Welcome, Schieffer College graduate students! The resources on this page should provide forms and information related to projects, theses, graduation and funding. There are also links to the graduate catalog and payroll calendar.

Getting Started

Whether you’re new to TCU or returning for your master’s degree, our New Graduate Student Resources is the place to start.

Registering for Classes

The graduate catalog is available at graduate.catalog.tcu.edu and has details about communication studies and strategic communication.

Contact your graduate director (Dr. Paul Schrodt for communication studies and Dr. Josh Bentley for strategic communication) to determine which courses you should select.

You can see which classes are available each semester at TCU Class Search. You can search classes without logging in, but with limited information. Log in to see all available information like instructor name and class location.

Some classes require a permission number to enroll. Contact your instructor of record or graduate director to request a permission number.

The TCU Registrar’s Office provides step-by-step instructions for enrolling in classes.

Thesis, Project and Comprehensive Exams

Schieffer College graduate students may choose between thesis and comprehensive exams (in communication studies) or project (in strategic communication).

Schieffer Graduate Student
Travel and Thesis Grants

Comprehensive Exams or
Project Details and Forms

Thesis Details and Forms
Schieffer College encourages graduate students to conduct and present their research to external audiences.

The college offers two types of financial support: travel grants and thesis grants

 The project in strategic communication is a three-hour course taken the last semester before graduation.

Communication studies students must successfully complete oral and written comprehensive examinations as specified by the graduate committee.

 

 The thesis takes six hours to complete in your last two semesters before graduation.

Beginning your thesis

  • File an Intent to Graduate form and an Appointment of Master’s Committee form.
    • Please right-click to “Save link as…” then open the file in Adobe Acrobat to complete the form and obtain all digital signatures. Email the completed form to m.harrison@tcu.edu. This form should be submitted prior to enrolling in project or thesis courses.
    • NOTE: A graduation fee is charged by the Registrar office when the “intent” is filed.
    • If you postpone your graduation, you must Cancel Intent to Graduate. You will need to file a new intent the next semester and pay the graduation fee again.

Writing your thesis

  1. Use the Thesis Grad Manual (.docx), which describes important formatting requirements and deadlines.
  2. Download this Microsoft Word Thesis Template (.docx) to properly format your thesis for online archiving and access through Proquest/UMI.
  3. Review and use this recently completed thesis as a guide.
  4. Review and keep deadlines.

Finishing your thesis

  1. Submit a completed draft of your thesis to your committee for review. It must be read by ALL committee members.
  2. Prepare a revised draft that incorporates all changes required by your committee.
  3. Ask your committee chair to schedule the final thesis oral defense.
  4. Submit your completed and defended thesis electronically to UMI. The TCU library has step-by-step instructions on the submission page. A publishing fee will be placed on your student account, which can be paid online.

Graduation Information and Deadlines

  • Intent to Graduate form – Please complete the online form. A nonrefundable graduation processing fee will be billed to the student’s account.
  • Cancel Intent to Graduate – Submit if for any reason, after filing an Intent to Graduate, you need to change your planned graduating semester.
  • Commencement Details – For the first time, TCU will host a Graduate Degree Ceremony for students earning doctoral and masters degrees.