Quantitative Competency 

Students must demonstrate their quantitative competency. You can do this in various ways, including but not limited to providing the following:  

• Quantitative GRE or GMAT score and percentile. 

• Relevant courses with grade received (e.g. quantitative research methods, advanced mathematics, or statistics courses). 

• Certification of proficiency with statistical packages or techniques.   

One indicator of competency is required, but you are welcome to provide more. 

Verbal Competency 

Students are required to demonstrate their verbal competency. A writing sample and personal statement are both mandatory and are one way that we assess verbal competency. You are welcome to provide additional evidence, such as a verbal GRE score. 

GRE Scores 

Optional effective fall 2023 admissions cycle. UConn GRE code: 3915. 

Please submit only the contact information for three recommenders with your online application. The recommenders will be contacted to send their letters via a Slate request. 

Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell the admissions committee what your goals are in pursuing graduate work in the Department of Communication. 

In your statement, please address the following in less than 1,000 words: 

• What are your career goals and how does pursuing a graduate degree in our department help you meet those goals? 

• What area of communication are you interested in studying here at UConn? 

• Which faculty member do you think could best help you with your career goals and why? 

• How has your professional or educational background helped prepare you for graduate study in our department? 

In addition, highlighting how your research or career goals align with the Department’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in academics and society will strengthen this statement. 

Please include a writing sample with your online application. Writing samples should ideally demonstrate a candidate’s academic writing ability. Examples include papers written as part of undergraduate or master’s coursework, papers submitted for conference or publication, or professional writing.  

Please include a copy of your CV or resume with the online application.

Please submit your complete post-secondary transcripts with the application. For degrees in progress, submit up to date unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts indicating degree conferral will be required prior to matriculation.

Please note that our department does accept the Graduate School Language Proficiency Examination Waiver for admission. However, applicants requesting a teaching assistantship may need to undergo additional review.

For international applicants who are not eligible for the Language Proficiency Waiver, we require one of the tests below. The department requires the following scores for whichever test option you choose:

• TOEFL: Applicants must score 23 or above on the Reading, Listening, and Writing components. Additionally, applicants must score a 27 or above on the Speaking component and have a combined TOEFL score total of at least 100.
• IELTS: Applicants must receive an overall band score of 7. Additionally, applicants must receive a Speaking band score of 8.0 or higher.
• PTE: Applicants must receive an overall score of 74 or higher.
• Duolingo: Applicants must receive an overall score of 120 or higher.

Applications with English language proficiency test scores that do not meet our requirements will not be reviewed.

Student’s whose native language is not English will also need to coordinate with the UConn American English Language Institute (UCAELI) to take the microteaching test if they are being considered for funding. Students who do not pass cannot be placed in student-facing classroom roles and may have their graduate assistantship offer rescinded.

Find more information about proficiency assessment of teaching assistants.