Master's in Strategic Communication

Applications are accepted through the Graduate School Application for Admission. There are multiple master’s degrees in the Moody College of Communication. To apply for the Strategic Communication master’s, select the choice "Communication Studies, Strategic Communication- Option III."

After completing the data entry sections and paying the application fee, applicants must upload supporting documents on their MyStatus page.

All applicants must meet the University of Texas at Austin Graduate School admission requirements. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or be on track to graduate before enrolling in the degree program.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale, though conditional admission may be possible for GPAs under 3.0 in extenuating circumstances
• For international applicants only, TOEFL score of at least 79 or IELTS score of at least 6.5

• A resume
• One letter of recommendation
• A statement of purpose (maximum of 1000 words) responding to the following prompt: Describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study and your academic and professional interests and goals.
• A statement of research objectives responding to the following essay prompt (maximum of 1000 words): The Capstone Project is a research study that serves as an opportunity for students to examine a communication question in-depth. The question may involve communication between individuals, groups, or organizations. It may involve face-to-face interaction or technologically mediated interaction. What research question might you explore through the Capstone? 
• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Official TOEFL scores taken within the past two years (for International Applicants only)
• No GRE or GMAT is required

All required documents must be submitted electronically to MyStatus. This page will become available to you approximately three to four business days after you complete the Graduate School Application for Admission. 

• The Admissions Committee for the MA in Strategic Communication will review complete applications after the deadline. All additional documents must have been uploaded in order for the committee to consider the application. Partial applications will not be reviewed.
• Admitted applicants will be notified by email from the Department of Communication Studies. They will also receive official e-letters from the Graduate Admissions Center with instructions on how to check your application status for your admission decision.
• Both the Department of Communication Studies and the Office of Graduate Studies must accept applicants before they can enroll.

Students starting the master’s program in August 2024 or January 2025 pay a flat program fee of $49,500.

Payment Schedule example:

Fall 2024 (Three courses)   $13,500

Spring 2025 (Three courses)   $13,500

Fall 2025 (Three courses)   $13,500

Spring 2026 (Two courses)   $9,000

Total:   $49,500

A non-refundable $1,000 deposit is required when applicants accept an offer of admission. This amount is credited toward your first semester’s program costs. Each semester's tuition is billed approximately 4-6 weeks before the semester starts and due during the first week of classes. Students will receive an exact due date when they are billed. After that date, a $100 late fee will be charged each week for non-payment. 

Applicants for this program may be eligible for federal and private sector loans. See Financial Aid for more information. Due to the nature of the program other financial support, such as Teaching Assistant positions and scholarship money, is not available.

The M.A. in Strategic Communication is eligible for use with GI Bill® education benefits. To learn more about how veteran benefits may support enrollment in our program you can access The University of Texas at Austin Catalog here or contact the Veteran Certification team. Please note, the M.A. in Strategic Communication is considered a non-formula-funded program and is, therefore, not eligible for Texas Hazlewood Act Exemptions. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the cost per credit hour is $1493.93.