Certificate & MS Program Application Process
Application Deadlines
- Fall start: July 1
- Spring start: November 1
- Summer start: April 1
Before You Apply
Research Our Programs and the Application Process
Learn more about our Certificate and MS programs by exploring the Professional Programs section of this website. In addition, we encourage you to review the following resources:
- Certificate & MS Admissions FAQ;
- the Graduate School Prospective Student Toolkit; and
- The Graduate School Diversity Office, including admissions and application consultations.
Register for an Information Session
We invite you to attend one of our free, virtual information sessions! We hold information sessions on Zoom throughout the year. Program faculty and staff will answer your questions about coursework, the application process, career development, and more.
Understand the Program Costs
Review the program costs, including the tuition rates and fee information. We strongly encourage you to contact One Stop Student Services to learn about differences in financial aid eligibility between the Certificate and MS programs prior to applying.
Familiarize Yourself With Our Program's Systems
Our courses offer many opportunities for collaboration and leverage Google Workspace to coordinate team projects. Previous students suggest that incoming students have proficiency in Google Workspace (e.g., Gmail, Drive, Slides, etc.) prior to their program start. Please contact us with any questions.
Contact Us With Questions!
We strive for transparency in our program requirements and admissions process. If you have questions about our programs or how to apply, please email Allie Cooperman, Graduate Programs Coordinator, at writgpc@umn.edu.
Application Review Criteria
In reflection of our commitment to an equitable and inclusive admissions process, we neither require nor consider GRE scores. Nor is there a minimum required GPA. Instead, your application materials are considered holistically. Key considerations during application review include:
- alignment between your expressed interests and focus of the program;
- demonstrated understanding of the field of technical communication; and
- preparedness for success in graduate-level study.
Application Review and Timeline
As part of our commitment to an equitable and inclusive admissions process, we review your application materials holistically. We consider the following when reviewing your application materials:
- the alignment between your expressed interests and the focus of the program;
- a demonstrated understanding of the field of technical communication; and
- your preparedness for success in graduate-level study.
We do not require GRE scores, nor will we review GRE scores if they are submitted. We also do not have a minimum required GPA.
All application materials must be submitted electronically through the online admissions system by the stated application deadline. Program faculty and staff will review applications after the deadline for the selected admission term. All applicants can anticipate receiving a decision approximately two to three weeks after the application deadline.
Questions or Access Requests
Please contact Allie Cooperman, Graduate Programs Coordinator, at writgpc@umn.edu with any questions or access requests.
Application Requirements
The Graduate School must receive all of the following materials before your application will be considered. To ensure a consistent and equitable review process, we only review the materials listed below. Any additional materials will be redacted from the application prior to review.
When you start your online application through the Graduate School, you will first select your intended program. Using the drop-down options, select:
- Campus: “University of Minnesota - Twin Cities”
- College/School: “Liberal Arts”
- Program: “Technical Communication - Certificate” OR “Technical Communication MS”
Next, complete the required application sections:
- Term Selection
- Biographical Information
- Personal Background
- Employment
- Technical Communication
GRE scores are neither required nor considered for the Certificate and MS programs. We recommend reviewing the Graduate School’s admissions guide for additional application information.
Note: The MS in Scientific & Technical Communication is now the MS in Technical Communication! Please ensure that you select “Technical Communication MS” in your application.
You must upload an unofficial transcript (or equivalent academic record) from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you previously attended. See important information about uploading transcripts from the Graduate School.
The University of Minnesota will only request official transcripts from students who are accepted and matriculate into a graduate program. Please do not mail paper copies of your transcripts.
Upload your unofficial transcripts in the Academic History section of the online application.
In no more than 500 words, articulate your academic and career goals. The goal of this statement is to give the program faculty and staff a clear sense of who you are, what your goals are, and why you think the University of Minnesota is the best place for you to pursue your graduate education. Consider the following questions (note: you do not need to answer all):
- Why do you want to study technical communication at a graduate level?
- Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Minnesota? What about our program is exciting to you and why?
- What interests you most about the field of technical communication?
- What experiences, training, or education have prepared you to succeed in graduate-level work in technical communication?
- What are your long-term professional goals and how will our graduate program help you pursue those goals?
The primary audience of this statement is the MS/Certificate graduate faculty and staff.
Upload your Statement of Purpose in the Materials section of the online application. Read more about the Statement of Purpose in our Admissions FAQ.
The Department of Writing Studies, in alignment with the broader University of Minnesota-Twin Cities community, recognizes that equity, diversity, and inclusion must be addressed at the individual, community, and systemic levels. Encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion happens in representation, development of personal awareness, practice, and policy. The department actively seeks to engage in creating socially just learning and workplace environments and opportunities. We encourage applicants to review the Department of Writing Studies’ Equity and Diversity Statement.
In no more than 500 words, explain how you are prepared to engage in our program’s commitment to equity, diversity, access, inclusion, and justice. Consider the following questions (note: you do not need to answer all):
- What does enacting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access look like for you? How might those commitments show up in the work that you’ll do as a graduate student and member of the University of Minnesota community?
- In what ways are you prepared to advance equity, access, inclusion, justice, and diversity in your graduate studies?
- How might your perspective, experiences, training, and/or skills contribute to the diversity of the university's graduate student body?
The primary audience of this statement is the MS/Certificate graduate faculty and staff.
Upload your Diversity Statement in the Materials section of the online application. Read more about the Diversity Statement in our Admissions FAQ.
The Extenuating Circumstances statement is an optional component of our application process, and is not applicable to all applicants. This is a space to share factors that might contextualize your application. For example, an applicant might address challenges that affected their grades.
If applicable, upload your Extenuating Circumstances Statement in the Materials section of the online application. Read more about the Extenuating Circumstances Statement in our Admissions FAQ.
We require two writing samples. At least one sample must demonstrate your writing proficiency. We recommend submitting published works; however, undergraduate work is also acceptable. To demonstrate your verbal and visual proficiency, the second sample may include link(s) to other media such as graphics, photographs, slides, artwork, or audio or videotape.
Upload your writing samples in the Materials section of the online application.
MS applicants should request three letters of recommendation through the online application system. We recommend that at least one of your recommendation letters come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate studies. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable. See important information about letters of recommendation from the Graduate School.
We encourage you to communicate the recommendation letter submission deadline directly to your recommenders. The online application system does not include the deadline information in their request messages.
Read more about letters of recommendation in our Admissions FAQ. Letters of recommendation are not required for Certificate applicants.
The Graduate School has specific English language proficiency requirements for submitting a graduate program application.
The Graduate School provides information on current application fees.