MA 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.

The program is designed for aspiring doctoral students in communication studies as well as professionals wishing to advance their career. This degree program is also an attractive option for graduate students in Psychology, Education, Sociology, and Criminal Justice who are searching for a complementary minor. For some who aspire to obtain a doctorate in one of these fields, an M.A. in Communication Studies can serve as a useful stepping stone.

This online master's degree program is also a great opportunity for elementary and secondary school teachers, community and small college instructors, and marriage and family counseling professionals.

---

Admission

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Communication Studies must meet the following requirements:

1. Submit a Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
   
2. Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
   
3. Submit GRE scores.
   
4. Submit three letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
   
5. Complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution.
   
6. Submit a scholarly writing sample of at least 2000 words.

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 PhD 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 COM 698 and 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 COM 698 and 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 MA 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 – MA in Communication Studies (Thesis)

Item	Requirement	Options	Hours Required
1	Specified Courses	Choose all from: COM 531 <COMS 5331> Speech Communication Methods and Research COM 532 <COMS 5332> Statistical Methods for Communication COM 560 <COMS 5360> Advanced Interpersonal Communication COM 580 <COMS 5380> Advanced Family Communication COM 590 <COMS 5390> Seminar in Interpersonal Communication COM 591 <COMS 5391> Seminar in Family Communication	18
2	COMS Electives	Choose five from: All graduate courses in COM <COMS>, excluding thesis courses	12
3	Thesis	Choose all from: COM 698 <COMS 6398> COM 699 <COMS 6399>	6
TOTAL			36

 

Plan 2 – MA in Communication Studies (Non-thesis)

Item	Requirement	Options	Hours Required
1	Specified Courses	Choose all from: COM 531 <COMS 5331> Speech Communication Methods and Research COM 532 <COMS 5332> Statistical Methods for Communication COM 560 <COMS 5360> Advanced Interpersonal Communication COM 580 <COMS 5380> Advanced Family Communication COM 590 <COMS 5390> Seminar in Interpersonal Communication COM 591 <COMS 5391> Seminar in Family Communication	18
2	COMS Electives	Choose seven from: All graduate courses in COM <COMS>, excluding thesis courses	18
TOTAL			36

 

---

Courses

Communication Studies (COMS)

Return to top