MA Communication, Digital Media, and AI at University of Illinois Chicago

Programme overview

A fully online MA delivered in 8-week asynchronous courses through UIC Extended Campus, covering data analytics, AI use, media literacies and ethics.

Faculty: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Department: Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Duration: 32 semester hours minimum | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

Required core of 20 hours: Data, Privacy and Ethics in the Digital Age; Digital Marketing and Public Relations; Social Media Influencers, Branding and Marketing; AI and Digital Journalism; Data Metrics, Research, and Digital Literacies. At least 12 hours of electives. No thesis; projects are completed within coursework.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Any bachelor's field (about 20 hours in communication/media/social inquiry recommended). GPA at least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours. GRE optional. Resume, transcripts and a 600-word personal statement; two letters and a writing sample optional. Rolling admission. TOEFL iBT 95 (before 1/21/2026), IELTS 7.0 overall, PTE Academic 54.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate and professional programmes admit for Fall, Spring and Summer terms depending on the programme; applications for Fall 2027, Spring 2028 and Summer 2028 are expected to open on August 1, 2026.

Graduate and professional application deadlines are set per programme, with separate deadlines for domestic and international applicants for most non-online programmes; optional earlier priority, recommended or fellowship dates apply to both. Applications are made through the UIC graduate application or a centralized application service for some professional programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.uic.edu/admissions/

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