How to Apply to the Graduate Program in Communication

San Diego State University has been ranked as the #1 small research university in the country and previously ranked twice by peers as among the top five M.A. communication programs in the country. According to EdUniversal, this program is ranked #10 among all Communication M.A. programs in the United States. When only considering masters-only programs in Communication Studies, this is the top-ranked program in the United States. We offer outstanding academic preparation, as well as individualized attention, and a culture of ‘working hard and playing hard.' If this sounds like a program you are interested in pursuing, the five steps below will provide a complete explanation of the application process.

October 20, 2023 Information Session: This Zoom recording(58:37) features an introduction to the School of Communication (Dr. Canary), an overview of our graduate program and application process (Dr. Chen), and a panel of our graduate faculty (Drs. Martinez, Record, and Pariera) and graduate students (Azzam, Canepa, Stone, and Pryor-Landman).

Select the below steps to expand a detailed description

Step 1
Learn about the School of Communication MA Program

Our MA program provides students with the choice to prepare for a career in academe or for developing their research and analytic skills for careers in corporate, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. Instruction is designed to help students discover, analyze, and demonstrate how communication processes are centrally important in creating, shaping, and understanding communities. This program is driven by close mentorship relationships between faculty and graduate students. Priority is given to the development of students’ expertise and skills in each of the following areas:

Mastery of knowledge and abilities in communication theory and practice.
Completion of theses or comprehensive exams that prepare students to become scholars ready for doctoral training or who can be successful in their career paths.
Collaboration in research and instructional teams.
Participation in diverse research settings relevant to the social issues under investigation.
Presentation of scholarly papers at professional conferences.
Co-authorship of research articles with faculty and other graduate students..

The School of Communication offers new and continuing graduate students the opportunity to teach undergraduate classes, primarily Communication 103 – an introductory course in oral communication. Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs) receive an annual stipend. Some GTA positions may include an out-of-state fee waiver. GTA positions are competitive and admission to the graduate program does not ensure a GTA assignment. If you would like to pursue being a GTA, please indicate in your cover sheet to the School of Communication that you are applying for a GTA position and address this interest in your personal statement. If you have specific questions about the GTA position (requirements and benefits), please contact the Director of the Basic Course, Mr. Michael Rapp.

Step 2
Apply to Cal State Apply

You are required to complete a CSU application and pay your fee online via CalState Apply. International students should visit the admissions page about International Student Application Procedures.

SDSU only permits admissions to graduate programs in the Fall Semester. Our official deadline for all materials is February 1 for CalState Apply and Interfiolio. Applications should be complete with all supplementary materials including statement of purpose, test scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation which are collected using Interfolio.

Step 3
Create an Interfolio Account and Upload ALL Supplemental Documents to Interfolio

Application Support Materials:

Statement of Purpose (see description below)
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Photocopy of Transcripts or Unofficial Transcripts (include ALL universities attended, feel free to redact any sensitive information, like your social security number)
Photocopy of GRE scores (if required and currently waived for Fall 2024 admissions)
Photocopy of TOEFL Scores for international applicants only
Writing sample (a paper you have written that represents your best academic writing)
Fill out the online forms and upload all documents to the appropriate link for the School of Communication Interfolio site - http://apply.interfolio.com/131272.
In lieu of recommendation letters, download and send your three letter writers our recommendation form. Be sure that your letter of recommendation writers have submitted their forms by the appropriate due date. We strongly prefer recommendations that use our form. Please assist us with the process by emailing the blank recommendation form to the individuals you have selected to prepare your recommendation letters: https://grad.sdsu.edu/_resources/files/program-forms/soc_recommendation_form.pdf.

For your information we have provided the following information in another section of the website:

Requirements for the MA degree in Communication
Descriptions of our graduate seminars

A statement of purpose is a 2 page document (approximately 1000 words) that describes: (a) your interest in communication scholarship, (b) your undergraduate and/or professional preparation for graduate studies in a research-intensive communication program, (c) your personal and/or career objectives that graduate studies in communication will help you pursue, and (d) (optional) your interest in applying for a Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) position. If applicable, describe any teaching-related experience you may have. Finally, if you did not earn your BA in communication, indicate if you have taken any communication courses, either as electives or as a minor.

Take time and care with your statement of purpose. It is very important. It is the first thing we read and the first indication we have of who you are and why you should be selected over other very well qualified candidates.

Request letters of recommendation. We require THREE (3) letters of recommendation – at least TWO (2) of the letters must be written by professors rather than employment supervisors. Your letter writers should speak to your ability to do well in a research-intensive graduate program. You will enter the contact information for your letters of recommendation in the Interfolio system (http://apply.interfolio.com/131272). Interfolio will generate a prompt to the individuals for which you have provided contact information. We strongly prefer recommendations that use our form. Please assist us with the process by emailing the blank recommendation form to the individuals you have selected to prepare your recommendation letters: https://communication.sdsu.edu/documents/soc_recommendation_form.pdf. We recommend that you double check with your letter writers to ensure that they have the correct link and have submitted the letters by the appropriate date.

Step 4
Submit Official Transcripts

Submit OFFICIAL Transcripts and TOEFL Test Scores to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

Transcripts: One set of official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended. (Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work done at outside institutions.) Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Normally, we expect at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
GRE Scores: The School of Communication has GRE minimums, but this requirement is currently waived for Fall 2024 admissions. Although GRE scores may not be required, applicants are welcome to submit them if they prefer. They will be reviewed as one metric in the overall file.
TOEFL Scores: If your medium of instruction was in a language other than English, then a TOEFL score is required (www.ets.org, SDSU Institution Code: 4682). A minimum score of 550 on the paper exam, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, 79 on the internet exam, or 6.5 on the International Language Testing System (IELTS) is required.

Although you will submit official scores to the university, it is helpful to also submit photocopies of scores in the package of support materials that will be provided to the department via Interfolio.