The department also recommends qualified students for Graduate School fellowships. Students may be admitted for graduate work in the department upon meeting the Graduate School requirements for admission. In some cases, admission on probation may be recommended for students who do not meet these requirements, provided that strong supporting evidence is submitted. Students with no previous journalism training or experience are required to take remedial journalism courses in addition to the required number of graduate credits. The admissions committee seeks a good match between an applicant's interests and those of the department.
Admission is competitive.
Letters of recommendation should come from people who can speak to the scholarly abilities of the applicant. The department welcomes telephone calls and visits from interested students. The admissions committee chair will arrange for interested students to meet with faculty members and graduate students. The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Department of Life Sciences Communication. The Ph.D. program in Mass Communication provides training for independent and original research.