Frequently Asked Questions

All applicants must use the University of Delaware online graduate app​lication web form and adhere to the University’s Graduate College procedures.

No. The Department of Communication only has fall admission.

In order to be admitted into the M.A. program you must have a baccalaureate degree. In order to be admitted to the Ph.D. program you must have a baccalaureate degree and you may have (though you are not required to have) a master's degree. 

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before matriculation in the fall, in communication or an allied discipline, with an accompanying transcript from that institution. 

For Ph.D. program applicants: A master's degree in communication or other related discipline from an accredited college or university, with an accompanying transcript from that institution, is optional.

Applications for those students wanting funding must be submitted by January 5. Applications for those students who do not want funding must be submitted by April 5.

The online application must include:

• A completed online application form
• Transcripts from all previous institutions (baccalaureate and master's)
• GRE scores or other evidence of quantitative ability (such as good grades in statistics or advanced math courses)
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• A writing sample
• A resume or curricu​lum vitae (CV) 
• A one-minute application video
• For international students only: TOEFL (or IELTS) scores

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher as well as a within-major minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. If the applicant has earned a master's degree, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required for that degree.

If you opt to take the GRE, applicants with the best chance of admission have a combined score of 300 for the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections. Also expected is a minimum score of 4.5 for the analytical writing portion. If you do not take the GRE, you must provide other evidence of quantitative ability (such as good grades in statistics or advanced math courses), and evidence of academic writing potential (through your writing sample).

Your letters of recommendation should come from a professor, employer, and/or other professional source that can address your potential to succeed in our graduate program. Recommendations from former professors or academic advisers are preferred, but other sources will be accepted.

All application materials are submitted entirely online. Your recommenders will receive an email stating how to upload their letter into the application system. If you or a recommender have any technical issues while uploading the necessary information for your application or have any questions about submitting your application, you should contact Graduate Admissions directly, via e-mail, at gradadmissions@udel.edu.

Submit a written statement of goals and objectives (personal statement) addressing the following questions:

• What specific area of communication are you interested in exploring and which of our faculty member(s) do you consider most appropriate to mentor you in your academic work and why?
  
• What is one communication-related question or concept that keeps you up at night with curiosity?
  
• Are you interested in studying communication from a quantitative, social-scientific perspective (as opposed to a more critical cultural or interpretive perspective)?​

The writing sample may be an essay, a research project manuscript, or other piece of writing the applicant believes is a good example of their writing. The sample should be no longer than 25 double-spaced pages, and should show evidence of academic writing potential.

Submit a video essay, not to extend beyond one minute, based on the topic, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years and how do you see this program assisting you in achieving that goal?" ​

​If you believe the UD Communication Department graduate programs are the best fit for you and your goals then you should apply. Those that meet standard minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other strengths and skills. Admission decisions are made based upon a holistic review of the applicant, not on any specific element of the application.

Offer letters for funded students are typically sent before the end of February. Between February and the May 1 final application deadline, admission decisions are made on a rolling basis as applications are received.​

It typically takes two years to complete the M.A. program for a full-time student. A Ph.D. student who is admitted wit​​​h a completed master’s degree will take four years to completion; a Ph.D. student admitted with only a baccalaureate degree will take five to six years to completion.

If a student finishes all coursework but it takes them longer to finish a master's thesis or a doctoral dissertation, there is no financial penalty. Once a student is in the thesis or dissertation writing phase they may remain an active student at the University of Delaware by enrolling for credits as a sustaining student. Sustaining fees are a fraction of full tuition rates.

For more information about attendance, registration and enrollment requirements, review Academic Regulations for Graduate Students in UD's graduate academic catalog.

The Department of Communication doesn't offer an application fee waiver. 

Yes, if you receive a teaching or research assistantship from the Department of Communication then you will receive a stipend. The amount of the stipend is determined by the graduate college each year. You may also receive a tuition scholarship, however all students are required to pay the student fees. There are no assistantships available for the online-only program.

Transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation into English. The Department of Communication accepts transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES), but doesn't currently require such an evaluation for the application process.

International applicants should visit the Graduate College Test Scores page for information about how they can demonstrate their English proficiency and whether they can apply for a waiver of this requirement.

UD's Department of Communication doesn't offer housing assistance. Visit the Center for Global Programs and Services housing page for helpful resources and guidance.

​If you receive a teaching or research assistantship from the Department of Communication then you will receive a stipend. The amount of the stipend is determined by the Graduate College each year. You may also rec​eive a tuition scholarship, but all students are required to pay the student fees. There are no assistantships available for the online-only M.A. in Strategic Communication program.

Please check tuition and per credit rates​ on the University’s Student Financial Services website.​

The Department of Communication offers part-time options; interested students should contact Paul Brewer, Director of Graduate Studies, at prbrewer@udel.edu.

Non-admitted students can take graduate-level courses in communication through UD's Division of Professional & Continuing Studies. Students who later formally enroll in a communication graduate program may transfer up to nine credits.

registering for courses, UD Professional & continuing Studies

Our research-based graduate programs are only offered in person. But we offer an online M.A. in Stra​tegic Communication, which teaches you to drive tactical communications initiatives with concentrations in public relations and digital and social media.

For our research based programs we do not have an accelerated or 4+1 program in the Department of Communication at this time.​ We do however offer the 4+1 program for the professional M.A. in Strategic Communication.