Communication

Course List for MA in Communication:

Required Core Courses:

• COMM 5301 - Communication Foundations and Inquiry
• COMM 5302 - Communication Theory in Practice
• COMM 5303 - Strategic Analysis for Problem Solving
• COMM 5311 - Persuasive Communication

Additional Required Courses for Organizational Leadership Track:

• COMM 5306 - Training and Development
• COMM 5307 - Communication and Organizations 
• COMM 5308 - Communicating Leadership 
• COMM 5314 - Small Group Decision Making 

Additional Required Courses for Strategic Communication Track:

• COMM 5304 - Media Critique & Creative Communication
• COMM 5335 - Issues, Risk, & Crisis Communication
• COMM 5340 - Public Relations Strategies
• COMM 5346 - Emerging Trends in Media

Students in each track also complete an additional 6-12 hours of elective coursework depending upon the exit requirement they complete.

*For a full list of courses and course descriptions, please visit the courses subsection of the graduate catalog.

Students in each track must complete an exit requirement. All students are automatically assigned the comprehensive exam exit requirement. Students may apply to complete a thesis. Students allowed to complete a thesis must complete 6 credit hours towards the thesis (COMM 5395) over a period of two semesters.

This 36-hour degree Comprehensive Track option asks students to successfully complete examinations that cut across completed courses allowing the students to demonstrate their abilities to analyze and synthesize material.

• 12 hours of required core courses
• 12 hours of required track courses
• 12 hours of elective courses

This 36-hour degree Thesis Track option allows students to develop an area of research interest and eventually produce a comprehensive research contribution to that area. Students must apply for the thesis degree option. In addition to the required course work, student will write a master's thesis under the direction and supervision of the student's thesis committee. While this option is open for all students to apply, it is designed to prepare and qualify students for doctoral programs.

• 12 hours of required courses
• 12 hours of required track courses
• 6 hours of elective courses
• 6 hours of COMM 5395 – Thesis