Communication, M.A.

The Master of Arts degree in Communication is a multidisciplinary degree designed to prepare communication professionals and academicians for the demands of the twenty-first century. Each student may select an area of concentration from the following: 1) Digital Media Strategies, 2) Human Communication and Social Influence, or 3) Mass Communication. Required core classes are designed to provide coherence to the multidisciplinary offerings of the program by providing an overview of the communications field and by introducing concepts common and debated in all areas of communication.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication has the following requirements:

1. Applicants to the M.A. program must submit:
   • A statement of educational or career goals
   • An optional writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to conduct research or scholarly analysis
   • Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to do graduate work in Communication
   • An above-average undergraduate grade-point average (a minimally qualified applicant typically will achieve at least a 3.0) and a baccalaureate degree
   • A sufficiently high score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) prior to consideration for acceptance into the graduate degree program (and for international students, the TOEFL examination)
   • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities the applicant has attended
2. Applicants to the M.A. program, Digital Media Strategies concentration, must submit:
   • A statement of educational or career goals
   • Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential for advanced professional growth through graduate studies in Communication
   • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities the applicant has attended
   • A minimum of 3.0 overall undergraduate grade point average and a baccalaureate degree
   • Portfolio/sample work which demonstrates evidence of professional competence

The Department of Communication reviews applications for spring and fall semesters for applicants to the M.A. programs.

• The deadline to apply for admission and funding consideration for the PhD program is December 1. The regular deadline for the PhD program is February 10.
• Deadline for applications for M.A. domestic students is March 15 for fall semester and October 15 for spring semester.
• Deadline for applications for M.A. international students is March 15 for fall semester and October 15 for spring semester.
• The department will not consider requests for Special Graduate Status admission.