Admissions Information

Welcome! We are delighted you are interested in our graduate program in Communication Studies! Below, you will find information about applying to our program, including requirements, deadlines, and application materials.

The Communication Studies Master’s program is gladly accepting applications. We offer fall admissions to the graduate program. There are two admissions deadlines: January 15th is our priority deadline for early decisions and for students who want to be considered for a graduate assistantship. March 1st is the deadline for all other applications. Applications are reviewed only once per year; applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed for the following academic year only if all materials are submitted before March 1st. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance in mid-spring.

All application materials should be submitted on the UNC Charlotte Graduate School’s website (https://gradapp.charlotte.edu/apply/). Applications should NOT be sent to the Department of Communication Studies.

Admission to the graduate program in Communication Studies is open to qualified graduates of recognized colleges and universities accredited by a regional or general accrediting agency. To complete the application process, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and an overall GPA of 3.0 or better as an undergraduate, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the junior and senior years. Applicants should submit the following materials with their admissions application:

  • Completed Graduate Admissions application form
  • Personal statement explaining professional goals, program fit, and relevant experience
  • Academic writing sample that showcases writing and critical thinking skills
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members that can speak to the applicant’s academic prowess
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions

A GRE score is not required for admission.

Assistantship Information

Many of our students receive funding through graduate assistantships. Graduate assistants work 20 hours per week and assist with teaching responsibilities. Teaching assistants teach laboratory sessions, lead supplemental instruction, work with faculty members on grading and lesson planning, and assist with a variety of other teaching responsibilities. Some graduate assistants also work as research assistants, help graduate faculty members with research tasks like data collection, coding, literature reviews, editing, and writing.

In addition to our teaching and research assistantships, we recruit one graduate assistant to work with the forensics team every two years. The forensics graduate assistantship is a two-year commitment, and the forensics graduate assistant works closely with our forensics coach, Dr. Nance Riffe, throughout their time in the program. We recruit forensics graduate assistants during odd years.

All full-time applicants who apply by the January 15th deadline are automatically considered for a graduate assistantship. Part-time graduate students are not eligible for assistantships. No additional application materials are required to be considered for an assistantship.

In addition to graduate assistantships in the Department of Communication Studies, you may apply for graduate assistant positions in other university departments such as The Graduate School, Undergraduate Admissions, and the Department of Housing & Residence Life. Please contact the department you wish to apply to for information. You may check the Graduate School’s website periodically for assistantship opportunities outside of our program.

Federal financial aid and a number of scholarships and fellowships are also available. You should contact the Graduate School directly for this information.

For other funding information, visit the Graduate School’s website.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Erin Basinger, Graduate Program Director, via email. UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Admissions office also provides many resources for applicants, so visit their website at https://gradadmissions.charlottewp.psapp.dev/ for more information.