Applying for the Graduate Program

Deadlines

All applicants must apply electronically through the Graduate College using the online system. Applications are then sent to the Department and are considered by the Department's Graduate Admission Committee as they are received.

The application deadline for fall admission is May 15. Priority is given to applicants who apply by February 1. We encourage early application.

GPA and GRE Requirements

Applicants must have maintained at least a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).

The department does not require the GRE for admission to our program and the Admission Committee seldom considers the exam scores. However, an applicant's scores may be useful additional support for admission if some other factors are not as strong and if the applicant desires to apply to other programs after their MA.

Financial Support

There are several scholarships and fellowships available to graduate students. See the Graduate College website for information on Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships and information on the special Texas State Graduate Merit Fellowship awarded to new graduate students.

Graduate Instructional Assistantships also provide financial support for graduate students enrolled full time. More information about assistantships and how to apply can be found graduate instructional assistantship page.

To be considered for graduate instructional assistantships and graduate scholarships, applicants must have their graduate college application, assistantship application, scholarship applications, and supporting materials submitted by the priority deadlines of February 1 for fall admission.

Applying for the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication & Training

The Department of Communication Studies offers a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication & Training to provide graduate-level instruction in organizational communication, communication training and development, and communication principles and strategies for contemporary organizations. This is a 9-hour certificate program that may be taken as a freestanding certificate or as a part of a Master's or Doctoral program.

Applicants for this program must apply using the online system. Applicants who are applying to our Master's program who would also like to complete this certificate must apply for both the graduate program and certificate program. The admission criteria for the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication and Training are the same as the criteria for applying for the M.A. degree in Communication Studies.

In addition to submitting your application online applicants should also submit a 500-word purpose statement addressing the following questions:

Why are you seeking the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication and Training?


How does your academic background prepare you for the certificate (such as previous coursework in communication and/or experience as a trainer)?

What are your plans after completing the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication and Training and how do you plan to apply to this certificate?