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Communication 

Financial Aid

See the Missouri State University Graduate Catalog for complete information on financial aid for graduate students.
 
Applying for a Graduate Assistantship in the Department of Communication
The Department of Communication has available a limited number of graduate assistantships each semester. The majority of these assistantships involve teaching in the department's core undergraduate communication courses and are awarded on a competitive basis. Most assistantships are awarded late in the spring semester for the following fall. Applying for a graduate assistantship in the Department of Communication involves three steps.
 
STEP ONE

To be eligible for a graduate assistantship you must first apply and be admitted to the Graduate College by the Office of Graduate Studies at Missouri State University. Contact the Graduate College for more specific information on Application requirements and procedures.

STEP TWO

Once you have been admitted to the Graduate College by the Office of Graduate Studies you must be admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Communication. After you have been admitted to the Graduate College, the Office of Graduate Studies will automatically send your application materials to the department's Director of Graduate Studies. The director will review your materials and make a recommendation regarding your admission to the graduate program in the Department of Communication.

STEP THREE

As you are applying for admission to the Graduate College and the program, you should also simultaneously be assembling your application for a graduate assistantship. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. To be minimally eligible for an assistantship you must:

  1. have been admitted to the Graduate College
  2. have been admitted to the graduate program in communications
  3. have an undergraduate major in communications, mass media, journalism or some related discipline
  4. have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above; an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above in your last 60 hours; or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 9 or more hours of your most recent graduate course work.

Application for a graduate assistantship is a formal process. A completed application consists of the following documentation:

  • A completed application form for a graduate assistantship in the Department of Communication. Please type the application and provide all of the information requested.
  • You must also secure a minimum of three formal letters of recommendation from individuals who can assess your potential to be a successful graduate assistant. Forms are provided for your use or you may have separate letters of recommendation sent. An application is not complete until all three letters of recommendation have been received. The applicant is responsible for insuring that all letters of recommendation have been requested and received by the department.
  • You must include a formal written letter of application for a graduate assistantship. Your letter should briefly explain your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in communications, your interest in the Department of Communication at Missouri State University, and your qualifications for a graduate assistantship.
  • You should also consider including any other materials that would assist the department in assessing your qualifications for an assistantship. This might include a resume, additional letters of recommendation, or written materials prepared in a professional setting. You are encouraged, if possible, to include at least one sample of formal academic writing. This could include what you consider to be your best undergraduate paper or a paper you have written for a graduate level course.
Applications and letters of recommendation should be sent to:

Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Communication
Missouri State University
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO  65897