Master of Arts in Communication

Review of applications begins on January 15, with priority for funding given to complete applications received by this date.

Start your application online here.

Admission Process

Review and selection of students for the upcoming academic year occurs between mid-January and mid-April. If you wish to receive first-round consideration for the coming year, you are advised to have your application complete by January 15th. Your application will be complete when it contains:

1. A completed Graduate School application (online)
2. Transcripts of completed undergraduate work
3. Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with your academic record (e.g., professor, supervisor, or teaching assistant)
4. A report of your TOEFL score (if your undergraduate coursework was not conducted in English)
5. An academic writing sample (e.g., a research paper written for a class, an excerpt of an undergraduate thesis)

Submission of an official transcript of your GRE scores (dates and sites of exams are available here) is optional.

You are responsible for monitoring the completion of your application in a timely manner. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator with any questions.

MA Program Requirements

A student selects and completes distributions in required courses, an area of interest, and electives.  Students must complete at least 30 credit hours; however, additional credit hours may be necessary to fulfill the Graduate School’s Responsible Conduct of Research requirement. We suggest that students enroll in INT 601: Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit; offered online and asynchronously) during the summer after their first year to fulfill this requirement, though students are encouraged to confer with their advisor.

1. Core (15 credits, contingent on Teaching Assistant status):

Required Courses (6 credits):

ID	Name
CMJ 601	Seminar in Research Methods (Credits: 3)
CMJ 608	Communication Theory (Credits: 3)

One additional research methods course (3 credits):

ID	Name
CMJ 503	Critical Historiography of Rhetoric (Credits: 3), OR
CMJ 603	Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism (Credits: 3), OR
CMJ 604	Qualitative Communication Research Methods (Credits: 3)

Two CMJ seminars in specific “Area of Interest” (6 credits):

See list of courses under “Electives” below. “Area of Interest” courses must be approved by Advisory Committee.

2. Electives (15 credits):

Departmental Electives:

ID	Name
CMJ 503	Critical Historiography of Rhetoric (Credits: 3) [if not used as methods requirement]
CMJ 506	Rhetorical Theory: Civic Tradition (Credits: 3)
CMJ 520	Media History (Credits: 3)
CMJ 525	Propaganda and Political Communication (Credits: 3)
CMJ 540	Social Media and Digital Cultures (Credits: 3)
CMJ 560	Media Psychology (Credits: 3)
CMJ 580	Environmental Communication (Credits: 3)
CMJ 593	Topics in Communication (Credits: 3) [may be repeated with new content]
CMJ 603	Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism (Credits: 3) [if not used as methods requirement]
CMJ 604	Qualitative Communication Research Methods (Credits: 3) [if not used as methods requirement]
CMJ 606	Rhetorical Theory: Critical Tradition (Credits: 3)
CMJ 610	Seminar in Risk Communication (Credits: 3)
CMJ 640	Critical Communication Pedagogy
CMJ 695	Graduate Internship (up to 3 credits; approval required)
CMJ 698	Contemporary Issues in Human Communication (Credits: 3)

Outside Electives:

Up to 6 credits of elective coursework outside of CMJ may replace Departmental electives if (1) the courses are applicable to the student’s research interests, and (2) if the student receives unanimous approval from the student’s Advisory Committee.

3. Thesis Credits (Optional):

If MA thesis option is selected, 6 credits replace “Elective” coursework.

ID	Name
CMJ 699	Graduate Thesis (1-6/term, repeatable for 6 total credits)

Advisory Committee

In the first semester, a temporary advisor will be appointed; for all MA students, this advisor is the Graduate Coordinator. Students work with this faculty member in developing their plans for their program of study. The official program must be turned in to the Graduate School after completing 12 hours of course work or prior to the third registration (i.e., during the second semester of a two-year or four-semester program). During the first year (semesters one and two) students select their official advisory committee. For Master’s students choosing the thesis or research paper options, three faculty members are required for the official committee; at least two must be members of the Graduate Faculty in Communication. (Students choosing options other than the research paper or thesis do not require advisory committees; see below.)

Master’s Program Options

Thesis

Students electing the thesis option will enroll in CMJ 699 for a maximum of six (6) credit hours. The student’s official advisory committee must approve a written thesis prospectus prior to the student undertaking the research. After the thesis is completed, the student defends the research in an oral examination.

Research Paper

Though the research paper is not as extensive as a thesis, the manuscript must evidence the ability to carry out research independently. This can either be in the form of a theoretical paper where the student demonstrates critical thinking and synthesizes material from more than one class, preferably classes taken from advisory committee members, or a research report, where the student describes the research project they carried out independently. After the research paper is completed, the student defends the research in an oral examination.

Praxis

Students selecting this option will write an internship proposal, which must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and Chair. They will complete six credits of internship (preferably two semesters, 3 credits each, or a combination of summer and fall semester). They must also complete a final report which receives a passing grade from the Graduate Coordinator and Chair.

Research Collaboration

Students selecting this option will identify a faculty member with whom they will collaborate on a new or ongoing research project, and who will function as their advisor. The Chair and Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the individual faculty members, will complete these assignments. Students will submit a research proposal, which must be approved by the Chair, Graduate Coordinator, and Advisor. They will complete a final report which must receive a passing grade from the Chair, Graduate Coordinator, and Advisor. Finally, they will complete a poster describing the research collaboration, to be presented at a CMJ Spring Colloquium talk and/or the annual CMJ Spring Showcase event.