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Journalism AB/Journalism and Mass Communication MA(Public Relations)

The Master’s program with a concentration in public relations is designed to prepare aspiring students to be highly competent, socially conscious, and engaged leaders in public relations with advanced knowledge, expertise, critical thinking, digital analytical skills, and a global vision. The program is tailored to help students step up from the gained tactical knowledge to a more strategic, innovative, and managerial approach to launch their career in public relations and related areas such as corporate communication, stakeholder engagement, crisis & internal communication, external relations, public affairs, financial communication, integrated communication, etc. The intensive program features courses in theory learning and application, digital analytics, ethics & diversity, research- and data-driven strategy creation, leadership capabilities & capacity, and trends in global communication. Students will have many opportunities to learn from and interact with top leaders in the industry and from the world to gain real-world work experience and industry insights.

View 5-year Sample Program of Study

Admission to Program

Students can apply to this pathway after they are accepted into the Journalism major, usually during their first semester of major coursework. Students must have a 3.0 GPA to apply and must submit a two-page statement of purpose and a supplemental application. Applications are due on the withdrawal deadline of every fall and spring semester. It is recommended that undergraduate students have at least three semesters left in their plan of study in order to complete all overlap coursework. We also encourage students to meet with Grady’s Double Dawgs advisor before applying.

Curriculum

Graduate-level courses that may be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate program requirements.

JRMC 7940- PR Foundations
JRMC 8010 – Research Methodology in Mass Comm or JRMC 8020- Public Opinion
JOUR 7090 – Newsource or JOUR Specialty at 6000-level or higher and JOUR 7091 – JOUR Projects
Other courses recommended by Grady’s Double Dawgs advisor may be used to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate level requirements.

Additional requirements that are unique to this Double Dawgs program:

Students must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours for the M.A.

Students will follow the PR concentration planning form on Grady College’s website to complete the M.A.

Admission to Graduate Program

Students will apply to graduate school during their last semester of year 4.

Required application materials:

• Unofficial copies of all transcripts, including any transcripts from institutions previously attended before transferring to UGA or as a dual enrollment student
• Contact information for the three people completing letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose; students may build off of the statement that was submitted for admission to the Double Dawgs program.
• Résumé/CV
• Supplemental application

Note: students will not need to provide any test scores, including the GRE, or a writing sample to apply to the MA program.

Program Advisor

  • Name: Melissa Garber
  • Email: mdy@uga.edu
  • Phone: -
  • Address: Journalism
Email Program Advisor
Express Your Interest
Apply to Pathway

Undergraduate Major Information

  • Major: Journalism A.B.
  • Department/College: Journalism

Advising Contact

  • Name: Office of Undergraduate Services -
  • Email: gradyabj@uga.edu
  • Phone: -
  • Address: Journalism Building

Graduate Major Information

  • Major: Journalism and Mass Communication M.A.
  • Department/College: Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Advising Contact

  • Name: Glen Nowak
  • Email: gnowak@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-583-8268
  • Address: Journalism 207C