Admission Policy

The Department of Communication normally admits applicants to the Master of Arts program once a year. Newly admitted graduate students begin in the fall semester of each year. Applicants applying for admission should have their application file completed by June 1st. Students are not typically admitted to begin their studies during the spring semester.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive. Admission decisions will be made by the Graduate Committee of the Department of Communication. Students will be admitted to the program based on enrollment availability and their ability to meet the following minimum entrance requirements:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, in communication or an allied discipline, with an accompanying transcript from that institution.
2. 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.
3. A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is required, with a combined score of 300 for the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections expected. Also expected is a minimum score of 4.5 for the analytical writing portion of the GRE. Scores should be forwarded to the University of Delaware, school code 5811. There is no department code required for the Department of Communication. GRE scores must have been earned within the last 5 years.
4. 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.
5. A written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that addresses the following questions: (a) 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?, (b) What is one Communication-related question or concept that keeps you up at night with curiosity?, and (c) Are you interested in studying Communication from a quantitative, social-scientific perspective (as opposed to a more critical cultural or interpretive perspective)?​
6. Three letters of recommendation from an academic, employer, and/or other professional source who can address the scholarship potential of the applicant. All letters of recommendation will be submitted online per the Office of Graduate and Professional Education admission policy. See Graduate Admissions | Graduate College | University of Delaware (udel.edu)​ for details.
7. For international applicants, official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam taken with the last 2 years (for non-native English speaking applicants only). For the TOEFL a score of at least 650 for the paper based exam, 280 for the computer based exam, or 114 for the internet based exam is required. For the IELTS exam a minimum score of 8.5 is expected. All scores must be received before an admissions decision can be rendered. See Test Scores | Graduate College | University of Delaware (udel.edu)​ for more information.
8. A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
   
9. A critical writing sample is required. This may be an essay, a research project manuscript, or other piece of writing the applicant believes is a good example of their writing. The same should be no longer than 25 double spaced pages.
10. 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?" ​

Completed applications (application form, official transcript[s], GRE scores, TOEFL or IELTS scores [if required], letters of recommendation, CV/resume, statement of purpose, writing sample, and video essay) will be compiled by the Department of Communication's Director of Graduate Studies. This information will be disseminated for review by members of the department's Graduate Committee.

All applicants must use the University of Delaware online gr​adu​a​te application web form.