Prospective Graduate Students
why attend UM?
We offer a nationally acclaimed Master's program in the beautiful northern Rocky Mountains, and in our most recent program review we were cited for having a "Ph.D. level faculty and course of study." Our graduate program is noted for its close faculty-student interaction. Our MA students are granted admission to the top Ph.D. programs in the country, and excel in their Ph.D. studies. Students wishing to leave with the MA comment on the excellent training they received while they were enrolled in our program.
graduate teaching opportunities
GRADUATE TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Applicants may request consideration for a graduate teaching assistant (TA) position in the electronic application. TAs instruct one of two introductory undergraduate courses (either COMM 111, Introduction to Public Speaking or COMM 110, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication). In exchange, they receive a tuition waiver, an additional stipend, and they pay their university fees at the Montana resident rate, regardless of residence status. Occasionally, alternative or supplemental teaching opportunities are available.
TA's are perceived as "teachers in training" and hold a unique place in the Communication Studies Department. Each year, our 12 TAs teach multi-section, introductory courses that meet general education requirements for hundreds of students on campus. The contact of TAs with freshmen and sophomores is important because it often leads to recruiting new majors and because TAs act as departmental representatives to students in other majors. A TAs unique place in the department impacts your graduate studies as well. TAs are closely monitored by course directors, learn how to be teacher-scholars, and manage academic careers.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are highly competitive. To be considered for a TA, you should submit your application so that it is RECEIVED by February 1. You must accept a TA offer by April 1, so all incoming students will be notified of their award by that time. Students may apply for TAs at other times during the year, but the availability of additional positions depends on available funding and qualifications.
wiche
The Communication Studies Department is a regional program identified by the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE). As a result, students from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming can enroll for in-state tuition. Learn more about WICHE.
graduate handbook
The graduate handbook contains everything you need to know about our program requirements, timelines for completion of your degree, procedures for selecting TAs for summer and Wintersession teaching, responsibilities of a graduate student, and other useful information about our program.
Check out the Procedures for Completing the MA Degree.
about missoula
Nestled in the Rocky Mountain grandeur of western Montana, Missoula is the hub of five valleys and three major rivers – the Blackfoot, the Bitterroot and the Clark Fork. Roughly halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, Missoula is a blend of small-town charm and big-city sophistication.
One of the first things visitors notice is how friendly people are here. With about 60,000 residents and visitors from around the globe, the city has an increasingly diverse population. On summer Saturdays, Missoulians congregate at the Farmer’s Market for fresh produce, coffee and conversation. Year-round, they meet on the recreational trails that run alongside the river through the heart of downtown and past campus. Hiking, bicycling, fly fishing, river rafting and skiing are all big here.
Local restaurants serve up everything from steak and potatoes to Thai noodles, while an array of coffeehouses, pubs, nightclubs and movie theaters provide diversion. Residents come from around the region to shop the city’s department and discount stores, shopping mall and specialty boutiques. Missoula boasts a thriving downtown.
It’s no wonder that the book How to Get an Ivy League Education at a State University called Missoula "a Rocky Mountain Berkeley ... the kind of place many people hate to leave."
For more information, check out Make It Missoula.
