Communication Division

Master of Arts Degree in Communication

The Master of Arts in Communication is designed for students desiring advanced training and further preparation for communication careers in business, industry, media or education, as well as for professionals seeking career advancement.  The focus in this program is on developing advanced research skills, as well as using analytical reasoning techniques.  The four-course core sequence provides a solid foundation in communication and organizational theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and ethics. Students in this program will research and write a master's thesis on a topic of their choice, after consulting with their advisors, and will select an elective area on which to concentrate.

Click here for information on how to apply to the program. 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 31st. Students wishing to apply for divisional scholarships and assistantships must submit their applications by February 1st. 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 chosen concentration area, and a six-unit thesis.

The following core courses are required of all graduate students in Communication:

• COM 610 Pro-seminar and Communication Theory
• COM 620 Quantitative Research Methods
• COM 630 Qualitative Communication Research Methods
• COM 640 Communication Ethics and Values

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 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 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 eight 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.