Information for Graduate Program Applicants
TO APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM:
Complete the university's application process. Click here for directions on what you need to do to fulfill the university's application requirements.
Note: We occasionally admit graduate students to start spring semester. Students who seek teaching assistantships, however, usually begin in the fall and complete the department's teacher training program during their first semester. Only students with substantial prior teaching experience would be admitted with a teaching assistantship in the spring.
Step 1: The DEPARTMENT requires the following:
Please mail materials from the list below to:
Purdue University
Communication Graduate Studies
Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education, Room 2114
100 North University Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098
USA
You may also send the appropriate items above via email to the Graduate Secretary, Vicki Biggs.
Deadlines
Our department has a rolling graduate application deadline. We begin considering applications for each fall on January 1st of that year, but continue considering applications throughout the spring. Talented students are encouraged to apply early to receive consideration for department and university fellowships.
We occasionally admit graduate students to start spring semester. Students who seek teaching assistantships, however, usually begin in the fall and complete the departmentŐs teacher training program during their first semester. Only students with substantial prior teaching experience would be admitted with a teaching assistantship in the spring.
Statement of Purpose
Submit a statement of approximately 300-500 words concerning your purpose for undertaking or continuing graduate study, your reasons for wanting to study at Purdue, and your professional plans, career goals, and research interests. You also may explain any irregularities or special circumstances applicable to your background and elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and/or professional history.
Transcripts
Should reflect receipt of undergraduate degree (or Master's degree if applying for doctoral program). Official, original-language transcripts are required and must be accompanied by certified English translations, if applicable.
Have ETS forward GRE Scores
GRE scores (verbal, mathematical and analytical). Students are encouraged to take the GRE as early as possible so consideration of application is not delayed unnecessarily. Please arrange through Educational Testing Service (ETS) to have scores sent to Purdue University Graduate School for the database. Institution Code 1631, Department Code 4599.
Letters of Recommendation
Solicited from individuals qualified to judge the student's academic merit and potential. An optional form is available from the Graduate School.
Sample of Scholarly Writing
For master's students, this could be your best paper at the undergraduate level; for doctoral students, this could be your thesis.
Additional Supporting Materials
Additional supporting materials (such as other test scores or supporting written materials) at the applicant's initiative.
Step 2: The UNIVERSITY requires the following:
Purdue University Graduate School Application
You may submit an online application at the link below:
Purdue University Graduate School Application
The statement of purpose maybe used both for the University Graduate submission, as well as for the Department of Communication.
Application Fee
Currently the application fee of $55 can be paid online by credit card payment only. The other option is a waiver for those who are eligible.
International applicants: Have ETS forward your TOEFL/TWE/TSE Scores
TOEFL scores (including a TWE score). To be considered for admission into the graduate program, non-native, English-speaking applicants must achieve a TOEFL score of 600 or higher on the paper-based examination or 250 or higher on the computer-based examination. The score must be documented by an official report from ETS and must be no more than two years old at the time the application credentials are reviewed in the Graduate School. Non-native, English-speaking applicants also must take the Test of Written English (TWE) to be considered for admission. Non-native, English-speaking applicants who have been admitted in the past usually have scored 5.0 or higher on the TWE.
In ordered to be considered for financial support as a teaching assistant, non-native, English-speaking applicants must also achieve a score of 50 or higher on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The score must be documented by an official report from ETS and must be no more than two years old at the time application credentials are reviewed in the Graduate School. Because TOEFL and TWE do not test for oral proficiency, they cannot be used for the oral English proficiency certification of potential teaching assistants. The new TOEFL iBT with a score of 27 or higher as well as the IELTS with a score of 7 or higher will be accepted by the department. Only official TOEFL scores received directly from ETS are acceptable.
All TOEFL/TWE/TSE scores should be sent to us from ETS as follows: Institution Code 1631, Department Code 83.