Essays Required by Program

Please review the essay requirements of your intended program of study. Essays can be submitted online or with your mailed application. For specific application instructions, please view the steps to apply.

Jump to a program:

• Communication Disorders
• Communication Management
• Creative Writing
• Global Marketing Communication and Advertising
• Health Communication
• Integrated Marketing Communication
• Journalism
• Media Art
• Publishing and Writing
• Theatre Education

Communication Disorders

One required essay

1. Reflecting on your work, life, and educational experience, describe how you arrived at the decision to pursue a career in communication disorders/speech-language pathology. As we are unable to interview all applicants to our program, we like to use your essay as a way to get to know you. As you consider your response, do let your personality shine through so that we are able to get a good sense of who you are.

Communication Management

Two required essays

1. Describe your career goals in the area of communication management and plans for achieving these goals. Please highlight the intellectual and personal qualifications that will enable you to be successful as a graduate student and as a communication specialist.
2. Describe a meaningful experience you have had with learning to understand the goals, motivations, and points-of-view of an unfamiliar individual or group. How did you discover what they thought and felt? What barriers did you have to overcome and how did you do so? What insights did you gain from the experience?

Creative Writing

One required essay

1. Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education assist you in achieving these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession.

Global Marketing Communication and Advertising

Three required essays and one optional essay

1. Describe your personal and professional goals in the area of global marketing communication and tell us about your past experiences and plans for achieving these goals. Highlight the intellectual and personal qualifications that will enable you to be successful as a graduate student and as a global marketing communication specialist. (800 words)
2. Describe a meaningful cross-cultural experience you have had that highlights your awareness, understanding, and appreciation of interaction with people from diverse backgrounds in a business setting. (500 words)
3. Explain why you are interested in Emerson’s Global Marketing Communication and Advertising program versus domestic marketing communication and why now is the right time for you to join the program. (250 words)
4. (Optional) In addition to the information you have provided us with so far, we invite you to tell us about yourself using a different format: a slide presentation (PowerPoint or PDF format). In four slides or less, capture who you are. 

Health Communication

One required essay

1. Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education assist you in achieving these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession.

Integrated Marketing Communication

One required essay

1. Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education assist you in achieving these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession.

Journalism

One required essay

1. Why do you want to be a journalist? Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education help you achieve these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession.

Media Art

Two required essays

1. Discuss your body of creative work up to this point, specifically what you have submitted as your portfolio. Articulate the context of your work, describe your creative process, and critique your strengths and weaknesses. Why have you chosen this work to present to the committee?
2. What do you see as the trajectory of your work at Emerson and beyond?

Publishing and Writing

One required essay

1. Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education assist you in achieving these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession. Additionally, please elaborate on your specific area of interest: book publishing, electronic publishing, magazine publishing, or some other type of publishing.

Theatre Education

One required essay

1. Explain your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will an Emerson education assist you in achieving these goals? Reflecting on any relevant work and educational experiences, describe how you would contribute to the program and to the profession.