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Master’s Application Snapshot:

  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above during senior year OR a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in the undergraduate program. A 2.70 may be accepted with permission from the Director of the School of Advertising & Public Relations (ADPR).
  • A written statement, 1-2 pages, of your career objective (see guidelines below).
  • An updated resume or C.V.
  • A reference list with three people who can speak to the academic or professional qualifications of the applicant. Formal letters of recommendation are not required.
  • $60 application fee. The application fee is not due at the start of the application but must be paid before final submission.
  • The GRE is not required for admissions.

Start or Continue Your Application


Graduate Admission Deadlines

The College of Communication and Information (CCI) accepts applications continuously. The ADPR graduate committee reviews complete applications and enrolls students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Review of completed applications will be continuous, with admissions decisions concluding at least 4 weeks prior to the start of each semester for domestic students.

Spring 2023 Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2022

Admission of International Students

International students wishing to complete our program are encouraged to apply. Please see the requirements listed at Graduate Admissions.

Who can apply?

Applicants should be a current advertising or public relations major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville OR recent graduates of our program.

Seniors who have not applied to the program yet may request to take coursework for graduate credit. To take courses for graduate credit, please follow the instructions on the Grad School website. Students must still apply to the program and be accepted by both the graduate school and the ADPR graduate admissions committee.

Seniors who apply to the M.S. concentration may be conditionally accepted. Upon completion of the B.S. program, students will be officially accepted as a graduate student by the Graduate School.

Recent Graduates who were advertising or public relations majors and who graduated from our program in the past three years may apply.

 

Are all advertising and public relations students accepted?

No. Majors must meet the minimum qualifications of the graduate school to apply. Upon application for the M.S. concentration, the Director of ADPR and the ADPR graduate committee will make a determination on acceptance into the program.

How to Submit Your Application Online

The ADPR 4+1 B.S./M.S. application process has two primary phases: first, the applicant’s completed materials are reviewed by the Office of Graduate Admissions to determine that the applicant meets the requirements for enrollment. If a student meets all of the requirements, the application is sent to the ADPR graduate committee.

The 4+1 concentration application requires a statement of purpose, a list of three professional or academic references, official transcripts from colleges/universities that were attended outside of UTK, and a current resume or curriculum vitae. Note that at any point in the application process you can save your progress, log out, and resume working at a later time. The application fee is not due until final submission.

When the application becomes available through the grad school:

  1. Visit the Graduate School application website.
  2. Create your account.
  3. Input your information.
  4. On the “Program Selection” page in the ‘Program Choice’ section select ‘Communication and Information’ then choose the M.S. in Communication and Information – M.S. 4+1 Concentration

Guidelines for Written Statement

Applicants should submit a 1-2 page written statement addressing their career objectives and interest in the program. You may address each of the following questions individually, or collectively in an essay.

  1. When and how did you decide to pursue a graduate degree in Communication and Information?
  2. Why are you interested in a career as a Communication professional? What kind of professional role(s) and/or setting(s) are you considering pursuing after graduation?
  3. What professional goals will this program help you attain?
  4. Why do you believe you will be successful in this program?

The written statement is an incredibly important component of the application. Take your time writing, revising, and editing to make sure your submission is the best possible representation of your work.

Letters of Recommendation

We do not require formal letters of recommendation. We do require a list of three references that can speak to the professional or academic qualifications of the applicant. References may not be family members or friends.

Transcript Information

Transcripts should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office through the online application system. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted for admissions review but enrolled students must submit official transcripts directly from previous colleges/universities prior to beginning coursework. Your transcripts from the University of Tennessee do not need to be forwarded to Graduate Admissions. It is critical that you submit all required transcripts to the online application even if you didn’t receive a degree. Do not send or email transcripts to employees directly unless instructed to do so.

Take a moment to review more information on submitting transcripts, including what formats to be included.