Admission Requirements and Application Procedure

Admission for graduate study at the University of Tennessee is a two-step process. Students must apply to the graduate school using the procedures outlined at http://admissions.utk.edu/graduate/. Students must also apply for acceptance into a specific graduate program within the college.

Forms for application to the college-wide programs are available at http://cci.utk.edu/gradstudies.

Applicants to the college-wide graduate programs must meet admission requirements of the Graduate Council. In addition, they must complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), rating forms, and application materials as required by the College of Communication and Information. All application materials are screened by a faculty admissions committee of the College of Communication and Information.

New students begin classes in the fall semester.

The application deadline is February 1 for students seeking funding. Even those not seeking funding should submit application materials by February 1 to have the best chance of being considered for admission. A limited number of slots open each fall and preference is given to applicants whose materials are submitted by February 1.

Admissions for MS program in Communication and Information

A baccalaureate degree in communication or a related field is recommended. Admission is possible with other baccalaureate degrees. However, all applicants without the appropriate background may be required to take up to 18 semester hours of prerequisite and corequisite courses. 

At the time of application, students indicate an intended concentration. The student's record is reviewed by representatives of the appropriate school and the associate dean's office to identify any prerequisite or corequisite courses needed for that concentration. If a student should later decide to switch to a different concentration, the student must resubmit an application form. The appropriate school director (or his/her designee) responsible for the new concentration area will review that form as well as the student's academic record and determine whether the student is qualified for the new concentration. If so, the director/designee may identify additional courses needed to ensure the student is prepared for a career in the concentration area.

Minimum requirements normally include a 3.0 (4.0 system) grade point average in undergraduate studies and scores at or above the 50^th percentile in verbal, quantitative, and analytical aptitude on the Graduate Record Examination.

Admissions for MS program in Information Sciences

Please contact the School of Information Sciences for information about admissions into this degree program. Note, also, that a separate handbook is available that details program requirements, advising, and other relevant information for this master's degree.

Admissions for PhD program in Communication and Information

The master's degree is required for entry into the doctoral program. Students lacking academic or professional experience in communication and information may be required to take prerequisite courses.

The following are normally minimal requirements for admission to full potential candidate status.

• A 3.0 (4.0 system) grade point average in undergraduate studies, and 3.5 for graduate work.
• At or above the 50^th percentile in verbal, quantitative and analytical aptitude on the Graduate Record Examination.
• Recommendation letters and/or rating forms from at least three former teachers or professional colleagues.
• A statement of the applicant's goals and reasons for pursuing the doctorate.
• Personal interviews with members of the Graduate Studies Committee are recommended and may be required.
• Professional experience in some field of communication and/or information is a highly desirable criterion for admission.
• For students whose native language is not English and who have not earned an earlier degree at an American college or university, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. Students should show mastery of the English language.