Frequently Asked Questions

Our online master’s program is intended for mid-career professionals with three or more years of experience in a communication-related field who are seeking an immersion in digital media theory and application, knowledge of changing digital media business models and training in strategic communication decision-making to achieve an organization’s mission. The program equips working professionals for leadership roles with challenging courses designed for career-minded students’ busy schedules.

Although the vast majority of instruction is delivered online, students are come to Chapel Hill for a multi-day workshop during their first year and cap the program at our capstone showcase event. More information on these on-campus experiences is available on our curriculum page.

The online master’s is a part-time program. Students take two courses per fall and spring semester, one per summer term. Students transferring in credit from our online certificate programs might take fewer courses in a given term.

Yes. The program is designed for working professionals, and students often focus their class projects on real-world workplace topics and challenges.

The program is designed to be completed in two years.

We enroll students once annually, to start the program in the fall semester. Starting in fall 2026, all courses moved to UNC-Chapel Hill’s alternate academic calendar. Courses are taught over 14-week sessions, with one week off per course. Fall and spring courses start at a similar date to courses on the university’s traditional academic calendar but end earlier. The summer session begins in late April and lasts until late July or early August.

The online master’s program features a rigorous and unique curriculum of emerging theories and applications in digital communication. Courses are designed to provide students with concepts and skills as well as a thorough grounding in applied research and critical thinking.

Both programs feature the expert faculty and individual attention that are the hallmarks of graduate education at UNC Hussman. The on-campus, full-time M.A. in Media and Communication program is designed for students, regardless of their professional background, who want to dive deep into a specialized area of study: journalism, strategic communication, or communication theory and research.

In contrast, the online M.A. in Digital Communication is designed specifically for working professionals with at least three years of communications experience who want to accelerate their careers while maintaining work and family responsibilities. The part-time program features a broad, prescribed curriculum. We also offer three online graduate certificates.

Students typically spend about 10 hours per week on readings, class discussions, assignments and other course responsibilities for each class in which they are enrolled. Thus, students taking two classes online typically spend 20 hours per week on coursework.

No. UNC Hussman does not accept credit hour transfers from other graduate programs. However, you can transfer credit for up to three courses from our online certificate programs.

Students are expected take two courses per term alongside members of their cohort. If circumstances arise that would prevent a student from being able to proceed as scheduled, program administrators will assist the student in exploring alternative options.

UNC Hussman has a career-services staff who are available to online master’s students and a network of more than 17,000 school alumni. You will advance through the program with a cohort of working professionals from various communications fields and have opportunities to meet program alumni in person and online. Upon graduation, you’ll join a network of more than 330,000 Carolina graduates in all 50 states and 149 countries.

No. Upon completion of the degree, you will receive a Master of Arts in Digital Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Enrollment in our online online graduate courses is limited to 20 students per section. Courses use textbooks, case studies, blogs, journal and website articles, other readings, recorded lectures, other videos, social media tools, and other online resources. Lively discussion boards simulate the give-and-take of the traditional classroom, though in much greater depth. Course content is delivered through the Canvas learning-management system, and course sites have been designed in consultation with UNC-Chapel Hill’s team of professional instructional designers. Instructors update course content each time a course is taught.

Courses are taught in a mostly asynchronous format, meaning that students aren’t required to be online at specific times. Instructors hold about two live sessions via Zoom per course. Students who cannot attend live  are required to view session videos are responsible for the content covered in the sessions. While the program format is flexible, the degree is designed to be rigorous and challenging. Courses include strict deadlines for assignments and high standards for participation and performance.

Courses are taught in a mostly asynchronous format, meaning that students aren’t required to be online at specific times. Instructors hold about two live sessions via Zoom per course. Students who cannot attend live  are required to view session videos are responsible for the content covered in the sessions.

Courses are not self-paced. While there is some flexibility for when to complete the requirements of a particular learning module, there are deadlines for each module and assignment. While flexibility is a benefit of online learning, flexibility does not equal loose and unstructured. Our courses have a syllabus and schedule of assignments with strict deadlines and high standards for participation and performance. Students must log into online courses regularly to meet expectations.

Courses are designed to be accessible to people with a wide range of experience using computers. Students must be comfortable and responsive in their use of email. They have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud products and will become familiar with posting messages to a discussion forum in Canvas. They will use a blog, social media tools and other online applications for assignments. Hussman and university support is available for using new technologies and overcoming technical hurdles. High-speed internet access is required, as is consistent access to a computer with an up-to-date Mac or PC operating system and that meets the system requirements for Adobe Illustrator.

Online master’s students have full access to UNC Hussman and UNC-CH library resources online and on campus. The school houses the Park Library, an in-unit library with a full-time library director. The UNC-Chapel Hill University Libraries provide a central site to support online students. Students receive training on using library resources during the on-campus orientation.

The program is administered by UNC Hussman’s Office of Graduate Studies. The program director is Associate Professor Andy Bechtel, and Associate Dean Lucinda Austin oversees all of the school’s graduate programs.

Program administrators and faculty are aware of challenges facing working professionals pursuing graduate studies on a part-time basis. The program director is available for advising and support with academic issues. Faculty are available for specific course-related questions. Technical support is available from UNC Hussman Graduate Studies staff, university tech support and 24/7 live chat with Canvas support staff.

Online info sessions for prospective students are available throughout the year. Our graduate program staff and program director are available to answer your questions and connect you with more resources. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies at digitalcommunication@unc.edu or (919) 843-8307 to be added to our program email list or ask a question.

The two names refer to the same program. The degree name was changed to “Master of Arts in Digital Communication” in spring 2018 to better reflect the curriculum.

You apply through the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School’s online application.

More information on the application process is available on our admissions page and in The Graduate School’s application instructions.

Our priority application deadline is in March. There is a final application deadline in May for prospective students who are unable to complete their applications by the priority deadline. For both deadlines, application materials and fees are due at 11:59 p.m. The system does not accept late applications.

UNC Hussman faculty members will make priority admissions decisions in April. Once the May deadline passes, they will consider additional applications received for any remaining slots. Applying by the priority deadline gives you the best chance at admission.

More information on the application timeline is available on our admissions page.

We accept up to 20 working professionals from across communications fields.

Applicants being considered for priority admission will be interviewed via video conferencing in late March or early April. Admission decisions are made mid-April. Interviews and admissions decisions for applicants being considered for admission after the final deadline will happen in mid-May.

Standardized test scores are not required for admission, but GRE scores will be considered if submitted. The admissions committee considers each person’s entire application package when making admissions decisions. If one part of your application isn’t strong, be sure to explain why in your written statement. Address how the other parts of your application provide evidence of your ability to succeed in a rigorous graduate program as well as how the degree will benefit you. Proactively answer any questions that the committee is likely to have about your previous work experience or academic performance. Your entire application package should best represent your academic and professional abilities.

The professional-experience requirement of three years cannot be mitigated by any other factors and stands as a non-negotiable requirement.

Yes. We do not require a bachelor’s degree in a particular field.

Standardized test scores are not required for admission, but GRE scores will be considered if submitted.

We define full-time professional communications experience as time spent in a full-time job in which communications duties make up the vast majority of the applicant’s work. This could be a job in a communications industry (e.g., journalism, public relations, marketing, design) or a communications-focused role in another industry. Internships completed after completion of a bachelor’s degree count as professional experience; undergraduate internships and participation in student media organizations do not count.

Representatives of our program assess an applicant’s total time in such roles, giving partial credit for jobs in which communications accounted for a smaller portion of the applicant’s work responsibilities and for part-time professional (non-internship) roles.

The $95 application fee can be paid online through the online application system via credit/debit card (Visa/Mastercard/Discover). You may also send a check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars or an international money order. Credit card payments are due by the application deadlines, and checks must be postmarked by the deadline. If choosing to pay by check or money order, you will receive an email with further payment instructions, including the payment mailing address.

Please note that the prompt to pay the application fee comes after you submit your application. If you are applying in the final hour before the deadline, you’ll want to leave a few minutes to pay the fee.

Please visit The Graduate School’s website to determine whether you are eligible for an application fee waiver and for instructions on how to request an application fee waiver.

• Three years of professional communications experience
• A recognized undergraduate degree
• An undergraduate grade-point average of “B” or better (3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale)
• For international applicants, a minimum score of 105 on the internet-based TOEFL exam or 7.5 on the IELTS exam
• GRE scores in the 55th percentile or better on the verbal portion and 50th percentile or better on the quantitative portion

International students who have not graduated from a degree program in which English is the sole language of instruction must take the TOEFL or IELTS exam and achieve the following scores:

• Internet TOEFL exam: 105 or higher
• Computer TOEFL exam: 260 or higher
• Paper-based TOEFL exam: 620 or higher
• IELTS exam: 7.5 or higher

The Graduate School’s application instructions outline the specific conditions under which this requirement is waived.

All application materials, including letters of recommendation, are submitted electronically through The Graduate School’s online application system. Applicants will be prompted to provide the names and contact information for a minimum of three persons who will write letters of recommendation. Each recommender will receive an email with instructions on how to upload the letter of recommendation directly into the online application system or how to mail a sealed, printed copy of the recommendation directly to The Graduate School.

Yes, you may have more than three letters, but we suggest including no more than four recommenders.

A statement of purpose is required for each application. A typical statement is 2-3 pages, double-spaced, in length. The statement should clearly specify how the graduate degree will contribute to your career goals (professional and/or academic).

One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded into the application by the application deadline. We only accept unofficial transcripts for application evaluation. Please do not mail transcripts. If you are offered admission, we will request that you obtain one official transcript for each university attended and give you instructions on how to submit those official transcripts.

Most admitted applicants may defer their enrollment once, to begin the program one year later than the term for which they applied.

In accordance with state law, the University of North Carolina provides longer admissions deferments to members of the military and their spouses.

• Reserved armed forces: two-year minimum deferment period
• Active-duty armed forces: five-year minimum deferment period

Students must request a deferment at least 30 days prior to enrollment.

No applicant will be denied admission to the university solely based on military service or the intent to enter military service.

Tuition, fees and other program costs are detailed on our cost page.

Federal financial aid is available for degree-seeking students enrolled in two courses in a fall/spring session or one in a summer session, and who show financial need. The aid is typically limited to federal loans. No scholarships, grants, assistantships or fellowships are currently available through UNC Hussman. For more information, contact the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.

If you indicate in your online application that you claim North Carolina residency for tuition purposes, you will be prompted to complete a residency determination form online. Guidelines for residency consideration are available from the North Carolina Residency Determination Service.

In many cases, students can claim a tax credit or deduction for some or all of their higher education expenses. Consult a tax adviser or preparer for more details.

Yes. Please contact the Office of the University Cashier or visit the University Registrar’s VA benefits page.

Yes. Details are available on the University Cashier website.

Yes. Many of our students find financial aid through company/employer scholarships and education programs. Consult your employer’s human resources office. Our program accepts tuition waivers from eligible employees of UNC System institutions.

Both programs are delivered online and designed for working professionals, and the certificate curricula are made up of courses from the master’s curriculum. The master’s program requires students to complete a capstone course and project. Master’s students take two courses per fall or spring session (plus one each summer), compared to just one per session for students in certificate programs.

Yes, you can, but only if the certificate is completed first. Course credit from the certificate program will transfer credit into the M.A. program.

If admitted to the master’s program, certificate students may transfer credit for up to three courses that are also part of the master’s curriculum. The credit must have been earned within five years of master’s enrollment.

No. Certificate students and graduates go through the same admissions process as other master’s applicants. They are, however, encouraged to highlight their success in graduate-level coursework and provide letters of recommendation from certificate instructors to enhance their master’s applications.

No. Completing both programs is a popular option but not the most common path. About one-quarter of our online master’s students first take certificate courses.