One in every four people in the United States has some type of disability. Sometimes, it’s obvious: a pair of glasses, hearing aids or a wheelchair. For others, there may be no outward sign: a mental health struggle, a medical condition or a learning disability. No matter the issue, Kent State University’s Student Accessibility Services is here to help. The office, located behind the elevators on the first floor of the University Library on the Kent Campus, aids students dealing with any type of disability. (For faculty and staff, accessibili...
Can I visit the department before deciding to attend Kent State?
US citizens and residents who have applied for admission in the fall semester are encouraged to visit us during the preceding spring semester. A travel scholarship fund is available to offset some travel expenses of visiting applicants. Applicants will be contacted when the time for visits approaches, and detailed information will be communicated at that stage.
Other questions and more information
Much additional information can be found on our special FAQ page for Graduate Program applicants. Applicants are urged to check this FAQ page for instant answers before sending inquiries by email. If you still have unanswered questions, please contact:
Which degree program should I apply to?
For most students, it is best to apply directly to the PhD program.
Students usually enter our department through the PhD program. It is not necessary to already have a Masters degree (i.e., a Bachelor's degree is sufficient) to be admitted directly to the PhD program. Financial support through graduate assistantships is awarded exclusively to students entering PhD program. We generally accept students into the MS program only if they have their own support (through a scholarship for example).
College of Communication & Information
While completing a two-month journalism fellowship in Arizona the summer after her college graduation, Anna Huntsman, ’19, found herself nostalgic for Ohio.“I was around a lot of people from all across the country,” she remembers. “They would ask me, ‘What’s so special about Ohio?’ and I would have this answer about the camaraderie, the sports, the work ethic. I just found myself having these answers of really missing my home.”Huntsman, who majored in journalism and was a member of Kent State’s Honors College, landed a job at Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland a few short months later....
Which semester should I apply to?
Incoming PhD students primarily start their program in the Fall semester. This is also when we appoint nearly all available Graduate Assistantships.
The Masters of Arts program can apply to either semester since the program is flexible and generally self-supporting.
What financial aid and scholarships are available?
We support all admitted PhD student with a Graduate Assistantship with a 12 month stipend of $26,780 plus a full tuition scholarship. The assistantship can either be a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or grant supported research (RA). Beginning graduate students are supported by a TA which carries a part-time duties such as working in undergraduate labs, or tutoring beginning undergraduates, or grading.
How are applications evaluated?
Each application is given individual attention. We try to gain a holistic picture of the preparation of each applicant through their grades, statement of purpose, CV, and letters of recommendation. We value strong grades and research experience, but we also factor in other qualities important to success in graduate school and beyond, such as independence, persistence, creativity, over-coming adversity .