Our application deadline is January 20
Financial Aid and Graduate Teaching Assistantships
We consider all applicants for graduate teaching assistantships. Most of our GTAs teach recitation sections of COMM 111: Public Speaking or COMM 114: Argument and Critical Discourse. In return, our GTAs receive a teaching stipend of about $1,800 per month as well as a full tuition remission scholarship. See this website for more information about how OSU funds and supports its graduate students.
Overview of Application Requirements
In order to attract and empower a range of applicants, our admissions committee uses a holistic admissions process to assess candidates’ potential for success in our program, rather than relying solely on metrics such as test scores and GPA.
A complete application will include the items listed below. All of these items except the official transcripts can be submitted online.
- Online application form
- Statement of purpose outlining research interests and how those interests align with faculty expertise (500 word maximum, double-spaced)
- Three letters of recommendation (see details and instructions below)
- Writing sample demonstrating your best academic work and highlighting your ability to conduct scholarly research
- Unofficial transcripts of all previous academic work (NOT web printouts. These should be unofficial copies of transcripts that were issued by the institution attended). Official transcripts will be required upon admission and must be sent by regular mail.
The GRE General Exam is NOT required for admission.
Important Application Information
- The School of Communication only accepts students to begin in Fall term. Do not select any other term on the online application form.
- Please note: The request for recommendation letters will not be emailed to your selected reference writers until you have submitted your application and paid the application fee. At that time, you will also receive an email that explains how to access the Letter of Reference System to check the status of your recommendation letters, send reminders to your recommenders, or make changes to the name/email addresses of your references. You will also be notified via email when a reference is received.
- Keep in mind, there is generally a 1–2 business day turnaround time for documents to upload to your application once you have submitted them online.
- We encourage you to log into the application system occasionally to check the status of your application after you have applied. It is your ultimate responsibility to ensure your application is complete before the deadline.
Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Materials
- Complete the online application here.
- Cut and paste your Statement of Purpose into the field provided in the "Other Graduate Questions" section of the online application. Please also upload a digital copy of the Statement of Purpose (.tiff or .pdf format) when you are prompted at the conclusion of the online application.
- The three letters of recommendation should be submitted via the online letter of reference system Please ask your recommenders to compose letters on official letterhead, whether digital or paper. Each letter should attest to your academic abilities and to your promise and potential for college-level teaching. Recommendations from non-academic employers may be submitted, but they generally carry less weight.
- The writing sample should reflect your best academic work in the field. The writing sample and Statement of Purpose must be uploaded as separate files (.tiff or .pdf format).
- The unofficial transcripts of all previous academic work must be uploaded as separate files (.tiff or .pdf format). Official transcripts can be sent directly to: Graduate School/Oregon State University/300 Kerr Administration Building/Corvallis, OR/97331-2106.
Questions?
Joshua Reeves
Associate Professor, School of Communication
Director of Graduate Studies