Communication

In the Division of Communication you may work toward the Master of Arts (MA) in organizational communication, interpersonal communication, public relations, and media studies. Many students elect to take most of their courses in one area and one or two courses in an adjunct area. Some will achieve a blend between areas, depending upon how they define an area of concentration. Working with your advisor, you define a plan of study best suited to your career/academic goals. Although a full-time student can complete this program in two years, many plan a two- to seven-year part-time program. You must earn a minimum of 30 graduate credits, plus one credit for colloquium, but many students finish with more than 31 credits. The graduate program in Communication is a program that attracts a wide variety of students. We have both part-time and full-time students, students with job experience and students who enter the program immediately following their undergraduate degree, and students with a variety of interests and career goals. As such, we offer two options for the culminating experience required to complete the degree. Students may choose between completing a thesis, a research study with more of a theoretical focus, or a project, which is a research project with a more applied focus. The differences between completing the thesis and project option are explained below. Students may choose one of two options for completing their graduate degree: Option 1: Thesis Option 24 credits of coursework, plus 6 credits for thesis, and one colloquium credit Option 2: Project Option 27 credits of coursework, plus 3 credits for project, and one colloquium credit