Master of Arts Degree
THE PROGRAM
The Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts
degree in Communication. The basic goal of this program is
to produce competent consumers of empirical communication
research and theory. A graduate student may concentrate in
any of the department's areas of emphasis or may select a
more general program. The program is designed to prepare a
student for admission to a Ph.D. program in Communication,
as well as to aid a student in preparing for a career if the
M.A. is considered a terminal degree.
Financial Aid
A limited number of teaching assistantships and/or
tuition scholarships are available and are awarded on a
competitive basis in the spring of each year. Awards
necessitate full-time study and typically are renewed for
the second year of study provided that the student is in
good academic standing and performs their assigned duties
satisfactorily. Those who wish to apply for admission
and financial aid must submit all pertinent admission
materials (application forms, completed essays, scores on
the Graduate Record Exam, official transcripts, and letters
of recommendation) by March 1st. Applicants whose files
become complete after that date will not be considered for
financial aid from the department.
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Course of Study
There are three main areas of study (Interpersonal
Communication, Mass Communication, and Organizational
Communication) and one secondary area (Public Relations).
The program does not include courses in journalism or
broadcasting.
The Department of Communication offers two alternative
tracks for obtaining the M.A. Degree: The thesis and the
comprehensive exam. These differ in terms of (1) the
ultimate goals and career direction of the student, and (2)
the exit project required of the student. The thesis option
provides the student with a major research experience,
generally in preparation for further graduate study at the
doctoral level. The comprehensive exam, on the other hand,
is designed for students who do not intend to pursue their
education beyond the M.S. Degree. Students should declare
their intention to pursue one of these tracks at the end of
the first year of their program.
The structure of our program necessitates that full time
students begin the course of study in the fall semester.
Thirty credit hours (essentially 10 three-credit courses)
are required to complete the degree. Fifteen of the 30 hours
come from required courses focusing upon theory and
methodology. Three are required of all students: The Theory
and Epistemology of Communication (COMM601), Research
Methods - Procedures (COMM603), and Research Methods -
Analysis (COMM604). The two remaining required courses are
selected from three theoretical courses: Theory of Mass
Communication (COMM670), Theory of Interpersonal
Communication (COMM630), and Theory of Organizational
Communication (COMM610). Six credits may be taken outside
the Communication Department in a related area.
Students who select to write a thesis have 9 hours of
elective courses and 6 hours of COM 869, Thesis Research.
The thesis typically is a research project in an area of
interest to the student, employing historical, descriptive,
analytical, field, or experimental procedures. The thesis
usually takes a year or longer to complete; most students
who opt to write the thesis finish up in the summer after
their second year of study. Successful completion of the
thesis requires an oral examination by the candidate's
thesis committee after each member of the committee has had
time to review the project thoroughly.
Students in the comprehensive exam-track will have 15
hours of elective coursework in addition to the 15 hours of
required courses. Six of these 15 hours must be on a focused
topic or area that has been approved by their graduate
advisor and committee. The comprehensive exam covers the
entirety of the student's coursework, including the
student's specialty area. It will not cover new material
except as needed to bolster the specialty area. It consists
of both a written and oral portion. The written portion of
the exam, generally scheduled for the week before spring
break, is 6 hours in length: 2 hours on research methods, 2
hours on general communication theory, and 2 hours on the
specialty topic. The oral defense of the comprehensive exam
is held as soon as possible after the student has completed
the written portion and provides an arena for the student to
answer any additional questions of committee members. The
student who chooses to take the comprehensive exam generally
completes all requirements for the degree in time to
graduate in May. Students are permitted one retake of the
written portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students in both the thesis and comprehensive exam tracks
will work with a faculty committee made up of a primary
advisor and two additional members of the faculty. Students
meet with the Graduate Director during the spring of their
first year of study to review their program, to select the
thesis or comprehensive track, and to discuss which
professor should be asked to be their advisor. Each student
then must ask the professor to be their advisor and continue
to work with the advisor to determine the final membership
of their committee. Students should realize that they may
not always be able to work with their first choice for an
advisor (or other committee members) due to sabbaticals, a
faculty member's over commitment, etc.
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ADMISSIONS POLICY
The Department of Communication normally admits
applicants to the graduate program once a year for the
semester beginning in September. Applicants applying for
admission and a department graduate
assistantship/fellowship should have their application file
completed by March 1. Applicants applying for admission
only should have their application file completed by
July 1. Applicants who wish to enter the program with the
semester which begins in February should contact the
Graduate Director regarding his/her situation.
All applicants must submit an official copy of his/her
undergraduate transcript(s) from all schools attended (if an
applicant has undertaken prior graduate study, transcripts
from those programs also must be submitted). Both total GPA
and major GPA are important. Students who have enrolled in
our program have had close to or above a 3.0 in both
categories and candidates are expected to meet this
level.
All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) General (Aptitude) Test. Applicants are expected to
achieve a score between 500 and 600 on both the verbal and
quantitative sections of the test. Subject (Advanced) Tests
offered by the GRE are not required. If the applicant, in
the course of completing graduate school applications, takes
other relevant national examinations, such as the Miller
Analogies Test (MAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), or
Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), the applicant may
forward those scores to us. However, none can be substituted
for the GRE. The GRE normally is offered in October,
December, February, April, and June. It is also offered by
computer throughout the year. In order to meet the deadline
for consideration for a graduate assistantship or
scholarship from the department, applicants applying for
such aid should take the GRE on the October or December test
date or take the computer version of the exam. Because the
department does not receive the score report until
approximately six weeks after the test date, applicants who
take the GRE later than December run the risk of not having
their application files completed in time for consideration
for departmental aid. The applicant should note that other
aid programs offered on a competitive basis by the
university may have other deadlines. Candidates should check
with the Office of Graduate Studies concerning these
programs. Applicants who are applying for admission without
aid should not take the GRE later than the April test date.
Applicants may contact the Educational Testing Service, Box
955, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 for further information
concerning the GRE.
Three letters of recommendation must be received by the
department before the applicant can be considered for
acceptance to the program.
In addition to the statement which must accompany the
graduate application the applicant must write a short essay
addressing the following issues: (a) Upon what past
experiences and interests do you base your present decision
to apply for admission to the graduate program in
communication? (b) What is your definition of communication
in the context of your interest area? How does study for the
M.A. in communication in our department fit into your
short&endash; and long&endash;term goals and career
aspirations? (d) Is there any other information, not covered
elsewhere in your application, which you would like to share
with the department's Graduate Admissions Committee? This
essay, which should be typed, usually is three to five pages
in length.
Applicants for admission whose native language is not
English must take, in addition to the Graduate Record
Examination, the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) and receive a score of at least 600. Any such
applicant who also is applying for a graduate assistantship
from the department, also must take the Test of Spoken
English (TSE). All scores must be received before an
admissions and/or aid decision is rendered.
We encourage all applicants to visit our campus and meet
with the faculty. Applicants should contact the Graduate
Director if they wish to arrange such a visit. In cases
where assistantships are being sought, the faculty may
request the applicant to visit the department for a formal
interview.
Submission of the above material results in a diversity
of information about a candidate's skills, talents,
background, experiences, career goals, motivation,
commitment, and potential for scholarship. This information
enables the department to select a class of entering
graduate students who individually and collectively have the
potential for making a substantial contribution to the
intellectual environment of the department, university, and
field.
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GRADUATE
COURSES
COM 601Epistemology
and Theory in Communication (3)
General issues in the philosophy of knowledge and science
critical for the understanding of theoretical conceptions
and a comprehensive survey of theories in communication.
(REQUIRED)
COM 603 Communication
Research Methods - Procedures (3)
Introduction to the communication research methods
including general research procedures, sampling, laboratory
research and experimental design, survey research, field
research, content analysis, and longitudinal research. Will
include an introduction to using the computer in research.
(REQUIRED)
COM 604 Communication
Research Methods - Analysis (3)
Introduction to the tools and techniques of data analysis
in communication research including descriptive statistics,
hypothesis testing, inferential statistics, as well as
advanced statistical procedures. Continued use of the
computer for analysis and manipulation of empirical data.
(REQUIRED, COM 602 prerequisite)
COM 610 Organizational
Communication Theory (3)
An examination of major theories of organizations
including functionalist paradigm; interpretive paradigm;
neoclassical paradigms (classical, social exchange systems
theory, structural systems theory); and modern paradigms
(technological systems theory, adaptive systems theory,
integrative organizational theory). Each perspective is
assessed with respect to its impact and view of
communicative processes.
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COM 630 Interpersonal
Communication Theory (3)
An examination of the theoretical orientations taken by
scholars who study interpersonal relationships as well as a
number of focused research areas. Of particular importance
is the development of an understanding of the role of
communication in creating and maintaining relationships.
Special emphasis will be given to the relationship defining
aspects of communication in interpersonal contexts.
COM 670 Mass
Communication Theory (3)
Examination of theories of mass communication focusing
upon media society, and the individual; sociocultural
influences; the social context of the broadcast media;
theories relating to effects of media violence; personal
influence; social learning theory; diffusion theory; media
effects.
COM 609 Public
Relations: Problems and Principles (3)
Problems and practices of public relations using case
study illustrations. Focus is on assessment of program
design and development.
COM 613 Public
Relations Management (3)
Introduces students to the task of managing tools of PR
practitioner beyond specific case studies. Discussion of
management approaches solely within confines of PR area.
Topics include budgeting, managing human resources,
approach/philosophy of PR and the conflict process in an
interpersonal setting. Emphasis on the structure of conflict
interaction and on the skills of assessing and intervening
in conflict situations.
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COM 618 Topics in Mass Communication (3)
Topics will vary from semester to semester and include
current directions in mass communication theory and
research, cable television, radio&endash;TV regulations,
public policy, etc. May be repeated three times with
different topics.
COM 638 Speech
and Language in Human Behavior (3)
Theories of speech and language. Psycholinguistic
approaches to the problem of meaning, different types of
texts, models of language use and acquisition, and language
and cognition.
COM 640 Topics
in Interpersonal/Organizational Communication
(3)
Significant research, theories, and literature in
communication, research design and theory building. May be
taken 3 times with different topics.
COM 652 Communication,
Power, and Values (3)
How influence is created and resisted through
communication in personal relations, public relations and
advertising; emphasis is placed on an awareness of personal
values, persuasive strategies, and ethics in exercising and
resisting social power.
COM 654 Children
and the Mass Media (3)
Mass media research and theory as they relate to
children. Substantive areas include children's use and
comprehension of media, content of children's television
programming, television and the family, children and
advertising, and the media's contribution to social vales
and roles. Students will gain an understanding of the role
of the media in children's lives.
COM 655 Symbolism
in Organizations (3)
Analyzes the use and arrangement of physical space, the
socialization of new members and outsiders, the use of
myths, metaphors, language and other ways of symbolically
representing the organization, and the role of creativity in
organizations and managerial style.
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COM 656 Communication
in Organizations (3)
An introduction to concepts and research related to
communication processes in organizations. Both traditional
and interpretive approaches are emphasized.
COM 666 Independent Study (1&endash;3)
Limited to graduate students. Permission of instructor
required. Application forms available in the departmental
office.
COM 668 Internship (Field) (3 credits per
semester)
Provides the student with practical,
on&endash;the&endash;job training in the field of his/her
interest, i.e., interpersonal, mass media, public relations,
or organizational communication.
COM 685 Analysis
of Verbal Communication (3)
Surveys models of conversational analysis of human
interaction in different settings such as everyday social
encounters, educational contexts, interpretation.
COM 866 Special Problem (1&endash;6)
COM 869 Master's Thesis
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Nancy Signorielli,
Ph.D.
Graduate Director
Professor of Communication
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