The Admission and Assistantship Application Process
To apply for admission to the M.A. program, applicants must submit the following materials:
1. The application for for admission to graduate school at West Virginia University
The application for admission to graduate school at West Virginia University can be accessed on-line at www.arc.wvu.edu. (The application can be completed either on-line or downloaded and mailed to Admissions and Records.) A nonrefundable fee of $50.00 must be received by Admissions and Records before the application will be processed. On line 16 of the application, 1474 should be identified as the Major Code and Communication Studies should be identified as the Intended Major.
2. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants should have a minimum combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative components of the GRE and a minimum score of 4.0 on the analytical component of the GRE. Scores should not be older than five years at the time of application.
3. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Examination (TOEFL) for International Students only whose native language is not English. Scores will be accepted from any of three versions (i.e., Internet-based test, Computer-based test, Paper-based test). Applicants should score in rank in the 90th percentile of the test version taken.
4. All official undergraduate transcripts. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the Registrar of the college/university attended. Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75.
The application form, the GRE scores, the TOEFL scores (if applicable), and all transcripts should be submitted to Admissions and Records, PO Box 6009, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6009. Once these materials have been processed by Admissions and Records, they are sent to the Department.
5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic progress and potential. These letters of recommendation should address whether the applicant has the ability to succeed in the M.A. program in Communication Studies at West Virginia University as both a graduate student and as a potential graduate teaching assistant. No e-mailed or faxed letters of recommendation will be accepted.
6. A vita. The vita should include all formal education, any teaching or professional work experience, and any research projects conducted to date.
7. Any additional supporting material.
The three letters of recommendation, the vita, and any additional supporting material should be mailed directly to Dr. Keith Weber, M.A. Coordinator, Department of Communication Studies, PO Box 6293, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6293.
Students also are encouraged to apply for a graduate teaching assistantship. A number of assistantships is available and is limited to one academic year. The assistantship provides a monthly stipend (approximately $8,700 for the academic year); a tuition waiver, although students are responsible for paying university-wide fees (approximately $400.00 a semester); and health care coverage/insurance for the academic year. Assistantship responsibilities typically include serving as a teaching assistant to a faculty member for 2-3 courses.
To qualify for an assistantship, applicants (1) should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and (2) must have submitted the Application for M.A. Assistantship to the M.A. Coordinator. The assistantship application can be accessed on-line at www.wvu.edu/~comm or obtained from the graduate secretary.
The deadline for application for admission and for a graduate teaching assistantship for the 2008-2009 academic year is March 28, 2008. Applications which are incomplete at this time may not be considered.
Once the Department has received all materials, a decision for acceptance will be made. Upon acceptance into the program, applicants will receive written notification from the Department.
