Applications and Assistantships

The M.A. in Communication Studies program strives to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge about human communication. It is intended for those who wish to continue graduate study in communication beyond the master's level, to teach at a smaller university, liberal arts college or community college, to continue preparation for professional careers or to prepare for nonacademic careers in which a broad understanding of communication theory and research is desirable.

Admission Requirements:

155 Verbal/144 Quantitative (New System)

• For applicants NOT seeking an assistantship position, the GRE is preferred, but not required. The GRE is required for applicants seeking an assistantship.

GPA

• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 is required (3.3/4.0 GPA is recommended)

Statement of Goals (download PDF)

• Describe why you are seeking a graduate degree.

Academic and Professional Interest in Communication

• An undergraduate major or minor in communication is preferred. Students with related majors are also considered. Applicants should have academic and professional goals compatible with the program.

Writing Sample

• Academic writing is preferred for applicants seeking an assistantship. Academic or professional writing is acceptable for applicants who are not seeking an assistantship.

Recommendation Letters

• Three letters of recommendation and the Report on the Academic and Professional Abilities of an Applicant form from those in a position to evaluate academic performance and graduate potential are required. Two letters must be from current or former professors.

Current C.V. or Resume

Assistantship Application (download PDF)

• Complete this application only if you are interested in a graduate assistantship with our school. To be considered for a Fall term assistantship, submit your completed application by January 15th. To be considered for a Spring term assistantship, submit your completed application by November 15th. Be sure to mark the "Graduate Assistantship" box. Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time students only.

TOEFL

• International students should achieve a minimum score of 580 (paper), 237 (computer), 92 (Internet) on the TOEFL exam or IELT 7.0.

Submission Information

Deadline for Application

January 15th for Fall semester enrollment and November 15th for Spring semester enrollment. Applications will be considered until the cohort is full. International students are encouraged to apply three weeks before the deadline to allow ample processing time.

Checklist for Application (download PDF)

This list will help you make sure that you have all of the forms and mailing information.

Documents

Applicants can submit documents by uploading them to the online application, emailing application documents to graddapps@kent.edu or mailing application documents to:
Graduate Studies
Kent State University
117 Cartwright Hall
650 Hilltop Drive
Kent, OH 44242-5190

Graduate Assistantships

The School of Communication Studies awards graduate assistantships every academic year to highly qualified graduate student applicants. Awards for students include a nine-month stipend (fall and spring semesters) and a waiver of resident and out-of-state tuition. Graduate assistants can enroll in a subsidized health insurance program through the university. Students with graduate assistantships are also eligible to teach during the summer sessions. These summer appointments provide free tuition for 4 credits of study in addition to a stipend.

Students wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship for the Fall semester enrollment must apply by January 15 and by November 15 for Spring semester enrollment. The application for an assistantship should be included with your overall program application.

All graduate appointees must register for at least 8 credits (typically 3 courses) per semester. Assistantship appointments consist of a 20-hour weekly workload that may include teaching two 3-credit hour classes, or three sections of a lecture/lab class. Most assistants teach Introduction to Human Communication (COMM 15000), the basic communication course. Position assignments may also include assisting with research or a combination of other duties.

Assistantship decisions are competitive and based on admission qualifications. Award decisions are usually made as early as February and no later than April 1 for the Fall semester. Normally, students in good standing at the M.A. level are supported for 2 years. Assistantships will be reviewed and renewed annually. Assistantship positions become available for Spring semester on occasion. Students admitted administratively or conditionally cannot be considered for an assistantship.