Students may enter the CMS program with undergraduate degrees in a variety of disciplines, including liberal arts and sciences, computer science, journalism, economics, and management. We actively seek students from different backgrounds and with different career objectives. Many of our students already have professional experience in media-related fields and return to an academic setting to 'retool' so they may understand better the complexities of contemporary media culture.

CMS is especially interested in students who combine technical skills with an interest in the humanities. The program offers a terminal Master's degree, but a number of our graduates go on to complete PhDs in social sciences, film, media, communications, or cultural studies.

Applications become available in August for prospective admission in the following year. Email cms-admissions@mit.edu for further information.

The Application

• MIT Graduate Admissions Office: http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/

• Download application: http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/how_to_apply/application_download.html

• Online application (preferred): http://www.applyweb.com/apply/mitg/menu.html [general instructions] and http://www.applyweb.com/apply/mitg/cmsinst.html

The Application Checklist

MIT Application Checklist

The full checklist of requirements for application by MIT can be found at http://www.applyweb.com/apply/mitg/checklist.html.

CMS Application Checklist

In addition to the MIT Application Checklist, CMS requires the following:

• Application for Graduate Admission: Applicants are required to complete the Record of Courses Taken in Preparation for Graduate Study form. Please complete the section for courses most relevant to this graduate program and the additional courses section. Group courses by subject area, and complete each column. All other sections are required, including the Statement of Objectives, Financial Statement, MIT Biographical Data form, and International Student Data Form, if appropriate.

• Three letters of recommendation (online submission preferred).

• GRE scores: The MIT code is 3514, the departmental code is 4505. Scores are sent directly by the Educational Testing Service.

• Writing sample, such as a research paper (mail copy to the address listed below and email electronic copy to cms-admissions@mit.edu).

• Portfolio (Optional).

• $70.00 processing fee.

Additional Requirements for International Students

• IELTS: minimum score 7. More information is available at ielts.org.

  Note: CMS no longer accepts TOEFL exam scores.

• An English Evaluation Test (ETT) during the week before classes begin in the Fall semester. Please plan accordingly. More information is available at http://web.mit.edu/fll/www/languages/ESLOptions.shtml#EET.

Submitting Physical Materials

Materials not submitted electronically should be mailed in ONE envelope to:

Comparative Media Studies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 14N-207
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

These physical materials should include:

• Transcripts of all previous academic study, including study abroad (mail originals, no copies or faxes) to above address.

• Writing sample.

• Portfolio (optional).

Information Sessions

Information sessions are held on-campus and online from October through early December.

On-Campus	Thursday, October 2, 2008 9am-7pm Thursday, November 13, 2008 9am-7pm
Online	Thursday, October 16, 2008 8-10am Eastern Standard Time (Asia) Thursday, October 30, 2008 2-4pm Eastern Standard Time (Europe)

For more information on the Information Sessions, please visit their page in Events.

Previous Session Transcripts

Transcripts are available from the following previous sessions:

December 13, 2006 November 8, 2006

November 16, 2004 November 20, 2002

Milestones in the Application Process

October and November	Take GRE and IELTS standardized tests.
January 15	Application deadline.
January 15 - June 1	No prospective student visits.
June 1 - January 15	Prospective student visits.
Mid March	Admission Offers issued.
Early April	Admitted Students visit CMS (optional).
April 15	Deadline for admitted students to notify CMS of acceptance.
Last week of August	Orientation.