program, but in no case later than June 15.

The application process occurs online. If you have questions about the application process, or would like to schedule a visit to campus, please email the MA Director.

 Requirements for Matriculation
An addition to the General Requirements for graduate study at Queens College, Media Studies applicants must have: 

1. A 3.0 grade-point average or better, on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate degree work.

2. Three letters of recommendation from past professors, work supervisors, or other people familiar with your personal potential and work ethic. In some instances an interview may be required.

3. If you did not earn your undergraduate degree in residence at a university in an English-speaking country, you must submit a score of 92 on the TEOFL, 6.5 on the IELTS, or 62 on the PTE. Students whose scores are below these levels may still be accepted on special conditions, or may have to take ESL courses before being formally admitted.

4.  An 800-1000-word, persuasive statement of interests explaining your commitment to media or media studies, and why your goals or accomplishments matter.  This is by far the most important part of your application.  (This statement takes the place of the 500-word personal statement.) We are a program committed to social change, social justice, economic equality, gender and racial justice, environmentalism, education, the fourth estate, cognitive liberty, and human flourishing. 

You are applying to a program where the faculty will be actively supporting your efforts, so convince us to join your cause, or make us understand your motivations, influences, and values. If possible, append the essay with examples or links to any of your writing, videos, artwork, websites, or other work you feel supports your case. This should not be a simple biography or general statement of interest in this field, but a supported argument for your research, art, political or social agenda

So consider answering questions such as:

• How are you studying or practicing media, and why does it matter?

• What are you trying to find out or accomplish, and how will it impact others? 

• What do you want for society or your own community, and how do media enable or undermine that goal? Has your work already made a difference? Tell us how. 

• If there are concrete projects or issues you hope to explore, how might a collaborative, interdisciplinary graduate program help you to pursue this work? 

• If you can, append the essay with examples or links to any of your writing, videos, artwork, websites, or other work you feel supports your case.

5. The GRE is not required, but can be submitted in support of your application.

6. The credentials of each applicant will be examined by the MA Committee, who will decide whether to accept the applicant, accept with conditions, accept on probation, or inform the applicant the that their application was denied.

Matriculation with Conditions
Under certain circumstances, students with an undergraduate average below B may be matriculated under the condition of “Probation.” A student admitted on probation must achieve a B (3.0) average in the first 12 credits of graduate work. Students admitted on probation who fail to attain fully matriculated status after completing 12 graduate credits will not be permitted to continue.

Non-Matriculant Students
A non-matriculant student is someone who signs up to take a few classes without actually enrolling in the MA program. This status is appropriate for you if you fit into any of the following categories:  

• Did you miss the deadline for applications to the MA program?

• Are you not sure if our MA program is right for you and want to try out a class or two before applying?

• Do you want to try a few courses just to get re-acclimated to academic life before enrolling?

• Do you already have an MA and just want to do a few extra classes?

• Are your grades too  low to apply for the degree program right now, but you want take courses anyway, or earn some credits at the MA level and then apply to the program? 

Keep in mind that while becoming a non-matriculated student status does not guarantee admission to the MA program, if you do well in your courses we will be inclined to invite you to apply, or to overlook an undergraduate transcript that no longer reflects your academic ability. 

Apply as a Non-Matriculant Student

Go to the Graduate Admissions website and click on Apply Now at the bottom of the page. You will then be directed to the application system in which you will need to do the following:

1. Create an account.

2. Submit an application for Admission (choose Applying as Type: non matriculant). Please note that non-matriculants do not need to provide an essay or letters of recommendation. You only need to answer the questions that are marked with an *.

3. Submit your payment voucher along with the application fee to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

4. Submit proof of Bachelor’s degree to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Register for Classes as a Non-Matriculant Student

Once your non-matriculant MA application has been accepted, please contact the MA Director to register for classes.

Visit our FAQ page for more information.​ For course descriptions, click here.

For College-wide information about non-matriculant students, click here.

To begin your application, go to the Graduate Admissions page. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

Re-applying to the Program After a Lapse

Use this link.