The Department of Journalism and Technical Communication is nationally recognized for its commitment to research. Faculty members have been awarded more than $10 million in extramural research funding in recent years from such agencies as National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Center for Research on Writing and Communication Technologies, a state higher education center of excellence, is co-directed by JTC and the Department of English. The department is also a participant in the new Colorado School of Public Health - a partnership between Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado and the University of Colorado Denver Health Medical Center.
The department was established in 1968 and operates one of the largest undergraduate programs on campus. More than 500 students are enrolled in the department’s five undergraduate concentrations: computer-mediated communication, news-editorial, public relations, specialized and technical communication, and television news and video communication.
The department’s 18 regular faculty members are joined by several affiliate faculty members and working professionals with special faculty appointments as instructors. Tenure-track and tenured faculty hold degrees from some of the major universities recognized for excellence in communication research, including Annenberg-Pennsylvania, Florida, Indiana, Syracuse and Wisconsin-Madison.
Graduate students receive office space and have access to five state-of-the-art computer laboratories that provide a wide range of capabilities – including access to the campus network, World Wide Web, statistical analysis programs and online library databases. One laboratory features digital video systems for evaluating and conducting research on information design and usability of print, online and multimedia communication. Other laboratories are devoted to writing, desktop publishing, multimedia production and video editing. The department’s facilities are located in the C-Wing of the Clark Building, across from the William E. Morgan Library and the Lory Student Center. See sector G5 on the CSU virtual tour map.
The department seeks to maximize financial assistance for Ph.D. students. The following types of aid are available. For full consideration, students should have their applications complete by December 15.
Fellowships
Students who apply by December 15 can compete for university-wide fellowships awarded to incoming and continuing graduate students with outstanding potential. Fellowship amounts range up to $15,000 for one academic year and may be coupled with graduate teaching assistantships to increase the amount of support offered. Smaller fellowship amounts may be awarded on a semester-by-semester basis.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Graduate teaching assistantships involve assisting faculty in large-lecture courses and/or leading recitation/laboratory sections. Graduate research assistantships enable students to work with faculty on research projects and are typically funded through grants obtained by faculty members from outside funding agencies. Quarter-time GTA and GRA appointments involve approximately 10 hours of work per week and provide for in-state tuition remission of six credits of course work (not including fees). In 2007-2008, GTAs and GRAs with quarter-time appointments also received a monthly stipend of $653. Half-time GTA and GRA appointments involve approximately 20 hours of work per week and provide for in-state tuition remission of nine credits of course work. In 2007-2008, GTAs and GRAs with half-time appointments also received a monthly stipend of $1,305. Quarter- and half-time GTAs and GRAs also receive contributions to health insurance in the amount of $200 per semester.
Instructorships
Students with significant professional or academic experience may be hired as instructors, in charge of teaching skills or concept courses in one of the department’s five undergraduate concentrations. Prior teaching experience is required to be considered for employment as an instructor.
Student Loans
Both subsidized (below market-rate) and unsubsidized student loans are available to offset all or a portion of a student’s expenses that cannot be covered through other means. Visit Student Financial Services for more information.
Out-of-State Domestic Students
Tuition is assessed according to the student's state of residence. Out-of-state domestic students may be able to qualify for in-state residency after one year. Visit Student Financial Services to learn more about how to establish Colorado residency. Out-of-state domestic students are encouraged to establish residency prior to beginning the first semester.
The Department of Journalism and Technical Communication is nationally recognized for its commitment to research. Faculty members have been awarded more than $10 million in extramural research funding in recent years from such agencies as National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 
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