Yes. Several applicants have degrees in disciplines other than communication studies. Related disciplines include Sociology, English, Family Studies, History, Philosophy, and Psychology, among others.
While the GRE is not required, it can be one way to demonstrate writing ability, quantitative research and reasoning ability, and/or critical research and methods ability described in greater detail elsewhere on our site (https://cas.la.psu.edu/graduate/how-to-apply/). Choosing to share GRE scores is especially valuable when they help demonstrate the breadth and depth of your skills in these areas. For example, a high GRE score is an excellent way for an applicant in Communication Science to demonstrate their strong quantitative reasoning ability.
The school code for Penn State is 2660. All scores are received electronically at the university level; therefore, no department code is necessary.
There is no official recommendation form. We ask that recommendation letters be written by individuals familiar with your professional and educational qualifications, and who can assess your promise as a scholar. Individuals listed in your application as agreeing to submit a letter of recommendation will be instructed (via the email address you provide in the electronic application) to upload their letter via the Graduate School’s Reference Submission Portal. Three letters of recommendation are required; additional letters may be beneficial.
In the statement of purpose, an applicant needs to make clear (a) why they are applying for admission to the Ph.D. program, (b) their career objectives, and (c) how they sees successful completion of the degree requirements as contributing to fulfillment of those objectives. The statement should be approximately two double-spaced pages.
We do not make a distinction between domestic and international applicants. In addition, we do not admit applicants to whom we cannot offer funding.
For the University’s requirements, including with respect to English Proficiency Testing, see GCAC-305 – Admissions Requirements for International Students policy.
The department typically receives 100 or more completed applications each year. On average, we admit 12 students, and this figure can be lower or higher in any given year as a result of the qualifications of applicants, departmental needs, and acceptances of offers. The Committee reviews students on the basis of perceived fit with our program, strength of the application, optional GRE scores, GPA, and letters of recommendation, as well as other evidence of promise. Applicants are encouraged to identify clearly their area(s) of interest in the statement of purpose. Although the Graduate Admissions Committee makes final decisions concerning admission and funding, all faculty members are involved in the process. Generally, the Committee tries to balance the number of students admitted across the areas of faculty expertise.
We are looking for the best qualified students whose research interests match with our ongoing projects and faculty interests. Each aspect of the application materials is important, and we consider all of them in assessing an applicant’s promise to excel in a premier graduate program. Thus, it is important that a student have a strong academic record, evidence that he/she is productive, high GRE and/or TOEFL scores if appropriate, a high GPA, a well-articulated, specific, and focused statement of purpose, and informative letters of recommendation from sources qualified to judge academic competence and promise.
Applicants who are admitted to our graduate program will be invited to campus for a visit, usually in the month of March. Coming to campus as part of our Welcome Weekend is a great way to meet current students, faculty, and other applicants who might become your classmate. You are also welcome to visit campus any other time of year. If you are interested in visiting campus, send an inquiry to apn5571@psu.edu.
Application fee waivers: We have a small budget for waivers for the application fee. If you need a waiver, please request one from the Graduate Program Coordinator, Alexandria Nichols, at apn5571@psu.edu