University of New Mexico
Department of Communication & Journalism


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UNM Lobo		 Graduate Application Procedures

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Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Program in Communication. Listed below are the materials that are required for a complete application. If you decide to apply for our M.A. or Ph.D. programs, please make sure that you complete all of the requisite materials and have them in the appropriate office by the deadlines.

Application Deadline
Applications for admission must be received by the following deadline:

January 15 for Fall admission (Ph.D. and M.A. programs)

Mailing Addresses
U.S. Citizens must submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS): The $50 application fee; the application; the residency information. Please send to:

The University of New Mexico
Office of Admissions
Student Services Center 150
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Two copies of all official transcripts, the GRE test scores, written Statement of Purpose/Letter of Intent, Application for Teaching or Research Assistantship, Resume or Academic Vita, Writing Sample, and Letters of Recommendation should be sent directly to the department at:

Department of Communication and Journalism
Attn: Graduate Administrator
MSC3 2240
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

International Students must submit the following materials to the Office of International Admissions: The $50 application fee, the application, the registration form, the official TOEFL/Michigan Test from ETS, official transcripts (two in the original language and two in English), and official diplomas or degree certificates (two in the original language and two in English). Send these materials to the Office of International Admissions at:

The University of New Mexico
Office of International Admissions
Student Services Center, Room 140
Albuquerque, NM 87131

The GRE test scores, written Statement of Purpose/Letter of Intent, Application for Teaching or Research Assistantship, Resume or Academic Vita, Writing Sample, and Letters of Recommendation should be sent directly to the department at:

Department of Communication and Journalism
Attn: Graduate Administrator
MSC3 2240
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1171

What Happens Next
Once you have sent your materials, please let us know that you have applied by sending our office a postcard or send us an If you are an international student, please send us your date of birth as well. This notification will help us keep track of your application. We will notify you once we have received your application and let you know if any materials are missing.

Please note that the respective admissions offices at UNM require a minimum of two weeks to process your application materials. If you do not have your application to the admissions office at least two weeks before the stated deadline, then your file will probably not arrive at the Communication & Journalism Department in time for review by the Graduate Committee. Materials received after the deadline will not be considered for admission (materials must be received by the deadline, not just postmarked.) If you have a GRE score that you suspect will be late, contact our office and let us know your scores informally. This will allow us to process your application while we wait for the official scores. Please note that the Office of International Admissions will not process applications that have a late arriving TOEFL score, so please be sure to have that score in to their office by the deadline. The TOEFL must be sent by ETS.

The Committee meets within two weeks after the deadline date to review applications. To ensure that you receive the fullest consideration by our Graduate Committee, please have all materials in the admissions offices as early as possible.

Application Materials
All application materials submitted remain the property of the University of New Mexico and will not be returned. The University and the Department require a 3.0 GPA for admission to graduate study. The evaluation of your application will be based on a composite assessment of the materials listed below.

1. Application for Admission and Registration Information Form. For a copy of these forms, go to OGS Forms. For International students, the application form is available here. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the form. Our major code is 284 (#17) and our graduate unit is communication (#16).

2. GRE General Test scores (and TOEFL/The Michigan Test for international students). For a site that carries several practice tests, including the GRE, click here.

    The GRE General Test
    The Communication & Journalism Graduate Committee requires acombined Verbal and Quantitative scores that equal at least 800 (although 1,000 or above will make you more competitive). The GRE is now available as a computer-based exam. Information on computerized tests and test dates for the GRE are available at your nearest University Testing Center (advanced registration is required) or you may call (609) 771-7670, Educational Testing Services in Princeton, New Jersey or reach their website here. The UNM Testing Center's phone number is (505) 277-5345. When filling out your registration, you will be asked to write in codes for institutions to which you want your scores sent. Our Department codes are as follows: Institution - 4845; Department - 4506 or 4599.

    TOEFL or The Michigan Test (for International Applicants only)
    International applicants must have, in addition to the GRE scores, certified results of the TOEFL or The Michigan Test sent to the Office of International Admissions. These scores will then be forwarded to the Department. Although the UNM Office of International Admissions considers a score of 560 on the paper-based TOEFL as a qualification to process an application for admission, our department requires a score of at least 600. If you are taking the computer-based TOEFL, the required score is 250. On the Michigan Test, your score needs to be at the 80th percentile or above. All scores must arrive at the Office of International Admissions before the deadline in order for your file to be reviewed. For a TOEFL link, go to the international admissions link here.

3. Two official transcripts from each institution that you have attended must be sent to the Deparment of Communication and Journalism or the Office of International Admissions. Specifically, an official transcript must have a seal, stamp or signature from a designated official. International students must send two official transcripts in the original language and two official transcripts in English.

4. Official Diplomas or Degree Certificates (if you are an International Student) two in the original language and two in English from each institution.

5. Letters of Recommendation (3-4). Recommendations should come from former professors or those who are familiar with your academic work. Recommendations from graduate students (i.e., teaching assistants) are not appropriate. Academic recommendations are more helpful and carry more weight than do those from current/previous employers. The writer of the letter should seal the envelope and sign along the seal. U.S. residents please use the forms that are available at the OGS website here. Go to OGS Forms.

6. Written Statement of Purpose/Letter of Intent Your statement should be a total of at least three double-spaced typed pages.

    Part One: Identify your specific interests in Communication and any special areas of study in our Department (intercultural, interpersonal, organizational, rhetorical, heath, or mass communication). Talk about why you are interested in our program.

    Part Two: Describe a study or project that you would want to investigate during your graduate studies in Communication. Cite publications and other resources that you used to develop your statement of purpose.

7. Résumé or Academic Vita

8. Application for Teaching or Research Assistantship can be downloaded as a PDF form. Additional information on asssistantships can be obtained here.

9. All Ph.D. applicants must also submit a writing sample (i.e., articles submitted for publication, conference papers, chapters of thesis, paper for a class). Videotapes are not appropriate.

10. An application fee of $50.00. A check or money order should be made out to the University of New Mexico. The fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived. The University will not process your application until they receive the application fee. Please note, Do not send the application fee to the department. Send the application fee to the Office of Admissions, or the Office of International Admissions.

11. Any additional material that you think will be useful to us in evaluating your application should be sent to the department.

If you have questions regarding the admission process or procedures, please contact the administrative assistant for the graduate program at (505) 277-1903, or send an e-mail If you have any questions about the graduate program as a whole, contact or , Co-Graduate Directors. For information on reapplications or readmission applications, or Change of Degree/Major applications, please see the "Admission/Readmission Guidelines" in your packet or call or write with your questions.

Catalogs can be downloaded for no cost here or purchased from the UNM Bookstore (505) 277-5451.

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