Graduate Program

Apply to the Communication Master of Arts program

The Communication M.A. program accepts applications once a year for students to commence enrollment in the following academic year. For Fall 2023, you can begin application as early as October 1, 2023. The Communication M.A. program has set a priority deadline for admission as February 1, 2024. We have a final deadline for admission of April 1, 2024. Applicants must apply to the university and submit all program application materials through Cal State Apply. Applicants must meet both university and program admission requirements. The Director of Admissions and Recruitment will contact you with official communication regarding an application decision.

Steps to Apply

Step #1: Learn More about the Discipline

Learn more about our discipline by looking at information from the International Communication Association, National Communication Association, or the Rhetoric Society of America. Look up articles in journals in our field, like the Communication, Culture, & Critique; Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies; Communication and Race; Critical Studies in Media Communication; Human Communication Research; Journal of Communication; Journal of International and Intercultural Communication; Quarterly Journal of Speech; Text & Performance Quarterly; Visual Communication; the Western Journal of Communication, and Women's Studies in Communication. Your university library probably has a subscription to Communication & Mass Media Complete (EBSCO), and you can search for articles in a lot of these journals there.

Step #2: Learn More about the Communication M.A. Program

Familiarize yourself with the Communication M.A. program at California State University, Fresno. Read about the graduate program and our faculty on the Communication department website. Look at our Graduate Handbook. Attend an information session. Contact the Graduate Coordinator with questions. Envision how you might fit within our program. Make a list of the courses you are excited to take with us. Begin to plan your application.

Step #3: Apply to the University

Apply for university admission by following the link to Cal State Apply. The university requires a $70 application fee and official transcripts. If you are an international student, you may need to submit a TOEFL score. International applicants should follow the link to the International Office for current requirements and submit your application via their site.

Step #4: Seek Financial Support

Apply for financial aid and scholarships, as needed. Fill out a general scholarship application for California State University, Fresno, as well as a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act application.The deadline for these applications are earlier than the university and program application. The Division of Research and Graduate Studies also offers several funding opportunities for incoming students. Seek external scholarships and grants, and apply for any that pertain to your situation.

You may (but are not required to) apply for a position as a Graduate Teaching Associate. A separate employment application is requred; these associateships are awarded competitively. The deadline to apply for a Graduate Teaching Associateship is February 1, 2024. For more information, visit the Teaching Associates Program tab on this website.

Program Admission Requirements

The Communication M.A. program uses a holistic admission review process that considers standard academic metrics like transcripts, confidential outside assessment like recommendations, demonstrated abilities like the writing sample, and self-offered appraisement and declaration of goals like the statement of purpose. We consider the applicant's fit with our program as well as their demonstrated potential to succeed at advanced study.

Communication M.A. Admission Overview

For All Students: GRE Not Required

For All Students: 3.0 GPA or Higher (Campus or Cumulative) Required

For All Students: Specific Materials Required via Cal State Apply 

1. Applicants must submit a writing sample. This writing sample should be an academic essay devoted to a sustained analysis of a text, communication phenomenon, or theory. This academic essay should be a mimimum of 3,000 words in length. The essay should demonstrate sound argumentation, logical organization, advance an innovative claim, adhere to a specific style guide (e.g., APA, Chicago, or MLA), and be free of mechanical errors (e.g., grammar, spelling, punctuation). Most applicants supply a revised version of an essay they developed for an undergraduate course. 
2. Applicants must have at least three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. The recommendations should speak to the applicant's ability to excel in graduate school. For example, these letters often address reading and writing skills, time and project management skills, and a pattern of initiative, creativity, and/or academic excellence. These letters will be uploaded by the persons writing the recommendation, not by the applicant. When completing the overall application, the applicant will provide the contact information for the recommendation letter writers within Cal State Apply. The university will then contact the letter writers via email, instructing them how to upload the recommendation letter. The applicant need not wait for the recommendation letters to complete the remainder of the application.
3. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose (note: this is different from a personal history!). Explain why you want to join our Communication M.A. program at California State University, Fresno. The applicant's statement of purpose should be a minimum of 500 words and address the following questions: (a) What goals and objectives do you hope to accomplish by completing a master's degree? (b) How might our program in particular support your goals and objectives? (c) What areas do you want to study and research? Which faculty members do you anticipate working with if you are accepted to our program? (d) What specific academic and/or professional experiences have prepared you for graduate study? and (e) If necessary, account for any areas of your application that do not meet our minimum requirements. 

For International Applicants: TOEFL Required 

For international students, the program requires a minimum TOEFL CB/PB/IB score of 250/600/100. The TOEFL score should be submitted to the International Office. If you earned a degree at an English-speaking institution outside of the United States (e.g., Nigeria), note the International Office's site lists those countries exempted from this requirement.