Application Process

Students may begin taking Accelerated courses when they are a senior by hours. Applicants can indicate they would like to be considered for the program during their junior year. 

In the semester before your senior year, students are encouraged to indicate their interest in the Accelerated degree program. Please fill out this form to begin the application process. Once faculty have reviewed the student’s application, the Graduate Program Director will inform the student if they may enroll in classes for the Accelerated program.

Once admitted to the Accelerated degree program, students must still apply to the Graduate School before the last semester of senior year. That is, students must be enrolled in the Graduate School to complete their M.A.

To apply to the Graduate School:

To complete the accelerated degree program in Communication, you must go through the Baylor Graduate School’s online application portal. Since you are already have a Baylor ID, please click the “Returning Users” log in to complete the online application – please do NOT create a new account.

Through the online portal, you will complete a standard application form and also submit the following materials:

• A personal statement of your academic interests and professional goals (approximately 750 words) 
• A writing sample reflective of your scholarly writing abilities (e.g., synthesis of research; ability to analyze and evaluate concepts; argumentation)
• One letter of recommendation from a professional reference who can speak to your professionalism, discipline, and overall abilities to thrive in graduate studies (references may be employers, internship supervisors, student organization advisors, etc.) and two recommendations from CSS faculty. There is a place on the online application to list your recommenders. Once you do so, they will receive an email and can upload their recommendations directly through the system.  PRIOR to listing your recommenders on the application form, you should ask faculty directly and ensure their commitment to serve as one of your recommenders. NOTE: Please ask faculty to serve as recommenders as early as possible (ideally, by the end of the fall semester).

There is also a $50 application fee (applications cannot be reviewed until the fee is paid). International students are also required to submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores unless they have received a degree from a U.S. accredited institution of higher education.

DEADLINES

Applications should be received before rolling, semester deadlines: May 1, October 1, and February 1.