General Information
The Graduate School Admissions Office has a standardized application form; the completed form should be mailed to:
Graduate Admissions Office
Graduate School
530 Goodell Building
University of Massachusetts
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9333
Application information and forms, including an online application, can be obtained at the Graduate School website. The application deadline for applying to the programs for fall admission is January 02, 2010. Spring admissions are rarely considered.
Although the Graduate School retains each applicant's official records, decisions to accept an applicant to the Communication program and to recommend admittance to the University are made by the department's Graduate Admissions Committee. The Graduate Admissions Committee is highly selective in admitting new students to the program. Decisions are based on all available information about applicants rather than on any single criterion. Graduate Record Exam scores, grade point averages, letters of recommendation and a statement of interest in the areas in which the department has expertise are primary data for the Committee's admissions decisions.
Many students in the program receive financial assistance (a stipend plus tuition waiver) in return for services in teaching undergraduate classes or other departmental duties. Decisions about financial assistance are made subsequent to and independent of decisions about acceptance into the program. However, the applicant's academic performance is the primary consideration in both decisions.
M.A. Admission
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree must have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university. The Department of Communication does not require applicants to have an undergraduate major in communication. Acceptance into the program is based primarily on the applicant's general academic ability and interest in the areas of study within the department. Students with no background in the discipline are usually required to complete supplemental courses in addition to the minimum requirements for the degree.
Ph.D. Admission
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must have a Master's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university. The Department of Communication does not admit a student with a B.A. directly into the Ph.D. program. The Committee admits persons with a B.A. into the M.A. program first. Application to the Ph.D. program may be made before the M.A. is completed, but admission to the Ph.D. program is made conditional to completing the M.A. Completion of the M.A. degree, however, does not guarantee Ph.D. admission, which is determined by the Admissions Committee.
Fact Sheets
Admissions by Level 2006
| Master's | |
| Applications | 79 |
| Acceptances | 4 |
| Enrollments | 3 |
| Doctoral | |
| Applications | 97 |
| Acceptances | 17 |
| Enrollments | 9 |
Admissions by Geography 2007
| Applied | |
| Total | 179 |
| International | 93 |
| Accepted | |
| Total | 29 |
| International | 9 |
| Enrolled | |
| Total | 13 |
| International | 5 |
ALANA (African, Latino, Asian/ Pacific Islander & Native American) Diversity and Opportunity Program
In order to increase and enhance the overall diversity of the graduate student body and provide access for those graduate students who have been disadvantaged for financial reasons, the Graduate School offers some financial support to qualified students who have been historically underrepresented in graduate education. The ALANA, Diversity and Opportunity Program of the Office of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention (OGSRR) works to accomplish this goal by providing financial assistance to qualified students on a competitive basis in cooperation with the academic departments. In most cases the financial assistance carries a full tuition waiver. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents qualify for this program.
This is not a special admissions program. The recruitment effort seeks those students who can matriculate at the University on the strength of their academic credentials and who can competently fulfill individual degree program requirements. The Opportunity Awards and the Diversity Fellowship Programs provide funding to eligible students. All potential awardees must first be recommended for admission to a graduate program before they can be nominated for funding. Qualified students interested in applying to the University and being considered for the diversity and opportunity awards should write to: ALANA, Diversity and Opportunity Program, Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention, 528 Goodell Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, call (413) 545-5284 or e-mail: ogsrr@resgs.umass.edu. Applicants are encouraged to access the Graduate School's web page: www.umass.edu/gradschool.
Graduate applicants are also strongly advised to apply for other national fellowships—Ford Foundation, Javits Fellows, NSF Fellowships, and those provided by national professional organizations. The University participates in Project 1000 (National Hispanic name exchange), GEM (for those interested in science and engineering), and the National Physical Science Consortium, and strongly encourages McNair Scholars to apply. For further information, contact the OGSRR at the above address.
Puerto Rican applicants need not take the TOEFL. Some special arrangements have been made for people of the Mohawk Nation to be considered in-state students. The application fee can only be waived with receipt of written proof that the GRE fee was waived. This proof may be secured through the student's undergraduate Financial Aid Office and should be sent with the Graduate School application. Those applicants who are not current un- dergraduates should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid) form and have their local financial aid office evaluate it as to eligibility for a GRE fee waiver.
