The master of communication and information studies (M.C.I.S.) program welcomes applications from recent undergraduates and accomplished professionals who demonstrate excellence in:
* Analytical skills
* Critical thinking
* Intellectual curiosity
* Interpersonal skills
* Record of academic achievement
* Self-motivation
* Work experience (not required of recent graduates of undergraduate programs)
* Writing and presentational skills
Applications to the M.C.I.S. program are evaluated on the basis of previous academic records, three letters of recommendation from persons who know the applicant
in contexts of education or employment, a personal statement relating experience and career goals to what applicants want to achieve in the M.C.I.S. program, and
performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal and quantitative general tests as well as the writing component.
In making admission decisions, the entire application is considered; no single criteria (e.g., grade-point average or GRE score) is used as an absolute cut-off. The application materials are used to assess the applicant's likely fit and success in the program. As a general guideline, applicants are expected to have an undergraduate and/or graduate academic record at least at the 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average level, with more focus on grades achieved in allied coursework because they best represent the applicant's likely success in the program. Applicants with a variety of educational and employment backgrounds (e.g., communication, information science, media studies, human resource management, health communication, management, psychology, or other social sciences) are encouraged to apply. Ideally, applicants will have a combined score of 1100 or higher on the GRE quantitative and verbal tests (preferably 500 (old GRE)/153 (new GRE) or higher on the verbal test and 600 (old GRE)/148 (new GRE) on the quantitative test). The writing score will also be considered carefully, with the goal of a score of 5 out of 6. GMAT and LSAT scores may be submitted in substitution of GREs.
Rolling Admissions
The M.C.I.S. program reviews all applications on a rolling basis. To have an application processed for fall admission, all materials should be submitted and complete by early July. To have an application processed for spring admission, all materials should be submitted and complete by early November.
International applicants will need time to apply for visas after admission to the program, and therefore international applicants should make sure their materials are submitted and complete no later than May 1 for fall applications and October 1 for spring.
Application Forms and Supporting Materials
Application to the M.C.I.S. program should be done through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu. For questions about the application itself, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 18 Bishop Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8530;
732-932-7711, or check their website for details.
Registration for the Graduate Record Examination may be completed online by most test-takers. See the detailed information at http://www.ets.org/gre. Mail registration by be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000; One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201; or P.O. Box 23470, Oakland, CA 94623-0470.
Graduate Record Exam Waiver
Waivers for the GRE are granted in rare circumstances where the applicant has significant, related work experience (seven or more years) that includes extensive writing, or has achieved a graduate degree in a field of social science or arts and sciences or other field that demands strong analytic skills and excellent writing.
To apply for a waiver of the GRE, email the program director, Dr. Laurie Lewis, at lewisl@rutgers.edu, with a resume and a statement that outlines advanced degrees and relevant work experience.
An application will not be reviewed until the GRE scores have been officially received by the graduate admissions office, unless a waiver has been granted.
Notification of Decisions
Applicants
will receive written notification of admission decisions from the
Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. Notification may list
certain conditions that must be satisfied prior to registration unless
otherwise indicated. Students who wish to defer admission to a
subsequent semester should contact the program director. Ordinarily,
admission may be deferred up to one year; after one year, a new
application is required.
For More Information
For further information, contact the M.C.I.S. program adviser at
732-32-7500, option 9, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or send an email inquiry to the
program director, Dr. Laurie Lewis (lewisl@rutgers.edu).
