Find Your Graduate Program
Whether you’re looking to advance your career, deepen your expertise or pursue academic research, the Manship School’s graduate programs prepare you to lead in a rapidly evolving media and public affairs landscape. Guided by distinguished faculty, our graduate students gain advanced training, real-world insight and the skills needed to make a meaningful impact across industries.
Explore our Programs
Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs
The Manship School is home to the nation’s only doctoral program in media & public affairs. We have a broad view of media and public affairs, with research on political polarization, digital technology, crisis communication, wartime propaganda, gender and sexuality, media effects, health communication, native advertising and the representation of minority groups, among others.
We fund all of our doctoral students for four years ($25,000 per year) and admit only a small class to ensure personal attention and mentorship from faculty. Our acceptance rate is about 15%. Our doctoral program graduates work at a variety of institutions: research-intensive, teaching-centered, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and international institutions.
Master of Mass Communication
The Manship School emphasizes the intersection of media and public affairs, as well as the rapid digital transformation of media industries. Our classes foster transferable skills to boost your success throughout your career. Our Master of Mass Communication program is a two-year degree.
All MMC students complete core classes covering research methods, the role of media in a democratic society and other theoretical concerns. Beyond this, students develop customized plans of study focused on their own professional goals. A comprehensive guide to our MMC program can be found in our Master of Mass Communication Policies and Procedures Handbook.
Students can pursue any of these specializations as part of the Dual J.D./MMC we offer in conjunction with the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
Certificate of Strategic Communication
Our certificate of strategic communication program is designed so that students earn the certificate in three semesters as a part-time student. The cost of completing the certificate will vary, depending on how many hours the certificate-seeker enrolls in each semester, but you can learn more about the LSU fee schedule.
Dual MMC/Law Degree
The Manship School of Mass Communication and the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center are one of only a handful of schools in the U.S. that offer a dual degree in mass communication (Master of Mass Communication, MMC) and law (both the Juris Doctor, J.D. and the Diploma in Civil Law, DCL). The dual degree program allows students to earn both degrees concurrently in four years. The LSU Law Center is Louisiana’s flagship state law school and consistently ranks in the Top 20 as a Best Value Law School by Pre-Law Magazine.
Application Deadlines
MMC/Certificate
Domestic:
- Fall Admission: June 1
- Spring Admission: Nov. 15
- No summer admission
- We accept applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
International Students:
- Fall Admission: May 15
- Spring Admission: October 1
- No summer admission
- We accept applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
For MMC – Priority deadline for fall scholarships is April 15
Ph.D.
Phd: January 15 (no spring admissions)