12 Steps to Apply for Graduate Study in

Students will be admitted to the graduate program only in the Fall semester.  Applications must be received by the School of Communication by March 1.

 

1. Decide whether you wish to apply for the Master's of Arts degree program in Communication or Television film and New Media Production (TFM). The TFM program emphasizes the creative processes in producing media products. Changing degree programs after you are admitted is difficult, so make this choice carefully.
2. Complete Part I and Part II of the CSU graduate  application form and file it, along with a $55 non-refundable application fee, with Graduate Admissions. To obtain an application, call (619) 594-7800 or write:

3.  

4. Graduate Admissions

5. San Diego State University

6. San Diego, CA 92182-7455

   The Master's degree program in TFM accepts applications for admission for the fall semester only. The deadline for Fall admission is MARCH 1.

   The following items are submitted directly to Graduate Admissions:

   • CSU Application
   • GRE Scores
   • All Undergraduate Transcripts
   • Three Letters of Recommendation
   • Statement of Purpose
7. Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and forward your scores to Graduate Admissions. Generally, The School of Communication accepts a minimum combined score of 950 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the exam and minimum scores of 450 each on the verbal section and the Quantitative section. However, the decision to admit is never based on a singular indicator.
8. Write a detailed (2-3 pages) Statement of Purpose (separate from the application form) that describes the following:
   • your educational and professional preparation for graduate studies in communication,
   • your career objectives after graduate studies, and
   • your area of specialization (if you are applying to the Communication program) or areas of creative interests (if you are applying to the TFM program).

   File your Statement of Purpose with Graduate Admissions when you file your application.

9. Obtain three (3) letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources who can speak to your ability to succeed in advanced studies in communication. Direct your letters of recommendation to Graduate Admissions.
10. The following materials should be sent directly to:

11.  

12. Professor Carroll Blue

13. School of Communication

14. San Diego State University

15. San Diego CA 92182-4561

16.  

    • A résumé, one which includes any film and/or video production experience you have had.
    • The best evidence you can provide of your creativity. Examples might include a sample reel and/or a sample of original work such as a play, story or screenplay (for writers/director) or visual materials such as drawings (storyboards), designs or studio photography which might reflect your skills with lighting, framing and composition. The sample reel should be a film or videocassette (VHS or 3/4 inch) of dramatic, narrative or other creative work with credits clearly indicated. Note: the work must be properly cued. The committee will look at 10 MINUTES maximum. You may submit part of a longer piece, selected clips or a short or shorts.
    • A list, by author and title, of six written works (novels, plays, essays, books) that have influenced you artistically.
    • A list of 3 films (narratives, documentaries, experimental), plays, or TV programs that you admire and, devoting one paragraph to each work, an explanation of what interests you in them.
    • A list and description (in a sentence) of your hobbies and interests outside of film, video and theater.
    • Personal Statement: A short essay describing your creative and career goals and how you think this program will benefit you (two pages maximum).
17. Request official transcripts from all undergraduate colleges and universities (including community colleges) you attended. Have them sent to Graduate Admissions.
18. After all your application materials have been sent to Graduate Admissions, you can check the progress of your application at Graduate Admissions by calling the following phone numbers, based on your last name:

19.  

20. A-GR

21. (619) 594-6926

22.  

23. GU-OS

24. (619) 594-3759

25.  

26. OT-Z

27. (619) 594-4178

    Graduate Admissions can help identify documentation that has not been received, so that you can follow up and make sure they are received.
     

28. Once Graduate Admissions has accumulated all the application materials described in Steps 2-7 above, your appliation file is forwarded from Graduate Admissions to, the Graduate Adviser for the TFM program.
29. Once your application file has been received by the Graduate Adviser for your degree program and specialization, that application file is reviewed by the Graduate Committee.

    Based on your application file, the School Graduate Committee recommends to Graduate Admissions whether you should be admitted or not, and the conditions that apply to your admission. All graduate students are admitted on a conditionally classified basis, meaning that the student must meet certain criteria after admission in order to remain in the program. This typically includes (but is not limited to) completing courses with a B grade or better. If the Committee recommends your admission, the School of Communication will notify you by mail. Graduate Admissions will send you official information as to your admission or denial at a later date. With rare exceptions, Graduate Admissions accepts the recommendation of the Graduate Committee.

30. Applications and information about Graduate Teaching Associate positions in the school of Communication are available from Dr. Greg Miller. Call (619) 594-4947. In addition to the application form, the following information must be sent directly to:

31.  

32. Dr. Greg Miller

33. School of Communication

34. San Diego State University

35. San Diego CA 92182-4561

36.  

    • An unofficial copy of your GRE scores,
    • An unofficial copy of your undergraduate transcripts
    • Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources, who can speak to your ability to succeed in college-level teaching, and
    • A copy of your Statement of Purpose
37. Information about all state, federal and institutional aid programs is available from the Financial Aid Office. Call (619) 594-6323 for more information.