Communicology

The Department of Communicology offers an innovative M.A. program emphasizing the central processes and functions of human communication. To that end, course work, seminars, and student research develop a situationally independent understanding of research and theory in the areas central to the curriculum (i.e., message processing, interpersonal communication, persuasion, and intercultural communication). Prospective candidates for our M.A. program should have a strong undergraduate background in Communicology or a closely allied discipline.

The Department offers a fair amount of flexibility for students in their program of study. The Department offers a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis: applied project or comprehensive exams)option. The thesis option involves the completion of an empirical research project overseen by a graduate faculty member. The applied project option involves the student to complete a study designed to address a problem in a local organization. The comprehensive exam option requires students to problem written responses to questions developed by their advisory committee. Students must choose between Plan A and Plan B by the end of their second semester of study.

Plan A Overview

The Plan A option involves the completion of an original empirical research project overseen by a graduate faculty member. The intended learning outcome of the thesis option is for students to grow in their written and analytical ability to produce scholarly work in the field of communication. A thesis must be initially proposed and later defended to an advisory committee comprised of graduate faculty members. Thesis candidates must present an acceptable written thesis and pass a final oral examination of the thesis.

Plan A Requirements

Students who select the Plan A track are required to complete a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work. Of these credits, at least 27 must be completed in Communicology courses numbered 600 and above, which include 6 credit hours of COMG 700 Thesis Research. Students who wish to complete the thesis option are required to take and successfully complete COMG 601 [Theories of Communicology], COMG 602 [Research Methods in Communicology], and COMG 702 [Researching Relational Communication]. Courses from allied disciplines may be counted toward the degree only with prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies (see Petition Form  for enrolling in graduate course outside of Communicology). On rare occasions, we may allow students to use an upper-division undergraduate course toward their M.A. in Communicology degree requirements (see Petition Form  for enrolling in an upper-division Communicology course).

Plan B Overview

Plan B is a non-thesis option that offers some flexibility for students who choose this track. Students can choose between an applied study option and a comprehensive exam option. Plan B requires candidates to complete either an applied research project or pass written comprehensive exams. Candidates must also pass a final oral examination based on their research project or written responses to the comprehensive exams. The advisory committee for an applied project or comprehensive exam will consist of an advisor and two graduate faculty members.

Applied Study Option

The applied study option requires a candidate to conduct a study designed to assess the state of affairs or test a problem-solving solution in a local organization. The study is expected to result in a written report, which must be submitted to and reviewed by the candidate’s advisory committee. The candidate must present their research results to the advisory committee and address questions of the study.

Comprehensive Exam Option

The comprehensive exams option requires a candidate to provide written responses to questions developed by his or her advisory committee. All candidates must respond to questions assessing their understanding of communication theory and research construed broadly. Additionally, candidates respond to questions specific to their individual course of study. Each member of the advisory committee will read and assess the candidate’s responses. At least two of the three committee members must accept the candidate’s responses in each topic area for the candidate to pass. Candidates must pass all three topic areas to complete the written comprehensive exams successfully. The entire comprehensive exams may be retaken only once. Individual items may be rewritten no more than two times. The candidate must also pass a final oral exam of the comprehensive exams in addition to passing the written portion.

Plan B Coursework Requirements

Students who select the Plan B track are required a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work. Of these credits, at least 27 must be completed in Communicology courses numbered 600 and above. Students who wish to undertake the non-thesis option are still required to take and successfully complete COMG 601 [Theories of Communicology] and COMG 602 [Research Methods in Communicology]. Courses from allied disciplines may be counted toward the degree only with prior approval of the Director of Graduate Studies (see Petition Form  for enrolling in graduate course outside of Communicology). On rare occasions, we may allow students to use an upper-division undergraduate course toward their M.A. in Communicology degree requirements (see Petition Form  for enrolling in an upper-division Communicology course).

Requirements

• Send your GRE scores to the Department of Communicology’s Director of Graduate Studies.
• Write a letter to the Director of Graduate studies expressing your interest in the graduate program. If you are seeking a graduate teaching assistantship, indicate this request in your letter and discuss your teaching aspirations and capabilities. Applicants should be aware that the Department may ask you to participate in Skype interviews.
• Send three letters of recommendation to the Department of Communicology Graduate
• Chair, preferably written by professors with whom you have studied.
• Official TOEFL score report (Foreign applicants); and
• Application fee $100

Scholarships

• Graduate Assistantships
• Achievement Scholarships