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 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. A maximum of twelve 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.
- Priority Admission. Apply earlier with a fast track to admission with fewer required application materials. This streamlined process ensures a quicker path to enrollment, allowing students to plan further ahead for their academic and professional goals.
- Upskill Faster. Acquire graduate level expertise in strategic marketing communication and digital marketing during your senior year to apply to real-world, client-focused experiences such as internships, Capstone, study abroad, or your full-time job search.
Curriculum and Eligibility Requirements
All Emerson undergraduate majors may be eligible to apply except those graduating with a BFA. Interested students must meet with the Graduate Program Director, Carol Ferrara, and their undergraduate academic advisor prior to submitting an application in order to determine eligibility and to develop a course plan that meets credit requirements.
The 4+1 program requires students to enroll in three graduate-level courses (12 credits) during their senior year: one course in the first semester and two courses in the second semester. Specific course offerings may vary based on the student's start term and chosen professional track.
A potential senior year course map may look like, by course and semester:
- Strategic Marketing Communication and Brand Leadership: Fall Semester
- Creative Thinking & Problem Solving : Spring Semester
- Behavioral Economics: Spring Semester
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)