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What is the deadline for submitting my application to your program?
Ph.D. (Mass Communications) application deadline is Dec. 1, 2023
Master's Program (Media Studies) application deadline is Feb. 1, 2024
Do you accept applicants for spring semester?
We offer fall admission only.
How many new students are enrolled each year?
We typically admit 10-12 Ph.D. students and 6-8 master’s students.
What is the average time to complete a graduate degree?
The average time frame for doctoral students to complete their degree is four years (three years for course work and one year for writing the dissertation), although some students finish earlier.
Masters students should be able to complete their degree in two years at full-time registration (30 credits of course work and six credits of thesis).
What type of teaching and research assistantships are available to first-year doctoral students?
The majority of our assistantships are to assist faculty in undergraduate courses.
What do assistantships include (tuition waiver, stipend, etc)?
Assistantships provide a monthly stipend, cover the full cost of tuition and subsidize 80% of the annual premium cost of medical, dental and vision health insurance.
About how many doctoral students in the college receive an assistantship?
The college usually offers 12-15 assistantships to new students each year.
Is a masters’ degree required to apply for your Ph.D. program?
It is strongly recommended.
Do you provide funding for masters’ degree students?
The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications currently does not offer funding to masters’ degree students.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
Three. Please do not use Interfolio to submit recommendation letters. This system does not intersect with our online application system.
Is there a form for recommendations?
The recommenders are asked to fill out a ratings form in the application. This request is sent to the recommender as soon as the application is submitted online. The recommender can include additional information at the end of the ratings form.
Is there a required GPA to be admitted into your graduate program?
Competitive applications include a GPA of at least 3.0. If GPA information for each degree listed in your application is missing, your application is not complete and will not be processed. If needed, use the GPA calculator linked in the online application. We do not accept WES evaluations. The burden of providing GPA information by the application deadline lies with the applicant.
What type of writing sample is acceptable?
Examples include a term or class paper, journal article, or part of a thesis. Samples must be solo authored by the applicant. All samples will be checked for plagiarism through Turnitin; if the sample is flagged your application will not be processed.
Is there a required TOEFL score?
The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications requires a combined score of at least 80 with at least a 24 on the speaking score.
If I earn a degree in the United States, can my English proficiency test score be waived?
Yes. Please visit this link to learn more about exemptions from English proficiency testing.
Do you accept IELTS scores?
Yes, the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications accepts IELTS scores. A composite score of at least 6.5 is required, with a minimum acceptable speaking score of 7.5.
Is there a minimum GRE score to be considered?
Applicants to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs should note that the submission of Official GRE Scores (analytical writing, verbal general, and quantitative general) is optional. If you’ve already taken and choose to submit GRE scores, we will accept them. If you choose to submit scores and self-report them in the application, your application will not be considered complete without receipt of the official scores. Plan to have official scores in by the application deadline. If you opt to not submit GRE scores, please note that the Graduate Admissions Committee will consider GRE scores as one dimension of what will be a holistic review of applications. We encourage applicants to submit application materials that provide clear evidence of their aptitude for graduate study.
Does your program offer online courses at the graduate level?
We currently offer an online professional masters program. More information can be found here.
Is there a residency requirement for your Ph.D. program?
The university requires Ph.D. students to be in residence and registered full-time at University Park for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer).
What if I am interested in studying forms of communication that do not involve media, like interpersonal communication, small-group communication, speech and rhetoric?
Penn State also offers graduate degrees in Communication Arts and Sciences in the College of the Liberal Arts, which emphasize rhetoric, public address, interpersonal communication, and group and organizational communication. Please check their website if you are interested http://cas.la.psu.edu/.