Admissions

Part-Time Admission: February 1st
Full-Time Admission:  February 1st

Full-Time Admission: NOT ACCEPTED
Part-Time Admission: October 15th

When making admissions decisions, the Program of Communication gives priority to applicants who can demonstrate their ability to succeed in the graduate school academically, and whose academic and professional goals are a good fit for our program. We also consider potential for success upon graduation, whether that be acceptance into a doctoral program or enhancement in professional positions.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Completion of Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Communication or related major by the program start date.

2. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above

3. For students for whom English was not the first language, submission of official IELT score of 6.5 overall or higher, or TOEFL score of 75 or higher

• The Duolingo English test has been approved and the minimum required score is 110.

Preferred Qualifications:

• For the 2025-2026 academic year, an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is optional and not required for successful admission to the Communication M.A. program.
• TOEFL score of 80 or higher or IELT score of 7.0 overall or higher
• At least two of the three recommendation letters from current or former professors when possible

Application Materials:

Applications to the program are submitted online through the University of Cincinnati Graduate School webpage (http://grad.uc.edu/admissions.html). Begin the application process well before the deadline, so that all items are ready for review by our committee by the deadline.

In order to apply, students must submit:

• Cover Letter indicating whether you are interested in the full-time or part-time program, the term for which you are applying, and your interest in a Graduate Assistantship. You can address the letter to the Admissions Committee.
• Goal Statement (Generally, 3-6 double spaced pages). This statement is very important. We want to ensure that your educational and professional background and goals are a good fit for our program. Your letter should discuss how your academic and professional background prepares you to do well in the program, the specific reasons you are interested in studying communication (including the topics and sub-areas of interest) and in joining our program, as well as how your time in the program will help you to meet your professional and academic goals. In addition to assessing your fit with the program, this statement is a way for us to assess your writing abilities.
• Writing Sample. Include a sample that demonstrates your writing skills. Academic writing is preferred, but professional writing is also acceptable. You may wish to include two samples if the writing is relatively short.
• Upload or scan your Academic Transcripts. Your official transcripts are required only after admission to the program. Any inconsistencies between your uploaded and official transcript would be grounds for dismissal.
• Letters of Reference. Provide the contact information for three recommenders who have agreed to speak to the applicant's motivation and ability to undertake graduate study. As noted in preferred qualifications, when possible, you should seek two or more letters from a former professor or someone who can speak to your academic ability, but supervisors and other professional contacts are also acceptable. The application system will generate an electronic invitation for these recommenders to submit their letters on-line. Please follow-up with your recommenders to insure they have submitted.
• DO NOT SUBMIT A VIDEO. The application system may prompt you to create a video. Do not submit a video. If you do, it will not be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Submission Timing: We encourage you to officially submit your application as soon as it is ready. We can only see your application once it has been officially submitted. Seeing your application allows us to get in contact with you. Also, please email the Graduate Director, Dr. Zhuo Ban, at banzu@ucmail.uc.edu to let her know that you have applied.

• Note: GRE scores, TOEFL report, and invited letters of recommendation will populate into your application AFTER it has been officially submitted.
• We recommend that you self-report your scores in your application.  
• The Duolingo English test has been approved and the minimum required score is 110.

Official Review:  Your file will not be officially reviewed for admission until it is complete. Your file will be complete when

•  1) you have uploaded your cover letter, purpose statement, transcript, and writing sample,
•  2) your GRE scores are submitted from ETS electronically (and your TOEFL scores are reported if relevant), and
•  3) your reference letters have been submitted electronically by recommenders.
• 4)  you officially submit your application and pay the application fee

Helpful links about the Application Process to the UC Graduate School:

• General: http://grad.uc.edu/admissions/policy.html
•  FAQs: http://grad.uc.edu/admissions/faqs.html#applwaiver
•  International students: https://uc.edu/international/services/future.html

Application for the Traditional Masters Program
(Full-Time or Part-Time)

International Updates – English Waiver Process

• https://grad.uc.edu/admissions/criteria/english.html

Students should now contact Graduate Admissions directly at grad.admissions@uc.edu if they believe they qualify for a waiver.

Part-Time Admission: January 15th

Full-Time Admission: January 15th

Full-Time Admission: NOT ACCEPTED

Part-Time Admission: October 15th

Admission  

SCFMS makes admission decisions for applicants to the Ph.D. program. Admissions are highly selective and require strong intellectual abilities and a mature commitment to research and praxis.  

Application materials should be submitted online. When all materials have been received, the application will be reviewed for an admissions decision. Applicants will receive electronic written notification of the admission decision. Before admission to the University is complete, all international students must fulfill US Immigration and Naturalization Service requirements and register with the UC Office of International Student Services. 

Admission Requirements 

Interested students apply to SCFMS to begin taking graduate courses. The Graduate College at UC does not operate as a central admissions office. At the School level, admission requirements include minimum and preferred qualifications. There are circumstances when a provisional admittance may be considered (e.g., when the MA is not yet completed when applying but is anticipated before the start of doctoral studies); however, this would be on a case-by-case basis.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Completion of master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communication or related major by the program start date 
• Graduate GPA of 3.2 is preferred 
• For students for whom English is not the first language, submission of official IELT score of 6.5 overall or higher, or TOEFL score of 75 or higher

Preferred Qualifications: 

• TOEFL score of 80 or higher, IELT score of 7.0 overall or higher, and for other admissible tests, see “International Student Admission below” 

• For everyone, graduate school grades are typically higher than a GPA of 3.2 and will be considered accordingly. 
  

Application Materials:

Applications to the program will be submitted online through the University of Cincinnati Graduate College webpage (http://grad.uc.edu/admissions.html). We encourage all applicants to begin the application process well before the deadline, so that all items are ready for review by our committee by the deadline. 

In order to apply, students must submit the following: 

• Cover Letter indicating that you are interested in the full-time program, the term for which you are applying, and your interest in a Graduate Assistantship. You can address the letter to the Admissions Committee.  

• Resume/Vita outlining educational and work experience, as well as contact information. 

• Goal Statement (Generally, 3-6 double-spaced pages). This statement is very important. We want to ensure that your educational and professional background and goals are a good fit with our program. Your letter should discuss 1) how your academic and professional background prepares you to do well in the program, 2) the specific reasons you are interested in studying communication and, if relevant, social justice (including the topics and sub-areas of interest or faculty with whom you would like to work) and in joining our program, as well as 3) how your time in the program will help you to meet your academic, activist, or professional goals. In addition to assessing your fit with the program, this statement is a way for us to assess your explanatory abilities. 

• Writing Sample. Include a sample that demonstrates your writing skills. Academic writing is preferred, which includes the use of citations (e.g., thesis prospectus. course paper, conference paper, or paper submitted for publication). However, professional writing is also acceptable. You may wish to include two samples if the writing is relatively short 

• Academic Transcripts. This should be from all previously attended graduate and undergraduate institutions. Your official transcripts are required only after admission to the program. Inconsistencies between your self-reported and official transcript would be grounds for dismissal.  
• Letters of Reference. Provide the contact information for three recommenders who have agreed to write in support of the applicant's motivation and ability to undertake doctoral study. As noted in preferred qualifications, when possible, you should seek letters from former professors or someone who can speak to your academic ability. The application system will generate an electronic invitation for recommenders to submit their letters online. Please follow-up with your recommenders to ensure they have submitted by the deadline.