Admissions

Master of Arts

Admission is competitive and is based on each student's entire academic record. M.A. applicants are admitted twice a year, for the fall semester and the winter semester. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis as we receive completed applications.

The deadline date for applications for the Fall semester is June 1; for the Winter semester it is November 1.


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

  • The masters program requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 in upper level undergraduate coursework.
  • Applicant must have completed at least 15 credits of communication coursework.
  • An academic/professional statement of purpose 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 sample of academic writing, such as a final paper or a research report that cites scholarly research (using MLA or APA citation style), 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 limited. However, the Graduate School and Department of Communication do have several awards available to master's students, as described in this document.

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.


Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution

The Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution (MADR) program has a different application procedure than the other Master of Arts degrees offered in the Department of Communication. Please note: The MADR program is not admitting for the 2019-2020 academic year, as we engage in program redesign. Please check back in May, 2020 for admission.