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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, or media.. It is also appropriate for professionals seeking career enlargement and wider perspectives. The emphasis in this program is on gaining breadth of knowledge across the discipline of communication.  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.

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 .

 

Graduate Application Deadlines

The application deadline for the fall term of the Master of Science 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.

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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 two chosen areas of interest and the successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations.

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) and
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 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 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.