The Department of Marketing Communication in Emerson College’s School of Communication offers an accelerated master’s track for selected Emerson undergraduates to complete a Master of Arts (MA) in Strategic Marketing in just one additional year after completing their undergraduate degree.
Benefits of the 4+1 Master’s Program
The 4+1 format is a fantastic opportunity for current Emerson students who are interested in pursuing a master’s-level qualification to jumpstart their careers while still obtaining a graduate degree.
- Accelerated study. Students who are accepted to the program will be allowed to take master’s (600-level) classes during their senior year. These classes will be double-weighted, counting toward both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees. By taking these classes during senior year, students will complete up to 3 of the 8 required courses before the end of the bachelor’s degree. This accelerates the pace of the master’s degree, making it possible to complete both the BA and the MA within five years.
- Cost savings. Any 600-level credits that students take while they are still registered for their bachelor’s degree will be charged at the undergraduate tuition rate, saving lots of money on tuition! A maximum of 16 600-level credits can be double-counted and charged in this way. Assuming that the student’s status as a full-time student is maintained, their financial aid will not be affected while they are still enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- The Emerson Edge. The 4+1 format requires the same number of graduate credits as a normal master's degree, meaning students can graduate with their master’s sooner and bring a competitive edge to the communication industry.
Curriculum and Eligibility Requirements
All Emerson undergraduate majors are eligible to apply except those graduating with a BFA. Students should contact their advisor for specific details.
Students are eligible to apply for the 4+1 program in the first semester of their junior year. The 4+1 program will require students to take at least three graduate-level courses. Each course will be taken during their senior and one year post-undergraduate graduation.
A maximum of four graduate courses (16 credits) may be taken in the senior year but taking three courses is recommended. Specific courses may vary depending on start term and selected professional track. A potential senior year course map may look like:
| Course | Semester |
|---|---|
| MK 611 Strategic Marketing Communication and Brand Leadership | Fall Semester |
| MK 636 Creative Thinking & Problem Solving | Spring Semester |
| MK 669 Behavioral Economics | Spring Semester |
Interested students must meet with the Graduate Program Director, Carol Ferrara, and their undergraduate Academic Advisor prior to applying in order to determine eligibility and/or a plan to meet the prerequisite requirements of the program.
Application Requirements
Students apply during the first semester of their junior year. Application requirements include:
- Graduate Admission Application
- Transcript of grades
- Resume
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member
- No GRE required
- Students applying for the 4+1 program should have a strong academic record. If accepted, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the graduate level. In addition, courses in which a grade below B- is earned will not be credited toward any graduate degree. This includes courses taken at the graduate level while enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Admission Essay: Emerson College's graduate programs form a vibrant and engaged community of creative artists, professionals, scholars, and clinicians who all believe in the power of language and communication to transform society. Your careful responses to the following prompts will help us determine if the program you are applying to is the right fit for you. Please answer each prompt as thoughtfully as possible.
- How does the focus and curriculum of the 4+1 Strategic Marketing program align with your experience and goals? What particular aspects of your current and/or future work do you hope to develop while in graduate school? 500 words.
- Drawing on your personal, professional, creative, and/or academic experience, please share an example of a time that you overcame an individual or collective challenge and the approach you took to address that challenge. 250–500 words.
- The mission of Emerson College is the betterment of society through communication and the arts. With this in mind, what impact do you want your work to have? 250-500 words.
Have questions about the application requirements? Please feel free to contact Charlotte Coberley, the Graduate Admission representative for this program, at charlotte_coberley [at] emerson.edu (charlotte_coberley[at]emerson[dot]edu).
Application Deadlines
Fall 2026
November 1 (First semester Juniors apply now to begin the 4+1 program in Fall 2026)
Spring 2027
April 1 (First semester Juniors can apply now until April 1st to begin the 4+1 program in Spring 2027)