Communication Division
Master of Science Degree in Communication
The Master of Science in Communication provides students with additional advanced study in the field of communication to help prepare them for communication careers in business, industry, media, or education. It is also fitting for professionals seeking career enlargement and wider perspectives. A course sequence has been developed that provides a solid foundation in communication theory, research methods, and ethics. In addition, students are required to select two areas of concentration 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 Science 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 Science in Communication is a 34 to 41 - unit degree. The program consists of four mandatory core courses, six carefully selected concentration courses appropriate to the student's areas of interest and the successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations. 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)
1 course (concentration) |
8 units
3 - 4 units |
| Semester 3 |
3 courses (concentration) |
9 - 12 units |
| Semester 4 |
2 courses (concentration)
Comprehensive exams |
6 - 8 units |
Students may also enroll in appropriate summer courses to satisfy requirements. Courses for the Master of Science in Communication are offered on a 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 communication 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 on occasion 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.
Examination and Final Requirements
All Master of Science degree candidates are required to complete comprehensive written and oral examinations in the final semester of their course work. The written and oral examinations must be successfully completed as a condition of graduation.
