Communication Division
Master of Arts Degree in Communication
The Master of Arts in Communication is designed for both graduate students desiring advanced training in further preparation for communication careers in business, industry, media or education and for professionals seeking career enlargement and wider perspectives. A course sequence has been developed that provides a solid foundation in communication and organizational theory, research methods, and ethics. In addition, students are required to select an elective area in consultation with an advisor.
Questions
For specific questions about the Communication Division Graduate Programs, please contact Judith Tapper at jtapper@pepperdine.edu.
Graduate Application Deadlines
The application deadline for the fall term of the Master of Arts in communication program is March 15. Students wishing to receive financial assistance must submit their applications by February 1. This application may be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator in the Communication Division.
Course Requirements
The Master of Arts in Communication is a 31 - 34 unit degree. The degree program consists of four mandatory core courses, three carefully selected courses appropriate to the student's elective area, and a six-unit thesis. In order to complete the course work in 2 years, the student should plan on the following course load:
| Semester 1 |
2 courses (core)
|
8 units |
Semester 2
|
2 courses (core)
|
8 units |
Semester 3
|
2 courses (concentration)
|
6 - 8 units |
| Semester 4 |
1 course (concentration)
Thesis Units
|
3 - 4 units
6 units |
Students may also enroll in appropriate summer courses in order to satisfy requirements. Courses for the Master of Arts in Communication are offered on an regular rotation.
Admission Requirements
A bachelor's degree with an overall and major grade point average of 3.0 is required. The degree should be in such areas as general communication, mass communication, speech, telecommunications (broadcasting), or journalism, although degrees in foreign languages and political science would meet many of the prerequisites for an international communication specialization. Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in communication or a related discipline may be required to complete up to twenty hours of undergraduate course work. The exact requirements will vary, depending upon previous academic and professional work. A student with exceptional professional credentials or academic promise will occasionally be considered for admission, even though the grade point average or the score on the Graduate Record Examination is somewhat below the desired admissions level.
Thesis Requirements
After candidates complete the course work, including six thesis units, they must continue to register for GRCO 699, Reading for Master's Comprehensives, each semester until the thesis or project is completed. A student who does not maintain a current status in the program by continuously registering for a unit of thesis, project, or GRCO 699 until completed must apply for readmission into the master's program and register, if readmitted, for the units accumulated since the last registration.
