MA Program in Communication and New Media
MA Program in Communication and New Media
The one-year interdisciplinary MA program in Communication and New Media provides an opportunity for students to conduct advanced research in communication studies and/or undertake creative projects in new media/media arts.
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About the Program
In support of students’ academic goals, our highly engaged faculty members offer a breadth of expertise, experience, and working methods from the fields of communication studies and new media. Whether you want to pursue a research paper or creative project, our program fosters critical thinking, creative-problem solving and interdisciplinary modalities.
MA students are exposed to a diverse range of communication and media theories and methodologies through coursework in the fall and winter terms. During spring and summer, each student then develops and completes a major research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
Graduates from our program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to further their education at the PhD level or to pursue careers in fields such as communication policy, media administration, organizational communication and media arts.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program will be on a full‐time basis only, starting in September of the academic year.
Admission to the MA degree program will normally require an Honours Bachelor’s degree (four-year degree) in a Communication Studies and/or Media Arts program, or its equivalent with a minimum grade point average of B+ (equivalent to a McMaster 9 GPA out of 12) in the last 10 one‐term upper level courses relevant to studies in communication and digital media.
Students holding Honours Bachelor’s degrees (four‐year degrees) from other disciplines in the humanities, the fine arts and the social sciences may also be considered, if they can demonstrate sufficient training in Communication Studies and Media Arts to undertake studies at the graduate level.
Language Requirements
For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7 is required.
Application Process
The deadline for submission of completed applications (including supporting documentation) for September entry into the MA program is January 31. The online application system will open on November 15th for September admission. Application fees are not refundable.
Only completed applications (including supporting documentation) will be reviewed. Your application materials and supporting documents must be sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts via email to the Graduate Administrator at gradcnm@mcmaster.ca.
To learn more about the documents required for admission and process, please follow this link:
Program Timelines
The MA in Communication and New Media will be typically completed within twelve months, commencing in September. Students will complete six 3‐unit courses and the year‐long pro seminar over the fall and winter terms, in addition to a major research project (either a 40‐page research paper/project or a digital media project supported by a shorter paper) to be completed over the summer.
Tuition & Program Fees
Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.
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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
MA Required Courses
MA Elective Courses
All students are required to take four elective courses from the list below. Offerings will vary from year to year depending on student and faculty interest. All courses listed below run for one term. Students may also take one course in a program outside CSMA.
- CMST&MM 702 / Media and Social Issues
- CMST&MM 703 / New Media Studio Topics
- CMST&MM 705 / Digital Media and Cultural Exchange
- CMST&MM 706 / Technologies of Communication
- CMST&MM 707 / Theoretical Issues in Media, Culture and Communication
- CMST&MM 708 / Selected Topics in Communication and New Media
- CMST&MM 710 / International Communication
- CMST&MM 712 / New Media Methods
- CMST&MM 714 / Feminism, Technology and Science
- CMST&MM 715 / Cultural Memory, the Media, and “Us”
- CMST&MM 716 / Critical Perspectives on Documentary
- CMST&MM 717 / Youth, New Media and Culture
- CMST&MM 718 / Critical Approaches to Communication Policy & Law
- CMST&MM 719 / Media and Mimesis: Installation and Performance Media
- CMST&MM 720 / Data Cultures
- CMST&MM 721 / Alternative Media Forms in Africa
- CMST&MM 722 / Beyoncé Studies: Creativity, Celebrity, and Activism
- CMST&MM 723 / Islam, Feminisms and Global Media
- CMST&MM 724 / Visions of Extinction: What the End Looks Like From Here
- CMST&MM 725 / Theory, Race, and Power
- CMST&MM 726 / Media, Sustainability, and Climate Justice
- CMST&MM 727 / Cultural Production and the Environment
- CMST&MM 728 / Critical Hope in Times of Protracted Crises
- CMST&MM 731 / Crisis Management and Communication
Course Outlines
Graduate course outlines will be posted at the beginning of the semester, where possible. In cases where current outlines are not available, outlines from previous offerings have been posted. Please note that the content and format of a course may vary significantly from one semester to another. Course offerings rotate regularly and therefore some elective courses may not have recent course outlines available.
Graduate Course Timetables
The timetables for graduate courses in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts are generally finalized over the summer, in order to accommodate teaching assistant schedules and other logistical requirements. Please note that the schedule may be subject to change, particularly in the case of instructors who are teaching virtual courses.
Students admitted to the MA and PhD Programs in Communication and New Media generally receive an entrance scholarship and a Teaching Assistantship, or funding-in-lieu of the TAship. Entrance scholarship amounts vary and are normally determined by the MA or PhD Graduate Committee at the time of admission.
The university also has various bursaries and scholarships. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Graduate students wishing to travel to research, exhibit, perform, or present at academic conferences may be eligible for financial support from the the Graduate Students Association (GSA), Communication Studies and Media Arts department, their supervisor, and/or other travel funds, awards, bursaries, and scholarships, subject to the availability of funds. For more information, contact your supervisor and gradcnm@mcmaster.ca. Also, visit the School of Graduate Studies Scholarship information page and click on ‘travel’ for a list of available resources
Students considering graduate school are encouraged to research scholarships well in advance because some external scholarship applications are due even before the student has been accepted to graduate school. Depending on a student’s area of interest, grades and overall profile, external scholarships may be available through a variety of sources, including government agencies and the private sector. The scholarships listed below are the ones most commonly held by MA and PhD students in Ontario.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school in Canada.
Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program
Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.
McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information
The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship
The deadline for SSHRC applications is usually in the fall. Applications can be made directly to SSHRC or through your institution.
All students admitted to the MA in Communication and New Media are awarded a teaching assistantship or a financially-equivalent award (e.g. a research assistantship). The teaching assistantship is not only a significant part of the funding package for our students but also an important opportunity for professionalization. There are training sessions for TAs at the start of the academic year, and both TAs and RAs gain ongoing mentorship from their faculty supervisors.
Students are usually assigned two TAships: one in the fall term and the other in the winter term. Each TAship is 130 hours (averaging 10 hours per week). Assignments are based on students’ interests and experience (as communicated in a questionnaire distributed over the summer), and the department’s teaching needs. Faculty supervisors are responsible for the design and delivery of the course; the responsibilities of TAs include leading tutorials, meeting with students, and participating in assessment. Some TAs have a “marker” role; markers do not lead tutorials but, rather, assist with other aspects of content delivery and evaluation.
A research assistantship is an excellent way for students to enhance their learning about the research process and to work closely with a faculty mentor.
There are two kinds of research assistantships for MA students. The first is an RA-in-lieu, which is given in place of a TAship. RA-in-lieu positions are for the same number of hours as a TAship (130 hours per semester in the fall and winter terms) and paid at the same rate as a TAship.
The second type of research assistantship is supplemental to a student’s main TAship or RAship. Students may be hired for a supplemental RAship on an ad hoc basis, usually to assist with faculty research. These supplemental RAships are sometimes offered to incoming students or are advertised to current students. The rate of pay and duties are set out in a contract, and RAs must submit hours of work forms on a bi-weekly basis. One final note: the number of hours that graduate students may work per year is capped at 505 hours; the hours worked for both the standard TAship/RA-in-lieu and any supplemental RAship count toward this number.
Teaching assistants are key partners in the classroom who benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing training in pedagogy. In recognition of the fact that the learning environment is constantly changing, our Instructional Committee maintains a course shell on Avenue that contains information regarding resources on campus, rights and responsibilities of TAs as well as supervisors, diversity and inclusion, approaches to managing questions and challenges in the classroom, grading and more. Current teaching assistants all have access to this course shell. An initial orientation is also held before classes commence.
McMaster is home to a vibrant student body, including highly engaged graduate students. The Graduate Students Association serves and represents graduate students across campus, providing a number of resources and services. Graduate students are encouraged to get involved with the GSA and to participate in the many events they organize throughout the year.
Many scholarly associations also have special committees or student groups that organize events, offer discounted fees or provide conference funding specifically for graduate students. One example is the Canadian Communication Association but there are many others, nationally and internationally.
Each cohort tends to be diverse in terms of background and interests, and accordingly, graduates may follow very different paths. Some stay in the educational sector or elsewhere in public service or non-profits, while others find work in the private sector.
- These are examples of some of the positions our graduates have held:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Director of Marketing Communications
- College Professor (of Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, Game Design, etc.)
- Social Media Consultant
- Relationship Manager
- Event Planner
- Research Communications Officer
- Senior Advisor, Development
- Owner, Photo and Media Production Company
- Music Licensing Specialist
- Graphic Designer
- Copywriter
- Artist
- Web Developer/Designer
Department Life
Our program benefits from the close interaction between faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students. Graduate students participate in many aspects of departmental life, as teaching assistants and sometimes as assistants in research initiatives headed by faculty members. Graduate students are encouraged to attend events by visiting speakers across the university and are given opportunities, where possible, to deliver guest lectures and invited talks.
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