School of Communications > Communication Program > Graduate > Requirements
Requirements
Each student must complete a total of 36 credits in the program to be eligible for graduation. Course of study must include the two foundation courses (COM 611 and 612); a pair of area specialization courses (Organizational/Intercultural Communication – COM 623 and 643; Telecommunication – COM 633 and 634, or Global Communication – COM 644 and 645); two seminars (COM 691 and/or 692, and/or 680 from the School's Graduate Certificate Program in Telecommunication and Information Resource Management (TIRM)); and, with the approval of the committee chair, six (6) credits of COM 700 Thesis or COM 695 Practicum.
In addition, each student must complete at least 12 credits selected from regular graduate course work in the program (COM 623 to 646, 650, 660, 691, 692, and 699, and/or TIRM courses 681, 682, 683, 684). However, students may, with approval from their committee chair, take up to six (6) credits of graduate course work outside the program or approved augmented undergraduate course work from within the program (400 level). Each student is expected to take at least one 3-credit course or seminar each semester even while completing her or his thesis or practicum. Exceptions to this rule require approval from the graduate chair prior to registration. For the total program, each student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. In pursuit of their academic goals, many students earn more than the minimum 36 credit hours. The program can be compressed into 15 months or stretched out over 60 months. Typically, however, students complete the program in 18 to 24 months.
Two degree plans, Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (Practicum), are normally offered. For Plan A, students enroll in at least six (6) credits of COM 700 Thesis. For Plan B, students enroll in at least six (6) credits of COM 695 Practicum. At the completion of his or her program, each student must take a two-hour oral exam. Both degree plans require at least 36 credit hours and are equal in difficulty and merit.
Career opportunities for graduates with an MA in communication are numerous and varied. In recent years, for example, graduates have been employed as college-level instructors, managers of communication companies and training programs, consultants, and as specialists in social action programs and research units. Some graduates continue their studies in a professional school or PhD program.
Communication is one of four academic programs which cooperate in an interdisciplinary doctoral program in Communication and Information Sciences (CIS)
