Communication M.A.
The Master of Arts in Communication degree is a course of study for persons in or preparing for further graduate study or mid-level and upper-level professional positions in public and nonprofit organizations. The program emphasizes the theoretical, practical, and analytical abilities required of persons holding responsible communication positions. Centered in the Department of Communication, it also permits the incorporation of specialized fields of interest such as general communication, journalism, mass communication, and speech communication.
The course of study is designed to prepare students for matriculation to doctoral programs in communication and to train degree recipients for teaching responsibilities at the junior college level.
Master of Arts in Communication--Total Semester Hours=36
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the communication MA program are as follows:
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A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
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A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale on all upper-division course work.
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A satisfactory score on the General Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE should be completed prior to the conclusion of the first long semester of enrollment.
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Two favorable letters of recommendation.
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Additional consideration for admission will be based upon the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, involvement and level of responsibility in non-academic matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and socioeconomic background.
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Students who do not have a journalism, mass communication, or speech communication major or minor in their undergraduate studies may be required to take leveling courses as determined by the communication graduate faculty.
Degree Requirements
All candidates for the Master of Arts degree in communication must meet the following requirements:
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Completion of a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all course work applied towards the degree.
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No more than six semester hours in independent study courses may be applied to this degree.
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A grade of “B” or better in each core course.
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Students choosing the thesis option must submit a standard master’s quality thesis involving original research and satisfactorily defend the thesis. Students choosing the thesis option must complete 30 hours of coursework and
COMM 5395 Thesis I and
COMM 5396 Thesis II.
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Students choosing the project option must submit a master’s quality project involving original research and satisfactorily defend the project. Students choosing the project option must complete 30 hours of coursework and COMM 5397 Project I and COMM 5398 Project II.
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Students choosing the comprehensive examination option must complete 36 hours of coursework and satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination over coursework taken during the student's last semester of enrollment.
MA Course Requirements
Core Courses (6 Hrs.)
Elective Courses (24 hrs. for Thesis Option or Project Option; 30 hrs. for Non-Thesis Option)
Thesis Option (6 hrs.)
Project Option (6 hrs.)