The department follows the university’s general requirements for admission to graduate studies, which are found in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin on the CSU Graduate School’s Web site. Additional requirements are specified below.
Application Requirements
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have completed a Master's degree in a related field (or see "Students without a Master’s Degree" below). Students are expected to demonstrate a superior academic record, evidenced by a minimum 3.0 grade point average for their master’s degree and a strong record of performance in their undergraduate studies.
We will consider your potential for completing the degree based on the following: a completed master’s degree; GRE scores; evidence of scholarly/professional work; three letters of recommendation; statement of career objectives and research interests; résumé; transcripts from bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Exceptions to specified requirements may be made if warranted.
Please see our financial support pages for information about in-state tuition and other options for funding your degree.
To be considered for admission, U.S. Citizens must submit the following materials:
To the CSU Graduate School (online):
The Graduate School’s online application and $50 fee.
The following supplemental items (Part 2 – Graduate Supplemental Application, log back in and select the application in progress):
Résumé or curriculum vitae showing dates and details of professional and academic experience.
A personal statement (three typed pages, maximum) presenting your research interests and your reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree
To the Department:
Cover letter, including a statement of career objectives and research interests, and indicating what materials will follow, if any.
Two official transcripts of all collegiate work completed. (Colorado State University transcripts are not required.)
Three letters of recommendation. Letters from thesis advisers or major professors are especially important. Letters should address the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue doctoral studies as well as a scholarly career in teaching and research or research management. Arrange to have letters sent directly to the department.
Three examples of relevant scholarly writing such as thesis chapters, conference papers, or course project papers.
Graduate Record Examination scores for the verbal, quantitative, and analytic portions.
Samples of professional work and writing samples. (Optional. Do not send originals; samples cannot be returned.)
Students from outside of the United States with the necessary financial support are encouraged to apply. Colorado State’s Office of International Programs is available to assist students with a wide range of special services, including assistance with visas and other support.
International students need to submit additional materials (see detailed instructions for international students).
Deadlines for Admission
Review of applications will begin on December 15. For full consideration, particularly for fellowships and assistantships, students should ensure that their applications are complete by this date. Prospective students who complete their applications after the deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.
Students with Graduate Degrees from Colorado State
Applicants who hold an M.S. in Technical Communication or other advanced degree from Colorado State must re-apply for admission to the Ph.D. program through the Graduate School. Graduate courses previously taken at Colorado State generally can be applied to the Ph.D. requirements, but are subject to review and must have been taken within the 10-year time limit for a doctoral degree. Applicants are not required to provide official transcripts for course work taken at Colorado State.
For more information about the Ph.D. program and the application process, please contact us:
Dr. Patrick Lee Plaisance, Doctoral Program Coordinator
Department of Journalism and Technical Communication
Colorado State University
C-236A Clark Building
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1785
Telephone: (970) 491-6484
Fax: (970) 491-2908
Patrick.Plaisance@colostate.edu
Students without a Master’s Degree
Admission to the Ph.D program requires a Master's degree in a related field. If you are interested in the program but do not have a Master's degree, we encourage you to apply instead for The Department of Journalism and Technical Communication's excellent master’s degree program.
In brief, Colorado State’s M.S. degree in Public Communication & Technology requires completion of 33 credits of course work, including the defense of a thesis or extensive research project. The program is currently being revised; expected requirements include:
M.S. Public Communication & Technology - 33 credits
Required Courses (18 credits)
JTC 500 (4 credits) Communication Research and Evaluation Methods
JTC 501 (4 credits) Process and Effects of Technical Communication
JTC 560 (3 credits) Managing Communication Systems
JTC 698 (3 credits) Research
JTC 699 (3 credits) Thesis
JTC 701 (1 credit) Colloquium in Communication and Information Technology
Plus 9 credits of JTC and outside electives:
6 credits from any two 600-level JTC seminars
9 credits from other graduate-level JTC courses, JTC 300-level or above undergraduate courses (with consent of adviser), or 300-level or above courses from outside the department (with consent of adviser)
Up to 30 credits of graduate-level courses (500 or above) may be applied toward the Ph.D. degree.
Admission to the doctoral program is subject to review upon completion of the student’s master’s thesis and the recommendation of the student’s adviser.
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