Online+ Masters in Communication
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.
Beginning Fall 2023, the program is available for enrollment in both online and traditional, face-to-face formats. The online version of the program is ideal for working professionals, parents with children at home, and those who live considerable distances from campus.
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 writing sample from undergraduate work, such as a term paper. If significant time passed since an applicant was an undergraduate and access to previous work is inaccessible, the department will provide a writing prompt for the applicant to demonstrate writing ability at the graduate level.
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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, speech communication, or communication studies 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.
M.A. 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.)
Dual Master of Arts in Communication (M.A.C.) / Master of Science in Health Sciences (M.H.S.)
Students completing the Dual M.A.C.-M.H.S. degree option will be awarded the two degrees in the same academic term.
The Dual M.A.C.-M.H.S. Program
Students enrolling for this dual degree option must meet the admission requirements listed elsewhere in this catalog for both Communication and Health Sciences. Students complete a total of 63 hours. In addition to the 36 hours of coursework for the M.A.C. degree, students take 36 hours of coursework for the M.H.S. Nine of the hours for each degree are shared electives, resulting in the dual degree of 63 hours rather than the 72 hours required if each degree is pursued separately. The M.A.C. and M.H.S. degrees are awarded simultaneously at graduation. Students enrolling in this program must sign an agreement to complete both degrees and meet with the Graduate Advisor from each program.
M.A.C. Degree Requirements
All candidates for the Master of Arts in Communication degree must meet the following requirements:
- 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.
- No more than six semester hours in independent study courses may be applied to this degree.
- A grade of “B” or better in each core course.
- Students choosing the Non-Thesis option must demonstrate satisfactory performance on a comprehensive written and/or oral examination, to be taken during the student’s last semester of enrollment, over the work covered in his or her degree program.
- 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.
- Students choosing the project option must submit a standard 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.
- 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.