Admission requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree, from an accredited university or college with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent (7.5 on a 10 point scale, for example).

Because of the schedule of required courses, and our commitment to building a learning community in which students work together both inside and outside class, we accept applications for entry in Fall quarter (September) only.

The deadline for applicants seeking financial aid—a graduate assistantship or tuition scholarship (Graduate Recruitment Scholarship)—is January 1.  After that date, applications requesting financial aid will be considered FOR ADMISSION WITHOUT FINANCIAL AID ONLY.  Applications received after May 1 will be considered for entry in Fall of the next academic year (after the applicant's intended year of enrollment).  Individual files will not be reviewed until all supporting documents have been received.

There are specific admission and legal requirements for international applicants to OhioUniversity.  See http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/international/

TWO SEPARATE APPLICATION PACKETS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO TWO DIFFERENT ADDRESSES. One application package must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies; the other to the Center for International Studies.

Submit the following to:

Office of Graduate Studies
McKee House
44 UniversityTerrace
OhioUniversity
Athens, OH 45701-2979, USA

1. Two completed paper application forms, or an on-line application.  Forms and instructions are available at http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/.
   
   
2.  Two official transcripts from an accredited university or college.
   
   
3.  $55.00 non-refundable application fee (applications will not be processed without fee).
   
   
4. Affidavit of Support with supporting documentation (for international applicants only), available on-line at http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/international/

Submit the following to:

Center for International Studies
Communication and Development Studies Program
Ohio University
Yamada International House
Athens, OH 45701, USA.

1. Three letters of recommendation (at least two from people who can judge your academic abilities).
   
   
2. A two-page statement of purpose, discussing your educational and professional goals and how the Communication and Development Studies program will help meet those goals. Be specific in discussing aspects of your personal and academic background that may lead to success in the program. (This is perhaps the most important item in your application package!).
   
   
3. A one-page autobiographical sketch, a personal statement that is descriptive of your life. It may be combined with the statement of purpose, but cannot substitute for it.
   
   
4. A curriculum vita—a comprehensive list of your academic and/or professional accomplishments, including degrees and diplomas, work experience, conference presentations, publications, internships, volunteer work, and prizes, honors or awards.
   
   
5. If your native language is not English, you must provide evidence of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English by submitting test scores with your application.  The minimum required score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is 550 (old test) or 213 (new test); for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the minimum is 6.5.  This requirement can be waived for applicants holding a degree from an English-language university. You will be required to retake an English proficiency test (which includes composition) when you arrive on campus.
   
   If your level of proficiency is not at the minimum level, you will be required to enroll in the Ohio Program of Intensive English.  Financial aid cannot be used to pay for English language courses; you will have to cover the cost yourself.
   
   
6. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission, but scores may be submitted.