Media Advocacy

The Master of Science in Media Advocacy enhances students’ abilities to lead and contribute to mission-advancing efforts for a wide variety of organizations—from advocacy and lobbying organizations, trade and labor groups, and nonprofit entities, to strategic communication and government affairs departments. Created through a collaboration between Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and School of Law, the degree uniquely combines foundations in governmental structures and the legal system with sophisticated training in the latest communication techniques. These include social media, web communications and videography, as well as data analytics and data-driven storytelling.

As today’s organizations—from government entities to nonprofits to large corporations—increasingly understand the ways in which they must effectively communicate in visual, textual, and audio forms, they are seeing a substantial need for employees and thought leaders who possess these media skills. In response, the MS in Media Advocacy equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to apply research-driven strategic communication techniques and multimedia skills in diverse formats. The program incorporates diverse disciplines, including data and information visualization, and the opportunity to specialize in specific areas such as civil rights or environmental policy, experience design, and more. With this inclusive curriculum, graduates will be prepared to directly and indirectly advocate for organizations, ideas, and initiatives in a multitude of fields, while also becoming media-empowered citizens in a global, media-driven society.

More Details

Strategic Communication for Social Change

The Master of Science in Media Advocacy is an interdisciplinary degree designed to teach strategic advocacy skills to communications, nonprofit, and government affairs professionals and prepare graduates to succeed as resilient, media-empowered citizens in a global society.

• The degree uniquely combines foundations in governmental structures and the legal system with sophisticated training in the latest communication techniques.
• Through the selection of electives, students can focus their studies on a specific realm of advocacy, such as civil rights or environmental policy, and in advocacy techniques, such as data-driven storytelling, video, experience and information design, and VR/games for engagement and decision making.

Admissions Dates

Fall Admissions Deadlines:

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.