Program Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Courses
Program Description
The graduate program in Communication Studies focuses on family communication.
This area of study is increasingly in the forefront of scholarly activity in
communication studies, 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. We offer a concentration in both
interpersonal and family communication at the graduate level. This program is
designed for aspiring doctoral students in communication studies as well as
professionals wishing to advance their career. It is also an attractive option
for graduate students in Psychology, Education, Sociology, and Criminal Justice
who are searching for a complementary minor. For those who aspire to a Ph.D. in
one of these fields, an MA emphasizing interpersonal and family communication
could be a useful stepping stone. With the concentration in interpersonal and
family communication, the graduate program is also a great opportunity for
elementary and secondary school teachers, community and small college
instructors, and marriage and family counseling professionals.
Admission
Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Communication Studies
must meet the following requirements:
-
Submit a Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
-
Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
-
Submit GRE scores.
-
Submit three letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
-
Complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited four year institution.
-
Submit a scholarly writing sample of at least 2000 words.
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed, and admission will be granted on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
Students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Communication Studies may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. 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 COM 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.
Non-Thesis Option: Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, not including COM 698 and 699, of which 24 must be at the 500-level.
All graduate students are required to take a comprehensive examination over all coursework taken for the M.A. 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.
Plan 1 – MA in Communication Studies (Thesis)
|
Item
|
Requirement |
Options |
Hours Required |
| 1 | Specified Courses |
Choose all from: COM 465 <COMS 4365> Nonverbal Communication COM 481 <COMS 4381> Communication Theory COM 486 <COMS 4386> Family Communication COM 531 <COMS 5331> Speech Communication Methods and Research COM 560 <COMS 5360> Advanced Interpersonal Communication COM 580 <COMS 5380> Advanced Family Communication COM 590 <COMS 5390> Seminar in Interpersonal Communication COM 591 <COMS 5391> Seminar in Family Communication |
24 |
| 2 | COMS Electives |
Choose two from: All graduate courses in COM <COMS>, excluding thesis courses |
6 |
| 3 | Thesis | Choose all from: COM 698 <COMS 6398> COM 699 <COMS 6399> |
6 |
TOTAL |
36 |
||
Plan 2 – MA in Communication Studies (Non-thesis)
|
Item
|
Requirement |
Options |
Hours Required |
| 1 | Specified Courses |
Choose all from: COM 465 <COMS 4365> Nonverbal Communication COM 481 <COMS 4381> Communication Theory COM 486 <COMS 4386> Family Communication COM 531 <COMS 5331> Speech Communication Methods and Research COM 560 <COMS 5360> Advanced Interpersonal Communication COM 580 <COMS 5380> Advanced Family Communication COM 590 <COMS 5390> Seminar in Interpersonal Communication COM 591 <COMS 5391> Seminar in Family Communication |
24 |
| 2 | COMS Electives |
Choose four from: All graduate courses in COM <COMS>, excluding thesis courses |
12 |
TOTAL |
36 |
||