FAQs
How many credit hours are required for this program?
36 credit hours are required for this program. Our courses are all 3 credit hours each.
How long will it take to graduate? How many years do I have to complete my degree?
That depends on how many courses you take and whether you want to attend school year-round. You can graduate in as few as two years, but you have up to seven years to complete your degree. If that time frame is a problem for you, you can petition the Graduate Committee for a one-year extension.
Can I take more than one class per semester?
That’s up to you and your work schedule, as well as your additional personal obligations. Most Marketing Communications students take one course per semester, but many find it possible to take two classes per semester in the fall and spring. FYI: Classes in the summer run for 8 weeks, two nights per week.
Can I attend classes full-time?
Most students attend part-time. A full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9 credit hours, which for most working professionals is challenging.
Who will help me with my course plan?
Many people are available to assist you in your academic career:
- Tom Volek, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Faculty Development, can counsel you on your educational goals and your final Capstone course.
- Kelly Crane, Coordinator of the Marketing Communications Graduate Program, will help you determine how this course of study can best accomplish your educational and professional goals. She can also assist you with course scheduling and career networking.
- Jammie Johnson, Marketing Communications Program Assistant, can assist with academic advising and the Admissions and Enrollment process.
- Cindy Nesvarba, the Graduate Records Coordinator, serves as the “technical” adviser: what counts, hours left to complete, courses needed, etc. She is based in Lawrence, but is available by phone and e-mail.
- Faculty Members who teach your classes can also offer helpful advice on the best courses for your interests and career as well as the final Capstone course.
Tell me about the faculty.
Faculty members of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications teach most of the classes. Our faculty is known for their dedication to teaching, for their focus on professional accomplishment and for their pioneering work in curriculum development to prepare students for multimedia workplaces. They are experts in their areas and often work with companies such as ExxonMobil, AMC Entertainment and Teva Neurosciences, and speak at professional gatherings such as the IABC International Convention. Other courses are taught by business professionals in the community, creating a synergy of academics and real-world experience.
Who is teaching which class?
The teaching schedule changes each semester. You can see faculty assignments at the time enrollment begins. The online timetable is usually posted the week of Fall Break in October for the Spring semester, and Spring Break in March for the Summer and Fall semesters. You may also check our blog for upcoming course offerings and faculty: http://kumarcomm.wordpress.com. FYI: Certain graduate classes have limited enrollment. We strongly encourage you to enroll as soon as enrollment begins to secure your choice of class or section.
How many active students are currently in the program?
There are approximately 60 students actively enrolled in any given semester, but the program is growing each semester.
What is the average class size?
Most classes have 15–25 students, though some elective courses may be smaller. As enrollment increases, we plan to add course offerings so we can keep the class size in that same range.
How many students do you accept into the program each semester? How competitive is it to get in?Admission is competitive, but there is no limit to the number of students we will accept each semester. We will accommodate all exceptional candidates.
How much does it cost per credit hour?
For the 2009–2010 academic year, the Kansas Resident and MetroKC rate is $390.75 per semester hour. Rate includes base tuition, differential tuition, relevant graduate fee, student union fee and construction fee. This per-credit-hour rate applies to KU Edwards Campus courses only—not to courses taken in Lawrence—and is subject to change. KU Edwards Campus fees cover course instruction, a student union and library privileges. They do not cover student health service benefits, although health services are available for additional fee at Watkins Health Center and the KU Medical Center. The MetroKC Tuition program allows students residing in Metro Kansas City, Missouri counties to pay the Resident rate for tuition, however students must apply for the grant. For questions related to tuition and fees at the KU Edwards Campus, and the MetroKC Tuition program, please contact Lisa Browning at 913-897-8615 or lbrowin@ku.edu.
Are financial aid or scholarships available?
For Federal Student Aid through the U.S. Department of Education, you can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. The KU Office of Student Financial Aid can also assist you (www.financialaid.ku.edu). The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications does offer some scholarships and is often made aware of external scholarships for Marketing students. For more information contact Kelly Crane, kcrane@ku.edu or Jammie Johnson, jamjohn@ku.edu.
What are you looking for in terms of GPA or GRE scores?
Your GPA should be a 3.0 or above, though extensive work experience and high GRE scores may compensate for a GPA that is slightly below 3.0. We have no hard and fast rule on GRE scores because we take all parts of your application and your work experience into consideration. However, we would like to see a score in the 75th percentile (approximately 580) on the Verbal section. Another good rule of thumb is to score 1000 cumulative points on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the exam. We look very closely at the Analytical Writing score and hope to see a 4.5 or greater out of a possible 6.0.
I’ve taken the GMAT instead of the GRE. Will you accept these?
Yes, but your test scores must be less than five years old.
What is the difference between the GMAT and the GRE?
The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is used by graduate school programs to assess applicants and comes in several different forms: the subject tests (such as psychology or computer science) and the GRE General Exam. The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a required part of the admissions process for most business schools.
Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in Journalism, Communications or Business to be accepted into this program? What degrees do you look for?
While those degrees might be helpful, we have people in the program from all sorts of academic backgrounds. We look at a number of factors when making admissions decisions, including work experience, verbal skills, GRE scores, and your academic history.
I’ve got several years of work experience, but not in marketing communications. I want to get into the field of marketing communications. Will you accept my general work experience in lieu of marketing work experience?
While we prefer incoming students to have marketing communications experience, we take all parts of your application into consideration when making admission decisions. If you can make a case that you have work experience that is transferable to the field of marketing communications through your application, references, samples of work, etc., that will benefit you.
What do you mean by “samples of professional work” to be provided as part of the application process?
Writing samples, printed graphic design samples, a sample marketing plan or anything you think is relevant to the field of marketing communications are considered “samples of professional work”.
Do the people writing references for me need to fill out a special form or just write a letter? Are there any specific points you want addressed in their letter of reference? Should the letter be mailed directly to the school or to me so I can turn it in with my other materials?
The individuals you ask to write letters may use the Letter of Recommendation form included in this packet or write a letter using the questions on the form as a guide. The form is available electronically upon request. References who know your professional work and your character are preferred and one academic reference is required. They will be asked to outline how they know you and to describe the work you do and the skills you have that they feel will make you successful in the Marketing Communications Graduate Program. The letters should be mailed by the referring individuals directly to the Marketing Communications Graduate Program Coordinator at the KU Edwards Campus. If you choose to collect them and mail them yourself, please have the person writing your reference seal it in an envelope and sign their name over the seal.
I received my undergraduate degree from a particular university, but took a couple of summer school classes at a junior college. The classes I took in summer school appear on my transcript from the college from which I received my degree. Do I need to get transcripts from my summer school colleges as well?
It is a Graduate School rule that we must receive one official transcript from each previous college or university you have attended. Many times the transcript from the school from which you graduated schools does not accurately indicate the course title and grade information we require.
Can I be admitted in the Spring or Summer, or do you only allow for Fall admission? Are there problems with curriculum sequencing if I were to start in the Spring or Summer?
Yes, you can be admitted in the Spring and Summer as well as the Fall; however, there are a limited number of classes available in the Summer. It is recommended that the first Fall semester you are in the program you enroll in the Marketing Fundamentals for Communicators class (JOUR820), which is the basis for the rest of the curriculum.
Is a thesis required in order to graduate?
No. Students entering the Marketing Communications program at this time will be required to complete the Capstone course and take a final written exam created specifically for their area of interest and/or expertise.
Will applicants be interviewed in person before being admitted?
If there is some question regarding your application, academic credentials, test scores or work experience, it is possible that the graduate committee may want to interview you. However, do not be alarmed if you are not contacted for an interview. It is preferable that all applicants meet with Kelly Crane, the Coordinator of the Marketing Communications Graduate Program, or Jammie Johnson, the Program Assistant, at the Edwards Campus as they begin the application process.
What do I get out of the graduate degree in Marketing Communications?
Marketing Communications serves media, corporate and non-profit professionals who plan careers in marketing and management. It combines the specialties of mass communications, marketing and management with specific skill sets in writing, finance and technology.
A Marketing Communications degree sounds more interesting to me, but my employer seems to prefer an MBA. How do the degrees compare and what are the comparisons between the two?
For the Marketing Communications Professional, the Marketing Communications Master’s Degree is the natural choice. Not only do our students learn how to integrate all aspects of marketing, but they also learn various business skills such as database management, finance, research and creative processes from a Marketing Communications perspective. It is a very specific degree for those who plan a long-term career in marketing communications or marketing management. It is also very practical. Many of our students say they can learn something in class one night and apply it at work the next day. An MBA tends to be a more general degree requiring coursework in human resources, organizational behavior, accounting, finance, IT and marketing.
Can I take a class in the Marketing Communications program without being (or before being) admitted to the program (i.e., as a non-degree seeking student)?
Yes, but you may not be eligible for some student loans, scholarships or grants as a non-degree-seeking student. Non-degree seeking students only need to fill out the non-degree seeking application, submit the application fee and submit their official transcript(s). GRE scores are not required for non-degree status. Students can take up to twelve hours of credit for their knowledge, but it does not guarantee degree-seeking admission in the future. Applicants must still meet the necessary requirements for degree-seeking admission. See page 12 of the Graduate catalog.
