Graduate Admissions
The Graduate Admissions Committee considers applications in light of multiple factors. These include the applicant's undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE scores, statement of purpose, writing samples, relevant employment history, and letters of recommendation. Admission is always contingent on the program's ability to provide faculty expertise appropriate to a student's specific research interests. We encourage all applicants to arrange a time for a campus visit.
Applicants whose highest degree is from a foreign university must have their credentials evaluated. The committee will accept evaluations done by any credentialing agency listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services website (http://www.naces.org). A course-by course report is required.
Admissions Process
Apply HERE.
Fall 2020 Admissions Deadlines:
January 10, 2020 - MA and PhD priority deadline for consideration for a graduate assistantship.
April 15, 2020 - Final PhD application deadline.
July 1, 2020 - Final MA application deadline.
For answers to frequently asked questions about applying to our program, CLICK HERE.
If you have questions, please email Director of Graduate Studies, Marina Levina.
All admissions questions should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies, Marina Levina.
Recent GRE scores (no more than five years before your application date) are required of every applicant.
MA PROGRAM APPLICATION
CV/Resume: Please upload your resume or curriculum vitae. Include all relevant teaching, research, and work experience.
Other: Please upload any video related to the Film and Video Production Program. If your
video is larger than 15 MB, provide a URL to your sample film or video in the Questions
sections.
Writing Sample: Please upload an example of your academic writing, such as a final paper for one
of your classes
Statement / Letter of Purpose: Please upload an essay of up to 1200 words, explaining your purpose in pursuing
a master's degree, specific communication areas that you would like to explore, and
why you would like to come to the University of Memphis. Please identify two faculty
members with whom you would like to work should you be accepted into the program and
state the reasons why.
Official/Unofficial Transcript: In order to expedite the decision process, please include a copy of your unofficial
transcript. Please note that in order to be admitted to the University of Memphis,
you must provide the official transcript. There will be a space in the application
portal for you to provide both.
Recommendations: We require two letters of recommendation from faculty members at your undergraduate
institution who can attest to your potential as a graduate student. We do not accept
letters from current or former non-academic employers.
Once you fill out your application, an email request will automatically be sent to
the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email
in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally
get filtered out.
Please be mindful that the priority deadline for the consideration for graduate assistantship
is January 10th and the letters of recommendation will need to be posted around that
time as well. Applying well before January 10th deadline will ensure that your recommendation
letters get to the department in time.
PhD PROGRAM APPLICATION
CV/Resume: Please upload your curriculum vitae. Include all relevant teaching, research, and
work experience.
Writing Sample: Please submit two academic papers that demonstrate your writing skills. Examples
of acceptable submissions include research paper from your MA program, professional
research or position papers, or chapters from your MA thesis.
Statement / Letter of Purpose: Please upload an essay of up to 1500 words, explaining your purpose in pursuing
a PhD, specific communication areas that you would like to explore, and why you would
like to come to the University of Memphis. Please identify three faculty members with
whom you would like to work should you be accepted into the program and state the
reasons why.
Official/Unofficial Transcript: In order to expedite the decision process, please include a copy of your unofficial
transcript. Please note that in order to be admitted to the University of Memphis,
you must provide the official transcript. There will be a space in the application
portal for you to provide both.
Recommendations: We require three letters of recommendation from faculty members who can attest to
your potential as a PhD student. We do not accept letters from current or former non-academic
employers. Once you have saved an electronic recommendation, an email request will
automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender
to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder,
as emails do occasionally get filtered out.
Please be mindful that the priority deadline for the consideration for graduate assistantship is January 10th and the letters of recommendation will need to be posted around that time as well. Applying well before January 10th deadline will ensure that your recommendation letters get to the department in time.