Program Overview
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in communication program is designed to prepare students who want to advance their careers and/or continue their education into a Ph.D. program. We are dedicated to providing a high-quality experience for our students that will help them grow as communication scholars, professionals, and citizens. Our comprehensive program features course work in communication theory and research, interpersonal and organizational communication consulting and research, advocacy and advertising programming and studies, and film and new media production and studies.
Program Requirements
Application Information
Applications are processed on a continual basis. To avoid delays in processing your application, all required materials (i.e., $40 application fee, official transcripts, essay and GRE test scores) should be submitted at least six weeks before the first day of the semester in which you plan to enroll. You may electronically submit the graduate application at the College of Graduate Studies and Research website.
Admission Requirements
- A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- A minimum of 24 semester credit hours (SCH) of undergraduate work in communication/mass media, including at least 12 credit hours in advanced course work (other majors will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- An application essay of no more than 500 words
- An overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (including all grades on repeated courses) or a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work (including all grades on repeated courses) or a GPA of 3.0 or better in six or more graduate-level semester credit hours taken in a graduate degree program in a discipline relevant to the graduate program in communication
General Degree Requirements
Finishing the Degree
There are two options to consider for finishing the M.A. in communication depending on your goals and interests. Students either take a comprehensive examination, or, if approved by Graduate Faculty, a research intensive thesis project.
Thesis
- A student electing to write a master’s thesis must register for COMM 6399/6699 when beginning thesis research. The student must then register for COMM 6399/6699 every consecutive semester until the thesis is completed and accepted by the University, including the semester in which they degree is conferred.
- If the student fails to enroll, a reinstatement fee will be assessed.
- If a degree is to be awarded at the end of summer sessions, the student must enroll in a thesis course in one summer session.
- The student may not enroll in 6399/6699 in the same semester.
Contact program advisor to discuss comprehensive examinations.
Thesis Option
Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate work, including:
- The 12-hour communication core
- 12 additional graduate hours in communication
- 6 graduate elective hours taken from communication or other approved electives
- 6 hours of thesis (COMM 6399 twice, or COMM 6699)
- Finishing a thesis or any major project or paper in Graduate School can be difficult.
Non-Thesis Option
Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate work, including:
- The 12-hour communication core
- 18 additional graduate hours in communication
- 6 graduate elective hours taken from communication or approved electives