Customize Your Master's Degree to Your Interests and Goals

Our Master of Arts program is flexible enough to accommodate a broad range of career goals and objectives. Some of our students are working full-time in their chosen fields but want to earn a graduate degree that will advance their career. Other students envision a career in teaching and plan to pursue a Ph.D. or simply want the intellectual enrichment that a master鈥檚 degree offers.

As a graduate student pursuing an M. A. in Communication, you can choose one of two specializations that you can tailor to your interests and goals. 

Select a Communication Specialization

As a graduate student in our program, you will choose either the Communication and Media Studies specialization or the Digital Communication Strategies specialization for an additional twelve hours of coursework. 

 

What Does the Program Course Work Look Like? 

Students are required to take foundational core courses, select their specialization option and choose between either a thesis or non-thesis project during their master's program.

30 total credits including the following:

• Foundational Core Courses- 9 credits
• Choice of Specialization- 12 credits
• Choice of Thesis or Professional Project- 6 credits
• Elective Course- 3

Program Requirements and Course Work Overview

Visit the  for a complete list of course descriptions.

1. FOUNDATIONAL / CORE COURSES - 9 credits

The following courses are required of all students:

COMM 6001 Communication Theory in Context

COMM 6002 Communication Research in Action

COMM 6250 Communication as Ethical Practice

                                                                      

2. CHOOSE A SPECIALIZATION - 12 credits

Student must take 3 courses from one of the following options, plus one additional COMM class at the 6000 level. Each course has variable topics and may be repeated once.

                                                         

3. CHOOSE A THESIS OR PROFESSIONAL PROJECT + ELECTIVE - 9 Credits

Students are required to choose a specialization and have the option of completing a thesis program or a non-thesis program. All students are admitted to the thesis program (Option 1) but may transfer to the non-thesis program (Option 2) with the approval of the program director. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.000 with no grades below a C.

Option	Course Work Details
THESIS PROGRAM	Students must complete 24 hours of course work plus 6 credit hours of thesis work (a total of 30 credit hours). Students must also submit an approved thesis and are required to give an oral defense of their thesis. Course Work - 9 credits COMM 6999 Thesis (6 credits) COMM Elective (3 credits)
PROFESSIONAL PROJECT	Non-thesis program students must complete 24 credit hours of course work, three credit hours of practicum and three credit hours of an approved professional project (a total of 30 credit hours). Course Work - 9 credits COMM 6998 Professional Project (3 credits) COMM 6964 Communication Practicum (3 credits) COMM Electives (3 credits)

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To schedule a campus visit or begin your application, visit the Graduate School website.

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