A minimum of 36 credits is required to complete the master’s degree program, including 18 credits of required coursework and 9 credits of the required elective courses, as listed below. The remaining credits may be selected, with the adviser’s approval, from the elective courses provided in the program. Candidates who wish to pursue a thesis may do so upon approval by the graduate committee. Up to 6 credits of related graduate work from an accredited institution may be transferred with approval of the candidate’s adviser, if the course grade is B or better and if the work was completed no more than three years before the request for transfer of credit.
Normally, full-time students can complete the 36-credit program in three semesters or in two semesters and two summer sessions. Applicants interested in part-time study are also invited. All coursework must be completed within six years of matriculation into the program.
| COMM-52000 | Organizational Media Production |
| COMM-64000 | Designing Systems and Messages |
| COMM-64100 | Management of Organizational Communication, Learning, and Design |
| COMM-64300 | Research Methods in Communication |
| COMM-64400 | Communication, Learning, and Organization Theory |
| COMM-68000 | Seminar: Theory in Practice |
Media Production (select one)
| COMM-54000 | Visual Design and Organizational Presentations |
| COMM-57000 | Corporate Communication Media |
| COMM-65700 | E-Learning |
Organizational Communication and Management (select one)
| COMM-58000 | Organizational Culture and Diversity |
| COMM-58500 | Communication Technology and Organizations |
Applications (select one)
| COMM-53000 | Communication Campaigns |
| COMM-53500 | Learning Systems |
| COMM-51000/51100 | Selected Topics* |
| COMM-54100 | Contemporary Issues* |
| COMM-55000 | Organizational Video Design and Production |
| COMM-56000 | Online Learning and Collaboration |
| COMM-59000/59100 | Internship |
| COMM-65000/65100 | Independent Study* |
| COMM-69000/69100 | Thesis (or any other remaining course in the program) |
*May be used with permission of graduate chair to satisfy required electives
Degree candidates must take all courses that count toward the master of science in communications degree, whether required or elective, for a letter grade. The only exceptions are internships, which are only offered on a pass/fail basis.
The thesis option is designed for students who wish to pursue theoretical or applied research and make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of communications. Students must receive approval from the communications graduate committee and show evidence of a detailed research plan as well as mastery of the research skills, tools, and concepts needed to conduct the proposed research. Upon approval by the graduate committee, the student selects, with the chair’s approval, a thesis adviser and two additional committee members, who then evaluate a thesis proposal. An oral defense of the thesis is required. The thesis process is described in greater detail in the Graduate Program in Communications Thesis Guidelines, available from the graduate program chair.
Students enrolled in the thesis option who have completed all coursework except the thesis will be required to enroll in at least 1 credit of thesis each semester until they finish their degree. Students should work with their program adviser to plan an appropriate course and credit schedule. For international students this schedule will be reflected in the immigration paperwork.
All degree candidates are required to pass a written comprehensive examination covering material from the required courses as well as current theory and practice. To be eligible for this examination, a student must have a minimum 3.00 GPA and have completed at least 24 credits by the end of the semester in which the exam takes place, including
