University of Washington Department of Communication
http://www.com.washington.edu/
graduate admissions
Admissions for international applicants
Please note: If you began the application process before July 2010 please see the note at right.
The Department of Communication is currently accepting applications to its graduate program for the 2011-2012 academic year (Autumn quarter 2011). We accept applications for Autumn quarters only. If you are interested in applying, please note the following important deadline and application information. If you have any questions about this information, please e-mail Graduate Program Advisor Mary McGhee at cmuadv@uw.edu.
Are you an international applicant? An international applicant is anyone who is not a United States citizen or a Permanent Resident (green card holder). Please go to the following Graduate School web pages for further instructions for international applicants:
Graduate School information for international students
Graduate School frequently asked questions for international students
Application Deadline
The deadline is November 1. International applicants must have all application materials submitted to Graduate Admissions and the Department of Communication so that they are received in our offices by November 1.
A NOTE ON THIS DEADLINE: This application deadline is real and is NOT a postmark deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applications must be complete by the deadline to be considered. Careful applicants send their materials well in advance and they request test scores and letters of recommendation even months ahead of time. It is not uncommon for us to receive completed applications as much as a month before the deadline. You should allow three extra days mailing time for your application materials to reach us through our campus mail system.
Graduate Applicant Eligibility
Minimum 3.0 or B grade point average over the two most recent years of study guarantees consideration. However, average GPAs for the students we have admitted have been higher. Click here to see recent admission statistics.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. See Graduate School Memorandum #8 for specifics on how that proficiency can be demonstrated.
Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a master's degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for those applying to the Ph.D. program to be working on their thesis in the year during which they apply.
M.A., M.A./Ph.D. and M.C. applicants must show proof of completion of a bachelor's degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for applicants to be in their senior year of college when they apply to the M.A., M.A./Ph.D., or M.C. program.
Full-time status is mandatory for all international students.
Application Statistics
Each year, we keep statistics on the average GPAs and test scores for those students we accept for admission to our graduate program. Click here if you would like to see statistics for the applicants admitted in the last five years.
Graduate Application Contents
All international applicants will send two complete sets of official transcripts to the University of Washington — one set to the Department of Communication, and the other to the Office of Graduate Admissions. GRE and English proficiency test scores should be sent directly to Graduate Admissions by the test administrators. All other application materials should be submitted as part of the online application.
1. Please send one set of transcripts, in envelopes sealed by the Registrar of each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher, to:
Graduate Admissions Committee
Department of Communication
Room 102 Communications Bldg.
Campus Box 353740
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3740
2. Please send the following items to:
Using standard Postal Mail:
University of Washington
Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 84808
Seattle, WA USA 98124-6108
For Express or courier service only:
(Do not mail to P.O. Box addresses)
University of Washington
Graduate Admissions
Retail Lock Box Inc.
221 Minor Avenue North
Seattle, WA USA 98109
A printed, signed copy of the completed Graduate School online application.
An additional complete set of official transcripts, in envelopes sealed by the Registrar of each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher.
An official copy of your GRE (Graduate Records Exam) General Test scores, taken within the past five years. Official scores must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service. GRE reporting code is 4854. If reporting codes are not offered as a choice when taking your test, select University of Washington Graduate School.
International applicants who are not native speakers of English must send evidence of English language proficiency (see Graduate School Memorandum #8), and if applying for an assistantship, evidence of spoken English proficiency (see Graduate School Memorandum #15). If an English language proficiency test is to be used as that evidence, the score received must be from a test taken within the past 2 years. Have your official scores sent directly to the University of Washington Office of Graduate Admissions. The following international applicants are exempt from the English proficiency test requirement: applicants who received a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom, or applicants who provide documentation verifying that their undergraduate degree is from an institution in another country where all instruction is in English.
3. Submit the following materials online:
Graduate School online application. The Graduate School strongly encourages all applicants to use the web application. If you are truly unable to use the web application, e-mail cmuadv@uw.edu. Complete this application, and print two copies — one to send to Graduate Admissions and one to keep for your records.
Application fee. The application fee must be received and recorded by Graduate Admissions prior to the application deadline. We strongly recommend paying this fee electronically using the web application. Note that in order to use the web application, you must pay the fee online using a MasterCard or Visa card (both credit and debit cards are accepted) or a TeleCheck (an online "check" taken from your existing U.S. checking account).
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores, taken within the past five years. Applicants should report their scores in the online application, and also have an official score report sent directly to the Graduate School by the Educational Testing Service. GRE reporting code is 4854 . If reporting codes are not offered as a choice when taking your test, select University of Washington Graduate School (institution).
Three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation from professors are preferred, but if you have been out of school for many years or have another reason for using non-academic references, other professional recommendations are acceptable.
Letter of intent (2-3 pages) detailing your educational and career goals. This letter should make it clear why you have chosen to enter graduate school to study communication, and why in the University of Washington’s Department of Communication. You should indicate specific faculty here with whom you wish to study and research interests you would like to pursue. You should not send a generic letter that does not pertain to the scholarly opportunities offered here in this program. State your academic goals so that the admissions committee may determine whether your goals could be met in our department. Write this letter to the best of your ability, as the admissions committee will also be reading it to discern your readiness for graduate education.
For Ph.D. applicants: Please provide an academic writing sample, roughly 10-30 pages long, that demonstrates your research competence and your ability to produce original scholarship. This might be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, a seminar paper, or something similar. If necessary, edit your paper for length before submitting it with your application. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
For M.A., M.A./Ph.D. and M.C. applicants: Please provide an academic writing sample (roughly 10-30 pages). This is typically a paper you wrote for a college or university class, but it can also be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, or a seminar paper. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
Resume or curriculum vitae: If you don't have a vitae, don't worry. A resume will do. If you do have a vitae, send it instead.
Supplemental essay. This essay permits you to write a more personal narrative compared to the more formal letter of intent, which focuses on your educational and career goals. Supplemental essay guidelines >>