Answer: Online master’s degree programs in communication can start at different points throughout the year depending on their structure, and may handle admission deadlines in a number of different ways. Some programs only offer one start date at the beginning of the academic year in the fall. Others have multiple start dates that align with the traditional academic calendar, such as every semester (fall, spring, and summer) or every quarter (fall, spring, winter, and summer). There are also programs that adhere to non-traditional academic calendars, which may have six to eight or more different start dates throughout the year. Other factors to consider when applying to an online master’s in communication program are rolling admissions policies, graduate assistantships, and whether the program uses a cohort model.

Start dates for an online master’s degree program in communication or one of its related specializations will vary by school. As mentioned earlier, some programs adhere to a traditional collegiate model and only admit students in the fall. There are others that follow a standard academic calendar but allow students to enroll at different points throughout the year. These start dates typically align with the start of each semester or quarter, depending on which the school uses. For a semester-based program, students may be able to enter during either the fall, spring, or summer, while a quarter-based program might offer start dates in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. The majority of online master’s in communication programs fall into one of the categories described above, offering one to four admission periods each year.

There are some programs, however, that use alternative academic calendars, with four-, five-, or even eight-week terms. In these cases, students may have more choices when it comes to starting their studies. There are a number of online master’s in communication programs that offer five or six different start dates throughout the year, and some that have as many as eight. National University’s online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication program even has 12, one per month.

Application Deadlines for Online Master’s in Communication Programs

When it comes to admission deadlines, the specific dates will vary in accordance with each program’s schedule. Most programs have a deadline that students must submit their application by in order to be considered for a certain start time. For example, the online Master of Arts in Technical Communication program at Texas Tech University, which only admits students in the fall, requires all application materials to be submitted by January 15th. Other programs use what is called rolling admissions, meaning there are no set application deadlines, and students are free to apply at any point throughout the year. Admissions staff then review the applications as they come in and decide who to admit. If a student is accepted, they typically enter the program at the next available start date.

There are a couple other factors that may affect when students can be admitted to certain programs. Some online master’s in communication programs utilize a cohort model, in which students are placed in a group upon admission and stay with that group throughout their studies, taking courses together with the goal of graduating at the same time. These programs tend to follow a more set schedule to allow each cohort to progress through their prearranged curriculum, fulfill their degree requirements, and graduate within a certain time period. As such, programs that use a cohort model may have a limited number of start dates each year. Similarly, students interested in graduate assistantships, which are not as common for online programs as they are for campus-based ones, may have a separate deadline for applications and fewer start dates to choose from.

Start Dates for Online Master’s in Communication Programs

The table below contains a breakdown of every online master’s program currently listed on MastersinCommunications.com and when they accept students. For more information about an individual program, including its start dates and admission requirements, click on the program name.