Here are the steps you need to follow to apply to the Ph.D. Program:

1. Fill out the graduate school application at https://ttugradschool.force.com/admissions/ApplicationLogin.

   Be sure to upload the following:
   • • Resume
     • Cover letter stating your interest in applying and outlining your background. This letter can be short.
     • Personal Statement (250 words to 500 words) describing why you want to pursue a Ph.D. degree, why you are interested in Texas Tech, and what you would outline as your area of research interests and the faculty members at TTU with whom you share that interest.
     • Samples of academic / professional work in communication (if you have any)
2. Ask three current or former professors/employers to recommend you to the program. The online system will ask you to enter the email addresses of the recommenders. They will have the opportunity to evaluate you on a set of scales, and they will also be asked to upload a letter of recommendation. The recommenders should not send their letter to the CoMC graduate director; the letters must be uploaded into the system.
3. Upload the following scores and documents:
   • GRE scores are not required of Ph.D. applicants at this time.
   • Language proficiency scores are required for some international students. Check online for Language Proficiency Proof on the International Undergraduate Admissions webpage to see if you need to upload scores and what scores are acceptable. 
   • Official transcripts from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended.

Please Note!

• You may also be prompted to mail some materials in to the Graduate School. The application portal will provide details.
• We do not require that applicants contact a potential faculty supervisor before applying. Applicants should review graduate faculty profiles on our website and determine their fit with faculty research agendas.
• All full-time Ph.D. students are fully funded. Tuition and fees are covered by funding, and students earn a monthly stipend and scholarships in addition. International students are required to purchase health insurance. 

Ph.D. Program Application Deadline

The official application deadline is January 1 for a fall semester start. We encourage you to submit a completed application by this deadline to receive full consideration for admissions and funding.

Applications received after January 1 will only be considered if funding is still available. If you have missed the deadline and would like to apply, contact the director of the doctoral program Coy Callison, Ph.D. (806.834.5344) Media & Communication Building, Room 158.

Funding Information

All applicants who apply will be considered for the full funding package. Applicants do not need to submit a separate application for funding.

• All full-time PhD students are fully funded.
• Tuition and fees are covered by funding, and students earn a monthly stipend and scholarships in addition.
• International students are required to purchase health insurance. 

Texas Tech M.A. Students Applying to the Ph.D. Program

Students who are currently enrolled in an M.A. program in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech must apply in order to transfer to the Ph.D. program. The admission standards for the Ph.D. program are more stringent than for the M.A., and not all M.A. students will be admitted to the Ph.D. program. 

Expected Background of Ph.D. Applicants

The CoMC graduate faculty believe that students with a variety of academic backgrounds are well qualified to pursue a Ph.D. in Media & Communication. While the majority of students in the program have a bachelor's or master's degree or both in a media and/or communication area, many students also come from extensive backgrounds in areas such as psychology, marketing, sociology, etc.

We do not require that applicants contact a potential faculty supervisor before applying. Applicants should review graduate faculty profiles on our website and determine their fit with faculty research agendas. 

GRE Score Requirements (WAIVED until further notice) 

All Ph.D. program applicants must submit recent GRE scores (on the new scale of 130-170 per section). While GRE scores are not in and of themselves the most important part of your application, the CoMC graduate faculty does consider GRE scores in evaluating applicants. 
 
Successful applicants generally have a minimum combined score of 300 on the Quantitative Reasoning and the Verbal Reasoning Sections and a minimum of a 3.5 on the Analytical Writing Sections. Applicants with scores below these levels may still be accepted into the program depending on the overall strength of the remainder of the application. Scores above these levels do not guarantee acceptance.  

Start Date

Most Ph.D. students begin the program in the fall semester of each year. Under special circumstances, an incoming student may be allowed to begin matriculation in the summer. It is very rare for a student to be allowed to begin the program in the spring semester.

For International Applicants

TTU accepts seven different English proficiency tests from which the student can choose. Find important information for international students. 

All international students must submit English proficiency scores UNLESS the students is a citizen of one of these English proficiency-exempt countries. 

Texas Tech mandates that international students purchase mandatory health insurance. The insurance costs roughly $3,000 per year. The College of Media & Communication does not cover this expense. It will be deducted automatically from a funded student's stipend.