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Frequently Asked QuestionsThank you for your interest in our doctoral program. The volume of inquiries such as yours has increased dramatically in recent years with ready worldwide access to electronic communications, such that our small staff is no longer able to respond individually to the many detailed questions that are received every day. We have therefore compiled the following list of "frequently asked questions." We hope that this document will answer most of your questions about the admissions process and the program. If additional details remain to be addressed, please do not hesitate to contact us again. Thank you. My bachelor's degree is not in communications. Am I eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program in Communications?Students are admitted to our program with backgrounds in a wide variety of social science or humanities disciplines. In recent years we have admitted students with prior degrees in fields such as: journalism, advertising, english, media studies, psychology, business administration, speech, drama, theatre, cinema studies, literature, history, linguistics, anthropology, law, cultural studies, etc. The doctoral program is deliberately designed to be broad and flexible, and students are encouraged to draw upon the full range and interests of the faculty. Although students normally develop an area of specialization within communication, the program emphasizes a breadth of perspective on human and mass communications as befits its interdisciplinary nature. Each student's program is individually designed (with the aid of an advisor) to reflect a particular interest in communication; some of the most successful graduate work has resulted from breaking traditional definitions of specialization and creating original programs reflecting novel perspectives. Is a writing sample required as part of the application?We do not require a writing sample for admission to our program. Because of the volume of applications we receive and the nature of our admissions process, writing samples that are submitted are rarely scrutinized. Instead, the Admissions Committee makes its decisions based on careful consideration of the following credentials: GRE test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts of prior education, and the applicant's statement of plans for graduate study. Is financial aid available? What are the kinds of financial aid available? How much do they pay? Is a tuition waiver included?For the 2003-2004 academic year, a financial aid offer at the 50 percent level (in the form of teaching or research assistantships, fellowships, or a combination of assistantship and fellowship) pays $11,518 over the 9-month academic year. All types of assistantships between 25% and 67% and all fellowships include a waiver of tuition and the service fee for each semester and the summer sessions. We make every attempt to secure financial assistance at the 50 percent level for every newly admitted student, either from our own resources or as a teaching assistant in a related department where the student may have expertise or experience. Financial aid from ICR's resources is guaranteed at the same level for the first three years of the program (for the first four years for those who enter without a master's degree). Renewal of aid from other sources is dependent upon the guidelines and policies of the unit concerned. We attempt to make financial aid offers at the same time that admission offers are made. Our goal is that every student admitted to the program will be supported at the 50 percent level. Do you accept transfer credit for graduate courses completed elsewhere prior to entering the program?Our Student Evaluation Committee does consider requests from students to have relevant graduate coursework completed elsewhere count toward their program here. Ordinarily no more than 12 hours of credit are granted for such coursework (most graduate courses are offered for four hours credit). Decisions on transfer credit cannot be made until the student is admitted to the program and submits a Program Proposal to the Committee. Can I apply for admission for the spring semester?We do not admit students to our program in the Spring term for a variety of reasons. 1. Our admissions process is competitive in nature, that is, all application files are considered at the same time and applicants are judged against one another for Fall admission. 2. All financial aid sources available to us for the academic year are committed by the beginning of the fall semester. 3. Students in the first year of the doctoral program are required to complete a two-semester course sequence, Proseminar in Communications. Part I of this course is offered only in the Fall, Part II is offered only in the Spring Is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) required for admission? What are the minimum score requirements? Will my application be considered if I am unable to take the GRE?We do require GRE scores, although we do not have a minimum score requirement. While the GRE score is only one factor among many, it complements and strengthens an applicant's file. We always have a large number of applications, and fully complete files ordinarily tend to be more competitive. If circumstances prevent you from providing GRE scores, we will consider your application without it, but strongly recommend that you take it as soon as possible. We request that you have documentation from the ETS office with your scores. How long will it take me to complete the Ph.D. program?The amount of time it takes to complete the program varies considerably from one student to another, depending upon a number of factors. In general, a student who enters the program with only a bachelor's degree should expect to complete 64 hours of coursework over the first two to three years in the program. Approximately 32 hours of this coursework is considered to be the equivalent of a master's degree (though the Institute does not award a master's degree), and the remaining 32 hours are for the doctoral degree. Most full-time students carry 12 to 16 hours during each semester, and 4 to 8 hours in the summer. If you have completed relevant graduate work elsewhere, you may propose that a portion of that course work be accepted for credit toward the 64 hours required for the doctoral degree in communications. In general, no credit will be awarded for a Master's thesis, a course taken on a pass/fail basis, or a professional course. After completing the coursework requirements, students take the Preliminary Examinations. The amount of time needed for preparation for and completion of these examinations varies considerably, but they are usually accomplished within one year after completion of coursework. Upon successful completion of Preliminary Examinations, students continue with the research, writing and defense of their dissertations. This last phase of the program also varies considerably depending on a wide range of variables. During the Preliminary Examination and Dissertation stages of the program, students complete an additional 32 hours of credit in Dissertation Research. How much are the tuition and fees ?For 2004-2005, semester tuition for a full credit load (12 hours or more) is:
Is the TSE (Test of Spoken English) required for admission of international applicants?The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is not a requirement for admission. The TSE is required only of non-native speakers of English who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship. Almost all of our opportunities for graduate teaching assistantships are reserved for more senior students in the program -- that is, entering students are not usually asked to teach during their first year in the program. If you wish to be considered for a teaching opportunity after completion of one or more years in our program, the TSE will be required at that time. What is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requirement for international applicants? Under what circumstances is the TOEFL requirement waived?The Institute of Communications requires a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language of 600 on the paper based test (250 on the computer based test) or higher. In the following instance, this requirement is waived: Graduate applicants are exempt from the TOEFL if they have completed at least two academic years of full-time study, within five years of the proposed date of enrollment in the University of Illinois, in a country where English is the primary language and in a school where English is the primary language of instruction. I am an international applicant. I do not have personal resources or sponsorship for my graduate study to satisfy the financial certification requirements. What can I do?The financial certification requirements do not have to be met before your application is considered for admission. If the Admissions Committee decides favorably on your application, they will make every effort to also offer a financial aid package that will satisfy the financial certification requirements. |
