Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Communication offers advanced study of Communication with a combination of theoretical and applied courses. After taking a standard core that covers the theoretical, ethical, and methodological nuances of the discipline, students take a variety of electives that engage them in real-life communication issues, enable them to develop usable communication skills, and help them build solid portfolios that assist them is pursuing career goals, whether those goals include pursuing a doctorate or immediately entering the workforce. Most students complete either a thesis or a community project depending on what their career aspirations and interests might be.

Master of Arts in Communication

Foundations: (Required of all students) 506 Ethical Problems in Communication 601 Communication Pro-Seminar (1 hour) 605 Communication Theory & Practice 616 Qualitative Communication Research 617 Quantitative Methods in Communication	13 hours
Area 1: Interactional Communication (One course) 580 Interpersonal Communication 590 Health Communication 620 Organizational Communication 625 Personality and Communication 650 Corporate Communication 675 Risk Communication	3 hours
Area 2: Integrated Communication (One course) 520 Computer-Mediated Communication 652 Computer-Mediated Communication in Organizations 653 Integrated Marketing Communication Campaigns 654 Public Relations and Crisis Management 660 Selected Topics in Mass Media	3 hours
Area 3: Social Advocacy (One course) 540 Public Communication Campaigns 555 Persuasive Movements 610 Problems of Public Discourse 630 Communication and Multiculturalism 640 Communication in Social Service 651 Conflict Management	3 hours
Electives: Students may concentrate in an area by taking additional area courses as electives. Other elective courses are listed below. Three hours of Practicum or Directed Reading may be taken beyond the courses taken for a non-thesis option. Three hours may be outside of Communication Department chosen with consent of Advisor. Additional electives may be outside of Communication with consent of Program Director.	9 hours
Thesis (includes oral defense of thesis) 698 Thesis or Non-Thesis Option 600 Practicum 5xx or 6xx elective	6 hours
Total	37 hours

Six hours of 500-level Communication courses taken as an undergraduate may be accepted for graduate credit. Also, a student may transfer up to six hours for graduate credit from another institution pending approval of the courses.

Non-thesis option:Students electing a non-thesis option will complete the 37 hours specified above, with two differences. Students who select the non-thesis option will substitute one 600-level practicum and one elective, for the six thesis hours. The non-thesis option also will include a Comprehensive Examination administered by Department Faculty.

Experiential component
The Master of Arts does not require an experiential component. However, students may choose to do a practicum in a private business, community organization or government agency that deals with communication. Students may complete the practicum in two ways. A student may turn current work or volunteer experience into a research project, or a student not previously affiliated with the practicum site may develop a project useful to the organization. In both cases, the student will work with a Communication Department faculty member to shape the project and will write a formal paper dealing with the project. Students who choose the practicum will be applying knowledge acquired in Communication coursework directly to area needs, thus serving the community and helping to build stronger university/community ties.