Program Overview

Communication, MA

The Department of Communication offers MA and PhD programs. The Master of Arts is designed to provide breadth and depth of study in the following areas: Organizational/Professional Communication, Intercultural/International Communication, Interpersonal Communication/Mediation, and Rhetoric/Public Communication. The program provides initial and advanced preparation for a variety of careers including continued study leading to the PhD degree.

Overview

The Master of Arts in Communication is a 30-credit program that includes 24 credits taken in the Department of Communication, with a maximum of 6 credits taken outside the department. Students must take 24 of the 30 required credits in courses numbered 700 or above.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the program, an applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus the following departmental requirements:

• Possess the equivalent of an undergraduate major in speech, speech communication, or related areas.
• Possess an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 in the major.
• Submit a reason statement describing qualifications and reasons for applying to this program, as well as the fit between interests and department offerings.
• Submit a curriculum vitae outlining relevant qualifications, employment, and experiences.
• Submit three letters of recommendation from persons capable of judging the applicant's capacity for success in a graduate program of study.
• Submit a sample of written work from an academic and/or professional assignment.

Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters.

Credits and Courses

The minimum degree requirement is 30 credits, including:

• COMMUN 800: Proseminar: The Discipline of Communication (3 credits)
• One of the following methods courses (3 credits):
  • COMMUN 700: Quantitative Research in Communication
  • COMMUN 701: Critical Analysis of Communication
  • COMMUN 702: Qualitative Research in Communication
• Electives (24 credits)

Electives

Students complete 24 credits in elective courses, most of them selected from courses in the Department of Communication, with the following caveats:

• A maximum of 6 credits below the 700 level may be counted toward the degree.
• A maximum of 6 credits in courses outside the department may count toward the degree.
• No more than 9 credits selected from the combination of COMMUN 998, COMMUN 999, and courses outside the department may count toward the degree.

MA Portfolio Project

The MA Portfolio Project (MAPP) is designed to allow students to synthesize their accomplishments during the MA program and identify their strengths and needs as they pursue objectives beyond graduate school. In conjunction with the completion of 30-credit hours, students who successfully complete a MAPP will meet the requirements for the MA in Communication.

Additional Requirements

• Major Professor as Advisor: The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student's studies.
• Thesis Option: A thesis involves applied or basic research and is a proven method for developing specialized knowledge and skills.
• Time Limit: The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.

Communication MA Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the MA Program in Communication will be able to:

• Summarize, synthesize, and critique relevant literature to develop critical understandings of the history, theory, concepts, and debates in at least one major area of communication research.
• Develop and complete an original research project that pursues a significant research question in the field of communication.
• Justify the rationale that produced their project's research questions, methodological choices, and conclusions.
• Ethically conduct research in communication, including methods, analysis, and writing.
• Develop and use professional oral and written communication skills suitable for academic or professional discourse.
• Explain the significance of their coursework and research in communication for developing individual and social responsibility, civic knowledge and engagement, ethical reasoning, and action.

Accelerated Program Option

This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program.