W
University of Washington
Graduate students

graduate Admissions

Admission for U.S. citizens

The Department of Communication is accepting applications to its graduate program for the 2010-11 academic year (autumn quarter 2010). We accept applications for autumn quarters only. If you are interested in applying, please note the following important deadline and application information. If you have any questions about this information, please e-mail Graduate Program Adviser Mary McGhee at cmuadv@uw.edu.

Application Deadline

THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 15.

A NOTE ON THIS DEADLINE: This application deadline is real and is NOT a postmark deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applications must be complete by the deadline to be considered. Careful applicants send their materials well in advance and they request test scores and letters of recommendation even months ahead of time. It is not uncommon for us to receive completed applications as much as a month before the deadline. We do not recommend sending your application materials by overnight mail or courier. You should allow three extra days mailing time for your application materials to reach us through our campus mail system.

All U.S. citizens must have a complete application in the department's possession by December 15.

If you are applying for a graduate assistantship from the department, you should also include the Department of Communication Assistantship Application.

Graduate Applicant Eligibility

  • Minimum 3.0 or B grade point average over the two most recent years guarantees consideration. However, average GPAs for the students we have admitted have been higher. Click here to see recent admission statistics.
  • Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a master's degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for those applying to the Ph.D. program to be working on their thesis in the year during which they apply.
  • M.A. and M.A./Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a bachelor's degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for applicants to be in their senior year of college when they apply to the M.A. or M.A./Ph.D. program.
  • Full-time status is strongly encouraged, but domestic U.S. residents who do not receive assistantships can enroll half-time.

Note to U.S. permanent residents/immigrants (green card holders):

Applicants who are not native speakers of English must submit TOEFL scores taken within the past 2 years. Only the following applicants are exempt from the TOEFL requirement: Citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom and non-United States citizens who have received a bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S. institution or from institutions in the countries listed here. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must also submit a TOEFLiBTS score with a minimum score of 28 to be considered for departmental funding. Permanent residency/immigrant status or a degree from the U.S. does not exempt one from this requirement.

Application Statistics

Each year, we keep statistics on the average GPAs and test scores for those students we accept for admission to our graduate program. See statistics for the applicants admitted in the last five years >>

Graduate Application Contents

All applicants should send the following items to:

Graduate Admissions Committee
Department of Communication
Room 102 Communications Bldg.
Campus Box 353740
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3740

Required:

  • Graduate School online application. The graduate school strongly encourages all applicants to use the web application. If you are truly unable to use the web application, e-mail cmuadv@uw.edu. Complete this application, and print two copies — one to send to the Department of Communication and one to keep for your records.
  • Application fee. The application fee must be received and recorded by Graduate Admissions prior to the application deadline. We strongly recommend paying this fee electronically using the web application. Note that in order to use the web application, you must pay the fee online using a MasterCard or Visa card (both credit and debit cards are accepted) or a TeleCheck (an online "check" taken from your existing checking account).
  • Official transcripts in sealed envelopes from the registrar of each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher.
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examination) taken within the past five years. Official scores must be sent by the Educational Testing Service. GRE reporting codes are 4854 institution and 4502 department. If reporting codes are not offered as a choice when taking your test, select University of Washington (institution) and Communication Research (department).
  • Three letters of recommendation (no forms provided). Letters of recommendation from professors are preferred, but if you have been out of school for many years or have another reason for using non-academic references, other professional recommendations are welcome. It is strongly recommended that each letter be on the letterhead of the writer's institution or organization and be submitted in sealed envelopes signed across the seal. Letters may be sent directly from recommenders or with your other application materials.
  • Letter of intent (2-3 pages) detailing educational and career goals. This letter should make it clear why you have chosen to apply for graduate study at the University of Washington. You should not send a generic letter that does not pertain to the scholarly opportunities offered here at the University of Washington Department of Communication. Successful letters also make it clear why you have chosen to enter graduate school to study communication. State your academic goals so that the admissions committee may determine whether your goals could be met in our department. Write this letter to the best of your ability, as the admissions committee will also be reading it to discern your readiness for graduate education.
  • For Ph.D. applicants: Example of scholarly writing that demonstrates research competence. This might be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, or a seminar paper. Your writing sample should be well-written and demonstrate your ability to produce original scholarship. If necessary, edit your paper before submitting it with your application. Because writing skills are essential for successful graduate study in communication, the admissions committee will look not only at the content of the argument you make in your paper but also at the overall quality of your writing.
  • For M.A. and M.A./Ph.D. applicants: Academic writing sample (roughly 10-30 pages). This is typically a paper you wrote for a college or university class, but it may also be a report you prepared for an employer or a paper you wrote at the conclusion of an internship. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae. If you don't have a vitae, don't worry. A resume will do fine. If you do have a vitae, send it instead of the resume.

Optional:

  • Assistantship Application (including the TOEFLiBTS or SPEAK scores for ALL non-United States citizens). If you are applying for a graduate assistantship from the department, you must submit the Department of Communication Assistantship Application with your other materials.
  • Supplemental essay. This essay permits you to write a more personal narrative compared to the more formal letter of intent, which focuses on your educational and career goals. Supplemental essay guidelines >>