Graduate Program in Communication & Culture
A Partnership of Ryerson University and York University

Application Process

Program Specific Documents

The Material Checklist on the Admissions website lists the general application materials beyond which the Communications and Culture program also requires:

1. Statement of Research Interest - this 500 word essay should primarily focus on your RESEARCH interest, its methodology, and cultural importance, with reference to how your background or career supports the research plan. About three quarters of it should focus on a clear, concise Research Plan in some detail, and remaining part can describe how your academic or professional background fits the topic and our program. This essay should demonstrate your understanding of our program and the fit of your topic to our program. You may include some citations for other research or academic literature, but a full bibliography is not necessary. Ensure that you have contextualized the topic within the broader field of communications and cultural studies. We recommend that you have 1-2 other academics or grad students read it for feedback on clarity and academic tone. This should be written similar to an academic assignment or scholarship proposal, especially if it is for a PhD application. Applicants for the part-time Master’s program should include a sentence or two to address the challenges of attendance in daytime classes, i.e. your employer’s flexibility, and maintaining your motivation over 3-5 years to complete the program.
2. Resume/CV (limit of four pages), with an emphasis on experience in research or cultural production, or that depended upon writing and presentation skills.
3. Contact Information for TWO Letters of Reference (see Admissions Material Checklist) – We recommend that you ask potential referees if they can provide a STRONG reference before obtaining references from them, as a weak reference will affect how we assess your application.
4. Sample of Writing - submit one short sample (5-6 pages, maximum of 10 pages) of your best academic writing on a relevant topic. You might condense or excerpt from a previous course essay that performed a critical analysis of cultural theory, an academic interpretation of policy or a case student, or a strong synthesis of a literature review.
5. Additional information (on a single separate page) - 1) Rank your choice of research stream: Media and culture, Politics and Policy or Technology in Practice; 2) List particular professors in the program with whom you might like to work, and indicate how their work relates to your proposed program; and 3) List any relevant publications, exhibitions or conference presentations, even if mentioned on your resume/CV.

To review a listing of all required documents, please refer to the Material Checklist: http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/admissions/material-checklist.html