DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Course Descriptions

The goal of this unique program is to prepare MA recipients for further graduate study toward a Ph.D. Additional objectives are to enhance the job and financial possibilities of public and private elementary and secondary school teachers, community and small four-year college instructors, and assistants to trained and licensed professionals in marriage and family counseling. The program’s teaching and research focus is family communication. There is a concentration in interpersonal communication as it relates to family issues. This area of study is increasingly in the forefront of scholarly activity in speech communication, with the creation of new journals devoted to family issues and the relatively new Family Communication Division within the National Communication Association. Private and governmental agencies increasingly look for help through workshops and seminars in parenting, remediation of family violence, and other related issues. Many universities offer degrees in speech communication, however no other offers a concentration in interpersonal and family communication.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Speech Communication must meet the following requirements:

  1. Submit a Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
  2. Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
  3. Submit GRE scores.
  4. Submit three letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
  5. Submit a scholarly writing sample of at least 2000 words.

A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.

Degree Requirements

Students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Speech Communication may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. degree in Speech Communication are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option.

Thesis Option: Students selecting the thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, including three hours each of SCM 698 and 699. Of these hours, 24 must be at the 500 level or above and include the specific courses listed below as required. Graduate students may enroll for graduate credit in a maximum of two foundation courses, if their undergraduate training did not include such courses.

Foundation Courses Required Courses Elective Courses Thesis Requirements
SCM 465 SCM 531 SCM 561 SCM 698
SCM 481 SCM 560 SCM 570 SCM 699
SCM 486 SCM 580 SCM 571  
  SCM 590    
  SCM 591    

Non-Thesis Option: Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, not including SCM 698 and 699, of which 24 must be at the 500 level.

All graduate students are required to take a comprehensive examination over all course work taken for the MA degree, which includes both written and oral sections. Those who select the thesis option also must defend their thesis orally. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.

Course Descriptions: