Prerequisites
Applicants for admission into the WSU Master of Professional Communication program must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or be in the final stage of completing the degree. They must also have completed the prerequisites or close equivalents before enrolling in any MPC course. These two courses must be taken within five years of admission to MPC program:
Registration for Prerequisites
Students need a "W number" to register for the 3000-level prerequisite classes. They must click on http://www.weber.edu/GetIntoWeber/WhatsNextStep2.html, complete the online admission application and pay the $30 fee. Applicants must contact Virginia Stevens, the secretary of the Department of Communication, at vstevens@weber.edu or 801-626-8924 to enroll. The computer will not allow registration.
Application
Applicants will submit by March 15:
- Completed application with personal essay
- Current resume
- Transcripts from every institution of higher education attended
- Three letters of academic and/or professional recommendation
- Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years. Generally, above average scores on the verbal and writing sections are required. Higher scores are given more weight.
International Students:
International applicants will need to complete additional materials in order to comply with university and United States INS regulations. For more information, please contact the International Student and Scholar Center at 801-626-6853, or go to http://www.weber.edu/sis/
International applicants must be able to comprehend and speak English fluently, as well as read and write English competently. Candidates from non-English-speaking countries are required to establish proof of English language competency unless they received their bachelor's degree from a university in which the language of instruction was English. This may consist of one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - applicants may have an official score report sent to the MPC Office which is not more than two years old and on which a minimum score of 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based), or 79-80 (internet-based) has been earned.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - applicants may have an official score report sent to the MPC Office which is not more than two years old and on which a minimum score of 6.0 has been earned.
- Completion of a program for learning English as a second language at a regionally-accredited, U.S. institution of higher learning, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), or the Learning English for Academic Purposes(LEAP) program at Weber State University.
GRE
Students must take the GRE General Test. Your score must be received by March 15. It is strongly suggested that you take the test before Dec. 15 to ensure your score is received in time. The GRE will be waived for candidates with a previous master's degree from an accredited institution.
You may take the computerized test or the paper-based test. The computerized version is frequently offered while the paper-based option is only occasionally scheduled. Do some research into the format because one may better suit you.
According to gre.org, the GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.
- Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively.
- Verbal Reasoning — Measures reading comprehension skills and verbal and analogical reasoning skills, focusing on the test taker's ability to analyze and evaluate written material.
- Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability, focusing on basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
Because this is a new program, no information is available as to the average scores of accepted students.
For comparison sake, when mean scores for students hoping to get a graduate degree in communication are averaged, the grand means are:
Verbal Reasoning, 152; Quantitative Reasoning, 155; and Analytical Writing, 4.2.
The fields considered were advertising, communication research, journalism and mass communication, public relations, radio, TV and film, speech communication and communication other.
Overall, mean scores nationally for all areas of study are:
Verbal Reasoning, 152; Quantitative Reasoning, 159; and Analytical Writing, 4.0.
Visit gre.org for more detailed information regarding the GRE.
Test information, location and registration are offered online at ets.org/gre/general/register/
Free and priced test preparation options are described at ets.org/gre/general/prepare/
Acceptance into Program
Each applicant is accepted on an individual basis. Ideal applicants will present a strong overall previous academic record, positive letters of recommendation, professional accomplishment, and at least an above average total GRE score. An ideal class will consist of working professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds in for-profit, government or non-profit organizations. Ethnic diversity is a plus. The MPC program will have limited enrollment.