MA Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get an application for a graduate fellowship or assistantship?
A graduate fellowship/assistantship application is included with the Graduate Application materials.

May I take graduate courses in the Department of Communication without having been accepted in the MA program?
You may take courses if you are accepted as a nondegree student. An application for Nondegree Graduate Study can be found on the web at www.albany.edu/admiss/grad/forms.html. (This link will open in a new window. Close window to return here.) To be accepted as a nondegree student, you will need an official transcript and a GPA of at least 2.5. There is no application fee.

How many credits earned as a nonmatriculated student can be counted in the program?
A non-degree student can earn a maximum of 12 graduate credits. If a non-degree student then applies for and is admitted into a degree program, non-degree graduate credits will be applied to the fulfillment of degree requirements. It should be emphasized that it does not guarantee admission to the degree program to first take graduate courses on a non-degree basis.

How many credits can be transferred from another program?
A maximum of 6 credits can be transferred in from another program.

What percentage of applicants are accepted into your program? What are the main reasons that applicants are rejected?
The department accepted 38% of the applicants to the fall 1999 program and 29% of the applicants to the fall 2000 MA program. The main reason for rejection is either a weak undergraduate record or a low TOEFL score for international students.

What is the minimal TOEFL score required in the MA program?
The minimum TOEFL score required for admission to our graduate program is 580 (paper-based total) or 237 (computer-based total). For students applying for a graduate assistantship, the minimum score is 600 (paper-based total) or 250 (computer-based total).

Are TOEFL scores required for all international students?
All international applicants must submit TOEFL scores except for those who have earned B.A. or MA degrees in English speaking countries.

Is the coursework in the MA program sequenced?
The program core courses and the substantive core courses are designed to be taken early in the program. The three program core courses are Communication Theory and Practice (COM 502), Message Design and Social Influence (COM 503), and Communication Research Methods (COM 525). In political communication, a core course is Theories and Research in Political Communication (COM 520); in organizational communication, a core course is Theories and Research in Public Organizational Communication (COM 551); in interpersonal interaction/cultural practices, the core courses are Interpersonal Interaction (COM 575) and Culture and Communication (COM 577).

For students applying to the MA program but not applying for a graduate assistantship, what is the application deadline?
For fall admission, the deadline for U.S. citizens July 15. International students must submit a completed application no later than June 15 in order to allow time for processing the additional forms. The deadline for students applying for spring semester is November 15.

For students applying for admittance to the program and a graduate assistantship, what is the application deadline?
If you plan to apply for admittance and an assistantship for a fall semester, you should have your completed application submitted before February 20. The department will begin ranking applicants for assistantships on March 1, but applications received after that date may still be considered if all open assistantships have not yet been awarded.

Are GRE scores required for admission to the MA program?
The Department requires GRE scores only for applicants to the MA program who also are applying for funding (Graduate Assistantships). Applicants to the program who are not applying for funding are not required to submit GRE scores.

What do I need to include when I apply to the graduate program?
The graduate application file consists of the application form including a personal statement, recommendation letters written by academic referees, transcripts, a writing sample (generally a paper written for a course in college), a $75 application fee, and international students must fill out a financial affidavit as part of their application packet.