Graduate Degree Program

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Course Breakdown  |   M.A. Program  |   Ph.D. Program

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M.A. Program

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There are two basic options available for the Master of Arts degree.

1. Thesis Option
   This option is designed for students who are interested in becoming researchers in the Communication Studies field, and/or view themselves as potential Ph.D. candidates. Students must satisfy a minimum six hour thesis requirement.
    
1. Satisfactory completion of the following required courses:
   

   850   Introduction to Research Methods (3)
   851   Communication Research: Historical and Descriptive (3)
   -OR-
   852   Comm. Research: Experimentation and Quantitative Analysis (3)
   859   Proseminar in Communication Studies (3)
   899   Master's Thesis (6)

2. At least six hours in each of two areas of communication.
3. Three additional credit hours from any Communication Studies courses or from outside the department.
4. Final Oral Examination.
2. Non-Thesis Option
   This option is designed for students who are primarily interested in acquiring knowledge and skills that they can apply in the areas of their professional activities. Students finish a minimum of thirty semester credit hours of course work and then must pass a written and oral comprehensive examination. Specific requirements for the two options are as follows:
    
1. Satisfactory completion of the following required courses:
   

   859   Proseminar in Communication Studies (3)
   850   Introduction to Research Methods (3)

2. At least 9 hours in each of two areas of communication.
3. Six hours of electives.
4. General Examination. Each student must successfully complete an examination over the two areas of course work concentration. The examination is structured as follows:
    
   1. One hour written over COMS 859 and COMS 850
   2. Two hours written over the first major area of communication.
   3. Two hours written over the second major area of communication.
   4. One hour oral examination.