Department of Mass Communication - Master (MA) in Mass Communication

Faculty

Coordinator of Graduate Studies: Dr. Parvin Lalehparvaran

Professors: Dr. Martin Eduand Dr. Parvin Lalehparvaran

Assistant Professors: Dr. Edrene Frazier and Dr. Sandra Lee

 

Overview

The Master of Arts degree program in Mass Communication offers a unique opportunity for students to prepare for career fields in the corporate arena and the media industry. The program is structured to equip students with time-tested journalistic, public relations, and online problem-solving communication skills and strategies.

This program prepares students to meet the demand for communication specialists in corporate, non-profit, and educational work environments that continue to face the challenge of cultural diversity. It also provides them with the academic foundation to pursue doctoral studies in the field.

 

Admission Requirements

The student must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree in journalism/mass communication from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of an equivalent degree from a foreign university. Admission is also open to students with baccalaureate degrees from disciplines other than journalism/mass communication, but they will be required to complete MC 500: Orientation to Mass Communication and earn a grade of “B” or better in the first semester of enrollment. However, students who successfully complete nine credit hours in the program with a grade of “B” or higher in each course may be exempt from taking this course.
2. Satisfy all admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
3. Admission to the program will be based on the following criteria:
4. Students who have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale will be offered regular admission. Also, students who have a GPA of 2.65 on a 4.0 scale and evidence of professional work experience in the field will be eligible for regular admission.
5. Conditional admission is offered to students who have a GPA of 2.75 in the last 60 hours of their undergraduate work, and those with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0-point scale will be considered for conditional admission at the discretion of the admissions committee.
6. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. The test score will be considered along with other criteria for determining a student’s eligibility for admission.

 

Graduation Requirements

Students must satisfy all the graduation requirements of Master of Arts degree program in Mass Communication and the School of Graduate Studies.

 

Master of Arts (MA) in Mass Communication Curriculum Plan

Core Courses 

Mass Communication  505	3
Mass Communication  507	3
Mass Communication 510	3
Mass Communication 525	3
Mass Communication 555	3
Total Hours	15

 

Thesis Option

Students must also select one statistics course from the following:

Social Science 506	3
Public Administration 503	3
Social Work 560	3
Educational Leadership 573	3
Total Hours	18

 

Electives

Mass Communication  515	3
Mass Communication  520	3
Mass Communication  535	3
Mass Communication  540	3
Mass Communication  544	3
Mass Communication  548	3
Mass Communication  550	3
Mass Communication  552	3
Mass Communication  557	3
Mass Communication  558	3
Mass Communication  562	3
Mass Communication  565	3
Mass Communication  582	3
Mass Communication  585	3
Mass Communication  590	3
Mass Communication  594	3
Total Hours	21
Total Hours (Thesis Option)	12

 

Students have the option to select up to nine hours from any discipline outside mass communication with the approval of their advisor.

 

 

Master Component

Mass Communication 512	3
Mass Communication 595	3
Mass Communication 599	0
Total Hours	6