Prospective Graduate FAQs
Applying to the Graduate Program of the Speech Communication Department
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum GPA and GRE scores required for admission?
The required minimum academic grade point average (for the final 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate work) is 3.0 on a four-point scale; normally, those admitted have a grade point average well above this minimum. GRE scores must be submitted, but there is no required minimum. Admission to our program is highly competitive. The average GPA and GRE scores of those admitted will vary slightly from year to year.
Are all International Student Applicants required to submit TOEFL scores?
Generally, yes. The Graduate College requires all students for whom English is not their native language to provide the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For more information about this requirement, see the Graduate College Admissions page.
What do Speech Communication graduate students do after graduation?
Our students who finish their education with the M.A. typically enter employment in the private sector. Some of our recent graduates have begun work in the fields of human resources, public relations, and event management. Most of our Ph.D. graduates teach at colleges and universities. Our recent graduates have accepted positions at Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Oklahoma, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A & M University, and Wheaton College. Other Ph.D. graduates enter the private sector in consulting or training and development.
Should I apply to the M.A. program or the Ph.D.?
Students without an M.A. degree should apply to the M.A. program. Those with an interest in a Ph.D. may apply at the end of their M.A. program to enter the Ph.D. program. Students who have a M.A. in Communication or a related field may apply for the Ph.D. program. For more information, see our degree information page.
How do M.A. students move into the Ph.D. program?
Students in our M.A. program who wish to continue for a Ph.D. must apply to be considered for the program. These students will submit their applications by January 15 of the academic year they anticipate completing the M.A. For more information, see our degree information page.
How many of the graduate students in the department receive funding?
Virtually every qualified graduate student in Speech Communication receives financial aid. Most graduate students in the department hold teaching assistantships that require teaching two or more sections of a basic speech course each semester. These assistantships come with a stipend and a waiver that covers tuition and some of the student fees. Some students receive research assistantships that that also come with a stipend and a waiver. A few students in the department receive fellowships. For more information on all of these awards, see our awards and funding page and the Graduate College Financial Assistance page.
Do I submit a paper application or do I apply online?
The university has moved to an online application system. You can access the application system through the Graduate College Web page. In that system you will supply your personal information and academic history, upload your statement of purpose, report the names and electronic mail addresses of those writing letters of reference, and pay the application fee. Academic transcripts, a writing sample, and any other supporting documents should be sent directly to the Department of Speech Communication. For more information, see our application information page.
May recommendation writers submit their recommendations online?
Yes. Recommendation writers may submit their recommendations online or submit them on paper to the department. If they will submit them online, you must supply their contact information (name and electronic mail address) in the online application. The Graduate College office of admissions will contact them with instructions for how to submit the recommendation. If they will send their recommendations directly to the department, you must print a form, complete the top half of the form, sign it, and give it to the writer.
How long does it take to complete an M.A. degree?
Students in the M.A. program must complete 32 hours of graduate credit. For a full-time student without an assistantship or outside employment, thirty-two hours could be completed in two semesters; for a student holding a half-time assistantship, thirty-two hours can be completed in two semesters plus a summer session (though most students take more time than this).
How long does it take to complete a Ph.D. degree?
A minimum of three years of graduate study beyond the M.A. is usually the minimum amount of time needed to complete all the requirements for the doctoral degree. However, because our students typically hold half-time teaching or research assistantships, most complete a degree in 4 years.
Whom should I contact with questions about the graduate program in Speech Communication?
You can direct all questions about the graduate program to the Speech Communication Department office or the department’s Director of Graduate Study.