Communication and New Media (MA)

The MA program in Communication and New Media at McMaster University offers the opportunity for students to gain experience in independent communication studies research and/or multimedia art and design at the graduate level, while developing advanced knowledge in communication theories and methodologies, and cultivating their interest in one or more subspecialties in this interdisciplinary program (such as media studies, discourse analysis, performance studies, audio and video art, audience studies, computer-mediated methodologies).

Students entering the program from undergraduate communication studies and/or multimedia programs will all share a background in critical and creative approaches to conventional and new media, but they will also bring a spectrum of interests, reflecting the diversity of these fields, that will contribute to a vibrant interchange of ideas. This program will cultivate their intellectual development through coursework, a major research project, and extracurricular activities. The program prepares students for both further graduate education in the areas of communication, media and multimedia study, and for employment in a range of fields such as media production, media administration, communication policy, organizational communication, and the arts.

Areas of Research

• Digital media & code art
• Communications law and policy
• Copyright history
• Diasporic and international media
• Critical approaches to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality
• Television and radio studies
• Political economy
• Networked creativity
• Augmented Reality
• Sound art
• Physical computing
• Animation and design
• Political communication
• Media management
• Digital games studies
• Participatory culture
• Digital cultural theory
• Reputation and brand management
• Public relations management
• Media literacy
• Audience research
• Media and activism
• Popular music studies
• Professional communications
• Crisis management

• Honours Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• B+ (B- for Engineering) minimum average, based on a full year equivalent of final year courses (3rd/4th level) relevant to the program
• Each program may set additional/higher requirements. Please review the program website for details.
• Degrees and grades from foreign universities are evaluated for their equivalency to McMaster’s. Please contact the program for specific details.
• Departments or programs may establish additional requirements, such as scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Admission is competitive: meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission
• The admission decision is not subject to appeal
• Applicants who do not meet the above mentioned requirements, should consult the Graduate Calendar to determine the requirements for exceptional cases