The School of Communication Studies provides a variety of funding options available for students ranging from travel support to internal grants and scholarships to support research and creative activity. Although the availability of these resources is dependent on yearly budget cycles and therefore could fluctuate from year to year, the faculty are committed to providing meaningful and robust support for students.

Travel Support 

The School and the Scripps College of Communication offers significant opportunities for travel funding to conferences where students present "competitive" papers.  The School and College work to maintain a budget sufficient for supporting up to $1000 per year (split evenly between two national conferences) for graduate students who present competitive papers at conferences.  Of course, the exact award amount is dependent on annual funding approvals.

The Ohio University Graduate Student Senate also offers travel support funding on a competitive basis to students.  Our students have historically been very successful in obtaining such funding.  There are other funding sources available on campus that offers similar competitive opportunities.

Research Support

For the past several years the School has offered $10,000 in research support to graduate students.  All students are eligible to apply for research support funds—the process is modeled after a formal Call for Proposals.  Awards are typically $2000 or less and are used to support research-related travel, some equipment costs, and other expenses related to projects that are likely to result in significant publications.  Other organizations across campus offer competitive funds for new and in-progress projects as well.

Fellowships and Scholarships

The school provides three fellowships to incoming students.  Those fellowships are approximately $2000 each and must be used to support research and creative activities.  Advanced students are eligible to apply for the Kantner fellowship.  The university awards five Kantner fellowships each year and students from COMS have been awarded a Kantner fellowship for all but one year since 1995, and 20 times since 1973.  The Kantner fellowship provides a complete tuition waiver and stipend and a complete release from all teaching and service responsibilities.

The School offers six different scholarships that have been made possible through the generous support of former faculty and students.  Those awards range in size and are given as cash scholarships to support research and conference travel.

• Paul H. Boase Family Rhetorical Scholarship Award:  This award is given in honor of Dr. Paul Boase, first director of the school, 1968-1990.  Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student specializing in the study of rhetoric. 
• Everett M. Rogers Scholar Award:  This award is used to support a second year graduate student  in COMS who demonstrates interest and promise  in the area of communication and social justice and a passion for issues of equality and social justice.  
• Judy C. Pearson Graduate Award: Established by former faculty member Judy Pearson to support a graduate student or students who does outstanding research in gender or family communication.
• Dorothy and Larry Schey Endowed Scholarship:  Given to graduate students demonstrating leadership and service to the community.
• Karen and Roger Deardorff Graduate Travel Fund Award:  Established by current graduate student Karen Deardorff and her husband Roger.  It is awarded to support an MA or Phd student who is presenting a paper or panel at a conference.  
• Terry Conry and Lynn John Student Conference Award:  Awarded to offset partial expenses incurred for attending a conference where the awardee’s paper has been accepted for presentation.  Level of conference activity and GPA are used as criteria.