The Master of Arts in Communication provides broad exposure to the field of communication, while at the same time allowing students to emphasize either interpersonal interaction/cultural practices communication, political communication, or organizational communication. Students are expected to concentrate in one of those areas and to organize their studies toward the final requirement of a thesis or the final requirement of a practicum/seminar. An orientation toward the completion of a thesis leads most naturally toward doctoral studies, while an orientation toward a practicum/seminar leads most naturally to the application of communication theory in business or government.

Interpersonal communication involves the processes and effects of communication in personal relationships and between persons in groups and organizations. Political communication involves the methods of stating and defending policy, solving problems, assessing and responding to public opinion, and decision making that are essential in political organizations. Organizational communication involves processes of coordination within organizations and interactions between organizations and their social and economic environments. Communication research methods involve procedures for obtaining and analyzing data about conditions preceding communicative events, the impact of communicative events on beliefs, attitudes, and behavior, and the structure of communication interactions.

M.A. in Communication (33 credits, minimum)

1. Core requirements (6 credits): Com 502 and Com 525. All students must receive a grade of B- or better in these required courses. Students must enroll in Com 502 when first offered following matriculation, and must complete the core courses within their first 15 credits.
2. Area of concentration (12 credits): Political Communication: Com 520 and 9 additional credits as advised in political communication; Organizational Communication: Com 551 and 9 additional credits as advised in organizational communication; Interpersonal interaction/cultural practices: Com 575 and 577 and 6 additional credits as advised in interpersonal interaction/cultural practices.
3. Supporting electives (9 credits): Courses in the Department of Communication or in other departments that have been approved as relevant to student’s course of study.  At least 3 of the 9 credits must be from within the Department of Communication.
4. Capstone project (6 credits): Complete either Guided Research Project (Com 697A and 697B) or Research Seminar/Practicum (Com 698) as advised.