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.
Learn creative storytelling and the skills you need to produce stories across technologies:
digital, print and broadcast. Journalism graduate students have an array of hands-on
journalism opportunities: covering Louisiana government in our Statehouse Reporting
program, 21 NCAA Division 1 sports teams at LSU, our award-winning Cold Case project
investigating murders from the Civil Rights era and many others.
Our journalism course offerings include: Public Affairs Reporting; Mass Media, Sports
and Society; Crisis Communication; and our practical Field Experience class, where
students' work is published in news organizations through the Manship School News
Service.
Develop skills for advertising campaigns and public relations for a product, service
or cause. We focus on problem-solving and strategic planning. Students learn audience
analysis, with courses on crunching numbers and conducting focus groups or interviews.
Strategic communication graduate students use our cutting-edge research facilities,
especially the Media Effects Lab (MEL) and Social Media Analysis & Creation Lab (SMAC), which monitors global social media in real-time.
Strategic communication classes include: Foundations of Strategic Communication; Strategic
Communication Campaigns; Advertising Problems; and Strategies for Public Relations
and Social Media.
Engage directly with politics, elections and the policy issues that shape our times.
Political communication graduate students learn the tools of journalism and strategic
communication applied to the world of public affairs. The Manship School enjoys a
rich partnership with the LSU Department of Political Science and has as faculty former political professionals who can help guide students into
political careers, including public service, issue advocacy and law.
Political communication classes include: News Media and Governance; Political Communication
Writing; Case Studies in Campaigns and Elections; and Race and Gender in Political
Communication.
To be considered, you must have the following:
- A cumulative 3.0 undergraduate GPA (transcripts from all undergraduate institutions
must be submitted)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
For 2024 international degree requirements, please visit https://www.lsu.edu/graduateschool/admissions/international_admissions.php.
There is not a word limit or requirement for the statement of purpose. However, statements
should go beyond what is available in a transcript and resume.
- What are your goals?
- Why and how do you think this MMC program is the best one to help you achieve those
goals?
- Are there any faculty members you would like to work more closely with?
The statement should help us learn more about you that we may not be able to learn
from your transcript or resume.
- Resume
- GRE score -- We prefer to see scores above 152 verbal and quantitative and above 4.0
analytical writing. GRE exemptions available. Please inquire.
When you complete the online application:
- Make sure you choose Mass Communication as your degree program (NOT Communication
Studies)
- The LSU institution code for the GRE and TOEFL is 6373
- Encourage your recommenders to submit letters to the online system
Domestic and Non-Degree Students:
- 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.
start your online application
Students who did not receive a strong foundation in statistics or media law are required
to take introductory courses in both before beginning certain parts of the degree.
I. Core Required Courses (13 hours)
- MC 7000: Proseminar in Mass Communication (1) *Offered Fall Only
- MC 7001: Research Methods in Mass Communication (3) (Satisfy Statistic foundation
before taking MC7001)
- MC 7002: Mass Communication Philosophy and Principles (3)
- MC 7005: Public Opinion and Public Affairs (3) (Take 7001 before taking 7005)
- MC 7021: Mass Communication Theory (3)
II. Track Courses (9 hours)
- Courses on the professional track are considered professional skills courses. Courses
on the scholarly track are more academically focused. In a few instances a class is
a hybrid, which means it could count on either track because it is relevant and practically
designed to serve both interests.
- Professional Track (skills-based, professional) courses include:
- MC 7040: Crisis Communication
- MC 7041: Political Communication Writing
- MC 7042: Foundations of Strategic Communication
- MC 7043: Strategic Communication Campaigns
- MC 7044: Visual Communication
- MC 7220: Issues and Public Affairs Reporting
- MC 7971: Independent Research: Mass Communication
- MC 7999: (Professional skill-focused) Special Topics in Mass Communication
- Scholarly Track (scholarly-focused) courses include:
- MC 7004: The News Media & Governance
- MC 7012: Survey Research Methods
- MC 7014: Qualitative Research Methods
- MC 7033: Race & Gender in Political Communication
- MC 7034: Breaux Symposium
- MC 7036: Seminar in Media & Public Affairs
- MC 7201: Advanced Research Methods
- MC 7202: Experimental Design in Mass Communication Research
- MC 7971: Independent Research: Mass Communication
- MC 7999: (Scholarly focused) Special Topics in Mass Communication
- Courses that will count on either track:
- MC 7019: Emerging Media: Theory, Application & Effects
- MC 7031: Media Effects
- MC 7032: Health and Science Communication
- MC 7999: Special Topics in Mass Communication
- * Graduate students should limit the number of 4000-level courses they pursue. There
are certain criteria that must be met for a 4000-level course to be applicable to
a student’s graduate program. Always check with the Associate Dean before enrolling
in a 4000-level course.
III. Electives (6 hours)
- Students should choose elective courses in consultation with a faculty advisor to
identify courses most appropriate either to their professional or their scholarly
interests. Courses may be selected from the track lists above (note that some courses
may have prerequisites). In addition to the courses listed above. professional track
students may also count MC 8001 as an elective.
- Elective courses may come from the School of Mass Communication, Political Science
or from another School with approval of the associate dean for graduate studies.
IV. Thesis, Professional Project or Comprehensive Exam (6 hours)
- Thesis: complete 6 hours of MC 8000 (Thesis Research)
- Professional Project: complete 6 hours of MC 8002 (Professional Project)
- Comprehensive Exam: there is no course to enroll in for the comprehensive exam. Instead, students will
choose 6 hours of additional electives. Details can be found in our MMC Comprehensive Exam Guide.
Funding
Communications-related graduate assistantships are available at LSU. Eligibility and
application processes are shared upon admission.
Scholarships
The Manship School offers scholarships to admitted students based on academic achievement,
professional experience, and strength of recommendations. These awards provide financial
support to help students excel in their graduate studies and advance their careers
in media and communication.
Applicants wishing to apply for the program should submit their admissions application
through the LSU Graduate School by April 15.
- Be enrolled full-time in the MMC program, completing a minimum of 9 credit hours per
fall/spring term during the academic year.
- Remain in good academic standing with the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School
Graduate Assistantships
Communications-related graduate assistantships are available at LSU. Eligibility and
application processes are shared upon admission.
