Department of Communication

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Master of Arts in Communication

The M.A. in Communication is designed to offer a convenient, high-quality graduate education to students with a variety of interests and professional goals. For individuals who are interested in pursuing a doctorate in Communication, we provide first-class preparation that can make students competitive at even the most prestigious institutions. Our graduate faculty come from major universities, and are closely associated with mainstream scholarship and innovative research. For students who intend to apply communication knowledge and skills in the workplace, we provide an excellent program of study that can be tailored to help meet almost any professional goal. In addition, our graduate program offers workforce development to major corporations and organizations in the greater St. Louis area, providing an effective and economic alternative to an internal Training and Development infrastructure. Finally, the practical and theoretical knowledge woven throughout the curriculum can facilitate the achievement of a broad range of personal and professional goals. Students in the program typically specialize in either Organizational or Mass Communication. Organizational Communication focuses on effective communication within organizations, the influence of structural elements on interaction and decision-making processes, and the factors that impede or enhance existing network and channel capacities. Mass Communication focuses on the effects of media on the attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs of audience members (including the cultural factors that moderate these relationships), as well as industrial policies and practices that influence mass media content, form, and structure.

Overview

The Master of Arts in Communication emphasizes contemporary scientific approaches to the study of Communication. Students ordinarily specialize in either Organizational Communication or Mass Communication. Most students can generally expect to complete all degree requirements in two years, although a less intensive approach may extend this time frame. All courses are taught in single-session evening format. This allows students to spend just 1-2 nights a week on campus, permitting working professionals to begin progressing toward a graduate degree without interfering with existing responsibilities. In addition, a number of alternative delivery systems are in development which may eventually lead to the convenience of online courses, video hybrids, and satelite systems. The overall degree requirements are as follows: All students must complete 15 hours of required core courses that include the following courses: COMM 6400: Seminar in Communication Theory COMM 6405: Introduction to Communication Research Methods COMM 6411: Seminar in Mass Communication COMM 6431: Seminar in Organizational Communication COMM 6435: Seminar in Applied Communication Research With this coursework as a foundation, students complete the remaining 15-21 credit hours with a combination of coursework in their specialty area and one of the following: (1) a graduate internship/project (up to six hours), (2) a Master's thesis (up to nine hours), or (3) additional coursework within the department or offered by related disciplines (21 credit hours, minimum). After consultation with the Graduate Coordinator and input from prospective committee members, students complete one of the exit requirements listed above. Students that complete an internship/project are required to complete 3-6 credit hours of COMM 6499: Graduate Internship. Both the internship and thesis projects must be supervised and approved by a committee of at least three graduate faculty. Students who conduct a thesis may apply up to 9 credit hours toward the degree requirements, while those who participate in graduate internships are limited to a maximum of 6 credit hours. The remaining credit hours will be derived from elective courses that are reflective of the Organizational or Mass Communication emphasis areas. Finally, students who elect to take additional coursework in lieu of either a thesis or internship must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours.

Projected Timelines

To receive a degree, all students must complete one of three exit options. Each option results in a slightly different estimate of completion. Below is a series of recommended sequences for each of the exit projects. Thesis (30 credit hours) 1st Semester COMM 6405-Introduction to Communication Research Methods (3cr) COMM 6435- Seminar in Applied Communication Research (3cr) 2nd Semester COMM 6411-Seminar in Mass Communication (3cr) COMM 6495-Special Topics in Communication (3cr)* COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr)* 3rd Semester COMM 6400-Seminar in Communication Theory (3cr) COMM 6431-Seminar in Organizational Communication (3cr) 4th Semester COMM 6498-Thesis hours (9cr) Internship or Project (30 credit hours) 1st Semester COMM 6405-Introduction to Communication Research Methods (3cr) COMM 6435- Seminar in Applied Communication Research (3cr) 2nd Semester COMM 6411-Seminar in Mass Communication (3cr) COMM 6495-Special Topics in Communication (3cr)* COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr) or COMM 5495: Special Topics (3cr)* 3rd Semester COMM 6400-Seminar in Communication Theory (3cr) COMM 6431-Seminar in Organizational Communication (3cr) COMM 6491-Directed Readings or COMM 5495/6495: Special Topics (3cr)* 4th Semester COMM 6499-Internship (6cr) Additional Coursework (36 credit hours) 1st Semester COMM 6405-Introduction to Communication Research Methods (3cr) COMM 6435- Seminar in Applied Communication Research (3cr) 2nd Semester COMM 6411-Seminar in Mass Communication (3cr) COMM 6495-Special Topics in Communication (3cr)* COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr) or COMM 5495/6495: Special Topics (3cr)* 3rd Semester COMM 6400-Seminar in Communication Theory (3cr) COMM 6431-Seminar in Organizational Communication (3cr) COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr) or COMM 5495/6495: Special Topics (3cr)* 4th Semester COMM 6495-Special Topics in Communication* (3cr) COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr) or COM 5495/6495: Special Topics (3cr)* COMM 6491-Directed Readings (3cr) or COM 5495/6495: Special Topics (3cr)* 5th Semester COMM 6491-Directed Readings* (3cr) * indicates an elective. Students may take other graduate level courses to accrue additional credit hours toward their degree. A Note on Internships Graduate internships are not guaranteed. Students who elect to complete an internship must receive prior approval from their advisor. In order to be considered for credit, internships must have a documented relationship with the core courses required in the MA program as well as responsibilities commensurate with individuals holding a graduate degree. As the department does not have a list of providers for graduate level internships, students are responsible for networking and developing internship opportunities. Once the student has identified an internship possibility, s/he must develop a proposal which (1) explains the relationship between the internship, the career goals of the student, and the content of the MA program; (2) clearly establishes the appropriateness of the internship at a graduate-level, (3) delineates the specific tasks and requirements of the internship (hours, assignments, etc.); (4) identify a contact at the internship location who will be accountable for verifying your compliance; (5) develop the guidelines and rationale for the final project to complete the internship (e.g., paper, portfolio, presentation, etc.); (6) identify a faculty member whose knowledge and expertise is amenable to the internship, and who is willing to serve as Chairperson of the student's committee; (7) once the proposal has been approved by the Chairperson of the student's committee, the student will need to identify two other graduate faculty who are appropriate (given the nature of the internship) and are willing to serve on the student's committee.

Admission Requirements

Applications are considered for admission in both the Fall and Spring semester (Generally speaking, the Department will consider complete applications for regular admission as late as July for 15 for the Fall Semester, and Dec. 1 for the Winter semester). However, it is strongly recommended that potential graduate students submit their application materials as early as possible to avoid last minute difficulties that could delay admission for a semester or more. Students can apply online or request that an application form be mailed to you. All successful applicants must have a baccalaureate in Communication or a related discipline by the end of the semester in which they apply. In addition, the minimum cumulative GPA for regular admission to the graduate program in communication is 3.25 on a 4-point scale. International students must score at least 600 on the TOEFL exam (computer-based scoring is 233) in order to be considered for admission. In addition to these requirements, each applicant must submit three letters of recommendation, at least two of which specifically address the applicant's potential to succeed in graduate studies in communication (letters that address academic potential must be provided by individuals who can accurately assess it, such as previous instructors, professors, etc.). For further information, please contact the Graduate Coordinator).

Apply Online Request an Application/Brochure

Welcome Packet for Recently Admitted Students

If you've completed the application process and you have received a letter indicating that you were admitted as either a Provisional or Regular student, you should review the Department of Communication's Graduate Student Welcome Packet which provides detailed information for new graduate students. Please note, the file is roughly 1MB so a broadband connection is recommended (DSL/Cable approximately 1 minute). If you would rather receive a hard copy by mail, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.

This page was constructed by Alan Heisel for the Department of Communication at UM-St. Louis.