Department of Communication Graduate Admission Deadlines

Ph.D. applications due January 15th for Fall. M.A. applications due April 1st for Spring and August 1st for Fall. Graduate Certificate rolling deadlines for Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Undergraduate Students
Admission requirements are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the university.

Visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or telephone (313) 577-3577 or at the Office of Graduate Admissions Suite 6402, 5057 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202


Graduate Students – Master of Arts
Admission is competitive and is based on each student’s entire academic record. MA applicants are admitted twice a year, for the fall semester and the spring semester. The deadline date for application and receipt of transcripts for the fall semester is August 1; for the spring semester it is April. 1.

For specific instructions on how to apply to the university as a graduate student, visit the Office of Graduate Admissions.

• A personal statement is required. This should discuss your academic and professional interests. It should also clearly describe your preparation for graduate work in your area of interest as well as how the graduate degree serves your career plans.
• A recent sample of academic writing, such as a final paper or a research report, is required. Typically the writing sample ranges from 10-20 pages of text.

Financial Support:
Graduate financial support for master’s students at WSU is VERY LIMITED.

• Full-time and part-time graduate professional scholarships are available. Visit The Graduate School Website for more information.
• Loans or college work study may be available for graduate students. Visit the Office of Financial Aid or call (313) 577-3378 for more information.

Graduate Students - Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution

*Note* The Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution (MADR) program has a different application procedure than the other Master of Arts degrees offered in the Communication Department.  Please visit the MADR program web page for specific instructions.  Go to www.comm.wayne.edu/madr.php for more details.

Graduate Students – Doctor of Philosophy

Complete guidelines for application to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program can be found in the PhD Handbook. (ADD PDF)

Doctoral students are only admitted for the fall semester. Applications are due by January 15th.  Applicants must ensure that all materials are received via the online application site of the Office of Graduate Admissions by the January 15th deadline date.  This includes GRE scores and transcripts from other institutions.  Admission is competitive and is based on each applicant’s entire academic record.

The application package consists of:

• A completed Application for Graduate Admission. The form must be completed and submitted electronically at http://www.gradadmissions.wayne.edu/process.php . A fee of $50 is due at the time of application. (Note: Students who are continuing on from a Master’s program at WSU file a “Change of Graduate Status form” instead; this form is available at http://www.gradschool.wayne.edu/Current/OnLineForms.asp
• Official transcripts from every college or university previously attended. Transcripts are to be mailed directly from the degree granting institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please ensure that they arrive by the application deadline date of January 15.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. We recommend that you send an unofficial copy of your scores to us as soon as you receive them, in addition to ordering an official copy sent. Scores must be within 5 years of the date of proposed admission.
• International Students are also required to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results; the minimum acceptable score is 100 on the iBT, internet-based test. This is equivalent to a score of 250 on the computer-based test, which was phased-out as of Fall 2006. (International students who have an undergraduate degree from an American university or whose native language is English do not need to take the TOEFL test.)
• Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s scholarly potential. These may be submitted through the online application system noted above.
• A statement of academic interest and professional goals (2-3 pages). Students should state their reasons and rationale for desiring to be admitted into the department's Ph.D. program. In addition, it is a wise decision to discuss specific research interests and which faculty member (or set of faculty members) in the department are relevant to the prospective student's research interests.in the Ph.D. program. Please see guidelines at http://gradadmissions.wayne.edu/pdfs/URCPersonalStatementHandout.pdf
• A sample of written scholarship, such as a research paper, published manuscript, or book chapter.
• A resume or vita is recommended but not required.

Financial Aid:

• Loans or Federal College Work Study
  Information is available from the Office of Financial Aid
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
  Teaching assistantships are awarded to students who have demonstrated that they have potential for effectively teaching communication classes at the university level. Assistantships carry a stipend, health insurance coverage, dental insurance and a tuition waver.
• Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
  Selected individuals work with the debate and forensics program or with University Television. Research assistantships are awarded to students who have prior experience in and a demonstrated commitment to intercollegiate debate and forensic competition or media production. Assistantships carry a stipend, health insurance coverage, dental insurance, and a tuition waver.
• Thomas C. Rumble University Graduate Fellowships
  Rumble Fellowship is the most prestigious award available from the graduate school. For the first year, the student receives a housing allowance as well as the same stipend, tuition waver, health insurance coverage, and dental insurance as a graduate assistant, but without teaching or other duties. Upon expiration of the fellowship, the recipient is awarded a graduate assistantship as described above.
• Full-time and Part-time Graduate Professional Scholarships
  Information about these scholarships is available at The Graduate School Website,
• King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowships
  Information about the fellowships program is available from The Graduate School Website or call (313) 577-2170.

Applications for the GTA and GRA are available from the Department of Communication office or on the PhD program webpage at www.comm.wayne.edu/phd.php.  The form is described as a Graduate Assistantship application.  This form can be submitted with the application packet or mailed directly to the Department of Communication, 585 Manoogian Hall, Detroit, MI  48201.  The deadline for application of the GTA/GRA is February 1st.