• Analytical Skills 
• Critical Thinking 
• Intellectual Curiosity 
• Interpersonal Skills 
• Record of Academic Achievement 
• Self-Motivation 
• Writing and Presentation Skills 
• Work Experience (not required of recent graduates of undergraduate programs)

Applicants with a variety of educational and employment backgrounds (e.g., communication, information science, media studies, human resource management, health communication, management, psychology, leadership, or other social sciences) are encouraged to apply. In making admission decisions, the faculty consider the entire application and do not use any single criterion (e.g., grade-point average [GPA] or GRE score) as an absolute cut-off. The application materials listed below are used to assess an applicant's likely fit and potential success in the program.

1. An application for admission. Complete the entire application through the Graduate Admissions website. To apply to the on-campus M.C.M. program in New Brunswick, select "Communication and Information Studies - 17194." To apply to the B.A./M.C.M. dual-degree program, select "Communication and Information Studies-B.A. and M.C.I.S. Dual Degree - 171943."

2. Official transcripts of previous academic work. As a general guideline students are expected to have an undergraduate and/or graduate academic record of at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. The admissions committee is especially interested in grades achieved in coursework that is related to the M.C.M., which represents the applicant's likely success in our program. International students are required to have their transcripts evaluated by WES or a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member; further information is below in section 8.

3. Official GRE scores. Applicants will ideally have a combined score of at least in the mid-150s for verbal and mid-140s for quantitative. The verbal score and the writing score, ideally at or above 4.0, are of special value. Waivers for the GRE can be granted (1) where the applicant has significant, related full-time work experience (five or more years) that includes extensive writing, or (2) has a graduate degree in a field of social science or arts and sciences or other field that demands strong analytic skills and excellent writing, or (3) has a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5.
   
   Applicants who would like to apply for a waiver of the GRE may do so by emailing  Richard Dool, M.C.M. program director, with the following information: the request for a waiver, a résumé and a personal statement, and state whether an advanced degree in an allied major has already been achieved.
   

Applications are not reviewed until GRE scores have been officially received by the Graduate Admissions office unless a waiver has been granted. Use institution code 2790 to send GRE scores to Rutgers. Rutgers does not use ETS department codes. In general, GRE scores are considered valid for five years. Please note that once you have taken one of its standardized tests, ETS requires several weeks to grade your results. Learn more about the GRE and how to sign up for it at www.ets.org.

4. Two letters of recommendation. These letters should focus on the applicant's academic capacity (e.g., problem solving, thinking, analytical, and reflective skills) to undertake a rigorous program of graduate study. Letters are expected from an applicant's professors or from senior members of professional and/or corporate organizations who are able to comment substantially on the applicant's academic capabilities rather than on workplace efficiency and character traits. The recommender's relationship to the applicant must be established in the letter of recommendation. Personal friends, clergy, and family members are not usually appropriate recommenders for this graduate study. Applicants will be asked to supply the names and email addresses for their recommenders as part of the online application process.
   

If a change of recommender is desired once an application has been submitted, the change cannot be made through the online application. In this case, students should print and complete the top of the Recommender form for each recommender. The form may also be used if a recommender prefers to submit a traditional letter rather than an online recommendation. Students should provide recommenders who are using the printed form with an envelope addressed to Rutgers and have them mail the recommendation in. The address is Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 56 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8541 U.S.A.

5. Personal Statement. A personal statement of 300-500 words is required. The statement should describe the applicant's professional and academic background and career objectives. Applicants should explain why attending the M.C.M. program at Rutgers is desired, aspects of the program that are attractive, and specific areas a student would like to study within the program.

6. Résumé or CV: Applicants should include a résumé describing employment history, academic honors, scholastic recognition, publications, leadership roles, and/or other academic, professional, and community activities. 

7. A $70 nonrefundable application fee.

8. International Students: Four additional items are required for international applicants: (1) TOEFL (or IELTS) scores; (2) evidence of adequate financial resources; (3) proper visa status; and (4) a transcript evaluation by any member of NACES, such as WES. Further information is offered below on NACES and WES.

TOEFL scores are required for all international applicants in addition to GRE scores. The following minimum subscore distribution is recommended: writing 24; speaking 24; reading 24; listening 22. Overall, the paper-based test (PBT) 600; internet-based test (IBT) 80.

IETLS - overall band score of 7.0 or higher is recommended.

Waivers for TOEFL or IETLS are granted to international students who: (1) earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university; or (2) have taken an accredited English as a Second Language program or course; or (3) are coming from an English-speaking country with a minimum of three years undergraduate education where the mode of instruction was English. The waiver will not be applied to an application until official transcripts or certificates are received. Once M.C.M. has confirmed that a degree was earned, the TOEFL or IETLS is waived.

Applicants of questionable English proficiency will be required to take a written or oral test when entering the program and, if necessary, to take coursework in the English as a Second Language Program before commencing M.C.M. studies. Use institution code 2790 to send TOEFL scores to Rutgers. Rutgers does not use ETS department codes. In general, TOEFL/IELTS scores are good for three years. Please note that once one of its standardized tests has been taken, ETS requires several weeks to grade results.

Nonimmigrant students must present evidence of adequate financial resources. The university may deny admission to nonimmigrant students for lack of English proficiency, for lack of financial support, or because of improper visa status.

International students must have their transcripts evaluated. The M.C.M. program will accept transcript evaluations from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), such as WES (World Education Services).  A full list of eligible evaluators may be found at the NACES website.  Students must submit the NACES Official Evaluation to Rutgers along with the required transcripts.

For More Information

For further information, contact the M.C.M. program adviser at 848-932-7550, option 2, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or send an email inquiry to the program director, Richard Dool (richard.dool@rutgers.edu), or the Office of Student Services at mcm@comminfo.rutgers.edu .