M.A. in Communication Studies

Program Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Courses

Program Description

The online graduate program in Communication Studies focuses on advanced topics in the field, including conflict resolution, gendered communication, organizational communication, and, interpersonal and family communication. These areas of study are important topics in communication research, and the Department of Communication Studies offers a useful and insightful combination of the topics in its online master's degree.

This program is designed for aspiring doctoral students in communication studies as well as professionals wishing to advance their careers. It is also an attractive option for graduate students in Psychology, Education, Sociology, and Criminal Justice who are searching for a complementary minor. For those who aspire to a Ph.D. in one of these fields, an M.A. emphasizing interpersonal and family communication could be a useful stepping stone.

Admissions

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Communication Studies must submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. Graduate Application
2. Application fee
3. Official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred
4. GRE scores (in lieu of GRE scores, we will consider 3-5 years of professional work experience; please submit a verifiable resume to the department)
5. Three letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study

A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed, and admission will be granted on a competitive basis.

Degree Requirements

Students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Communication Studies may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option.

Thesis Option: Students selecting the thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, including three hours each of COMS 6398 <COM 698> and COMS 6399 <COM 699>. Of these hours, 24 must be at the 500-level or above and include the specific courses listed below as required.

Non-Thesis Option: Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete 36 hours of coursework, not including COMS 6398 <COM 698> and COMS 6399 <COM 699>, of which 24 must be at the 500-level.

All graduate students are required to take a comprehensive examination over all coursework taken for the M.A. degree, which includes both written and oral sections. Those who select the thesis option also must defend their theses orally. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.

The department offers three 4000 level foundation courses which graduate students may take if their undergraduate training did not include such courses. These courses are COMS 4365, Nonverbal Communication; COMS 4381, Communication Theory; and COMS 4386, Family Communication. Graduate students may take only two of these courses, which will entail additional work above that required by undergraduate students.

Plan 1 – M.A. in Communication Studies (Thesis)

Plan 2 – M.A. in Communication Studies (Non-thesis)

Courses

Communication Studies (COMS)

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