Admission

Who Should Apply?

Emerson College’s on-campus Publishing and Writing MA graduate program enrolls a diverse cohort of students who majored, work in, or are interested in communications, English, journalism, marketing, storytelling, design, and writing. Our students aspire to work in the publishing industry and often go on to pursue careers as editors; publicists; agents; content writers; marketers; or web, book, or magazine designers. Housed in the School of the Arts, our graduate program fosters collaborative teamwork and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to opposing the suppression of ideas and literature.

Application Deadlines

Applicants can apply for admission for a fall, spring, or summer start.

Fall

• Priority*: March 1
• Regular: May 1
• Late: July 1

Spring

• Priority*: November 1
• Regular: Not offered
• Late: Not offered

Summer

• Priority*: February 1
• Regular: March 1
• Late: May 1

*Priority Decision Advantages: priority review for admission, first consideration for scholarships, and earlier receipt of an admission decision.

For official term start dates, please review our Academic Calendar.

Apply Now

Check the status of your application

Admission Requirements

• Online Application
  • After submitting your application, you will receive an email with your Admission ID. Please use your username and password to log in and check the status of your application.
• Official Transcripts
  • Review the official transcript requirements.
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • From persons best able to assess academic and professional qualifications, including motivations and goals
• Admission Essay
  • Emerson College's graduate programs form a vibrant and engaged community of creative artists, professionals, scholars, and clinicians who all believe in the power of language and communication to transform society. Your careful responses to the following prompts will help us determine if the program you are applying to is the right fit for you. Please answer each prompt as thoughtfully as possible.
    • How does the focus and curriculum of the program to which you are applying align with your experience and goals? What particular aspects of your current and/or future work do you hope to develop while in graduate school? 500 words. 
    • ​​Drawing on your personal, professional, creative and/or academic experience please share an example of a time that you overcame an individual or collective challenge and the approach you took to address that challenge. 250-500 words.
    • The mission of Emerson College is the betterment of society through communication and the arts. With this in mind, what impact do you want your work to have? 500 words.
• Sample of Work: Choose one of the following options:
  • Writing Samples: 5 pages maximum, double-spaced, nonfiction prose. This may be published or unpublished material. The sample could include work done for student publications or writing classes, but should not include academic papers.
  • Portfolio: 5 pages maximum, plus a cover page explaining the applicant’s contribution to the work shown. Portfolios may include, for example, editing work, design, layout, or social media content and strategy.
  • Essay Question: 5 pages maximum, double-spaced. You may submit a response to one of the essay questions below:
    • Tell us about a magazine, a nonfiction book, or an online publication you admire. What makes this work a publishing success?
    • Tell us about a magazine or book publisher (publishing company) you admire. What is it about its publications that constitute "success"?
• Resume
  • Include your professional and educational history.
• English Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Pearson test results.

View our graduate admission policies

International Applicants

This program supports the issuance of an I-20 for the full duration of the on-campus portion of the program. To learn more about applying for an I-20, review the International Student Enrollment Checklist. No documentation is required until after you have been admitted.