Admission Requirements

Fall 2009 admission deadline is December 15, 2008.

We have no Spring admission.

1. The Graduate School has set a minimum grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). You may apply to the Graduate School with a lower than 3.0 GPA. However, if you are accepted, it will be with conditions.

To be accepted to the doctoral program, you must have a Master's degree or be in a Master's program with plans to complete the degree before beginning the doctoral program. You may do both degrees at UT, but you must first apply to the master’s program; then apply to the doctoral program when you are finished with the your master’s degree. Admission to the M.A. program does not guarantee admission to the Ph.D. program.

We require that beginning graduate students have at least nine semester hours of upper-division undergraduate course work or graduate course work in Communication Studies. You may apply without this requirement. If you are accepted with a deficiency of Communication Studies course work, you will be required to make up this deficiency after you are admitted into the graduate program and before you can take any graduate course work. You may take this course work at UT or another four year institution.

2. Take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). If you are an International Student, you should also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Testing System (IELTS) exam as well as the GRE. Official scores should be sent by ETS to GIAC. The University of Texas ETS code is 6882 and the Communication Studies Department ETS code is 4506. You must send a photocopy of your scores to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

3. Fill out the Texas Common application online. Apply to the Graduate School and the department electronically using the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) web site. If you cannot send the application electronically, see their web site for options. The Communication Studies department code for the UT application is 623965.

4. Official transcripts from all four-year institutions (junior/community college transcripts are not required) must be sent to GIAC.

5. A photocopy or unofficial copy of your transcripts from all four-year institutions must be sent to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

6. A Statement of Purpose should provide information about your graduate studies goals and how these goals relate to your future career. It should describe these goals in the context of your academic, professional, or personal past and could discuss those events, classes, and experiences which have prepared you for graduate study in Communication Studies. Ideally it should be 1 to 2 pages, but no longer than 3 pages, double spaced. The Texas Common application gives students the opportunity to submit the statement of purpose online. You may submit it online, but you must send it directly to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

7. Three letters of recommendation are required. If possible, these letters should come from academics. If you've had teaching experience, please ask that this be mentioned by at least one letter writer including his/her evaluation of your teaching. If English is your second language, ask that your letter writers mention your English proficiency. Please note that these letters are confidential and will not be released to the applicant under any circumstances. The Texas Common application gives students the opportunity to submit letters of recommendation writers’ email addresses online. You may submit your letter writer’s email addresses online, but you must have them sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

8. A Brief Essay is required in which you describe at least two questions you might like to research during your graduate study (maximum of 350 words). We want to know if you can ask a research question with a communication slant based on Communication theory and current knowledge. We are also looking for "fit." We want to be sure that we have faculty who can help you do the kind of research that you want to do. These questions are not binding; you do not have to research these questions should you be accepted. The Texas Common application gives students the opportunity to submit the brief essay online. You may submit it online, but you must send it directly to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

9. An academic writing sample is required. M.A. applicants should submit to the Graduate Coordinator a copy of an undergraduate paper prepared for a course. Ph.D. applicants should submit a copy of a graduate research paper, or a significant chapter, or if short, a complete copy of their M.A. thesis. You must mail it to the Department of Communication Studies at the address below.

10. Rarely a telephone interview with a member of the Graduate Faculty MAY be requested by the Graduate Advisor or by a faculty member. An applicant may e-mail faculty members at any time during the application process to ask questions about their research, etc. E-mail addresses for university faculty are available online in the UT electronic directory.

11. Submit an application fee to GIAC. Questions about the processing fee should be directed to GIAC.