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Applications and Admissions

The Department of Communication & Journalism at Texas A&M University engages a holistic application review process to make admission decisions.  As such, all applications are reviewed by the Graduate Instructional Committee of the department. This review process examines all application materials for indicators of success, which include evidence of academic merit and achievement as well as evidence of perseverance and “grit” (skills related to overcoming adversity, problem solving, time management, etc.). The are no minimum GPA requirements for admission, and we do not require GRE scores to apply. 

Each applicant is considered for financial support in the form of a teaching assistantship or fellowship (unless otherwise indicated in the application). Applicants applying after the deadline may find that funding resources have been expended, and/or all available slots for the upcoming year have been filled.

Ph.D. students are typically offered funding in the form of assistantship packages, which cover tuition and fees and offer a monthly stipend. While assistantships are typically reserved for Ph.D. students, MA students will find that Texas A&M is a large university with many ways to financially support their studies. To search for on-campus employment, MA applicants can search https://jobs.tamu.edu/ or http://jobsforaggies.tamu.edu/ for a wide range of employment options. You can learn more about various forms of financial aid, including scholarships and loans here: https://grad.tamu.edu/funding-your-education

The Department of Communication & Journalism admits students  each fall semester. The deadline for fall admission applications is December 15 for PhD applicants and February 1 for MA applicants of the prior calendar year. (There are no admissions for spring or summer starts)

How to Apply

1. Application. Submit application through the TAMU Graduate CAS system.  After an applicant submits an application, they will receive an acknowledgement and a UIN. With the UIN, they can log into the CAS System to check the status of the application. Applicants should follow directions for submission of all materials provided in this application portal.

2. Three Letters of Recommendation. Submit letter of recommendation requests through the CAS system. Letter writers should not mail letters; they will be asked to upload the letters into this system. Ideally at least one of these letters is from a professor or other scholarly mentor who can speak to your performance and promise in an academic setting.

3. Official Transcripts. For the purpose of the application process, you may upload unofficial transcripts to the GradCAS system. However, if you are accepted into our program, you must submit official transcripts before you will be able to enroll in courses. Submit official transcripts  from every college/university attended. Transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official English translation. Transcripts MUST be sent by the degree-granting institution for admission.

4. Official Test Scores: The Department of Communication & Journalism uses test scores as part of a holistic application review process. As such, there are no GRE minimum scores required for admission.

GRE (Optional for Domestic and International Applicants).  The Department of Communication does not require GRE scores for admission. However, applicants are still welcome to include scores as part of their application if they feel that doing so provides a more holistic view of their academic strengths.

TOEFL/IELTS (International applicants only) Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English proficiency to be eligible for review. English proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the criteria below.

  • a minimum TOEFL score (from a test date within two years) of: 550 for paper-based testing (p-BT) or 80 internet-based testing (i-BT), or:
  • a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall band,
  • a minimum PTE Academic score of 53,
  • a GRE Verbal Reasoning score of at least 146

These scores should be sent directly from the testing service and self-reported in the CAS system. These scores must be from a test date within two years of the date of requested admission. For more information on test dates and locations, please visit www.ets.org/toefl and/or https://www.ielts.org. Institution code for Texas A&M University: 6003

5. Statement of Purpose. A 500-750 word essay that details the applicant’s objectives for the graduate program, research interests, fit with the program and experiences that will enable success. Applicants are encouraged to identify graduate faculty members with which they are interested in working.

6. Writing Sample . A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to write clearly and to think critically and conceptually. Solo-authored academic writing is strongly encouraged. Please limit writing samples to 10,000 words.

7. Current Curriculum Vitae

For questions about the application process, contact Silvia Martinez
For other questions please contact Dr. Anna Wolfe, Associate Head, Graduate Studies

Application Review Process

Review of applications begins in early January and extends until all available slots (usually 8-10) have been filled. During the review of applications, applicants who pass a first round of review will be invited to submit an asynchronous video interview. This interview will be used in the final admission decisions. The first round of funded PhD application decisions are made around February 1st, with additional offers of admission and funding being extended throughout the spring semester.

If at any time an applicant has a question about the status of their application, please contact Dr. Anna Wolfe, Associate Head, Graduate Studies.

Note to International Applicants

International applicants are competitively evaluated on the same academic criteria for admission and financial awards. In addition, the Graduate Instructional Committee will seek demonstration of proficiency of written and spoken English language skills for students whose first language is not English. Additionally, in order to perform the tasks associated with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship in the Department of Communication, one must attain English language proficiency certification. For more information on these requirements, please visit the Graduate and Professional School website on English language proficiency verification for admission and certification for teaching assistantships.