Mar 28, 2024  
2020-21 NSU Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-21 NSU Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Communication, M.A.


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OSRHE Program Code: 106
CIP Code: 090101
Major Code: 4260

Purpose

The Master of Arts in Communication program provides an interdisciplinary approach to communication that will develop a more complete communicator. The program offers an opportunity for personnel directors, business executives, educators, journalists, advertising personnel, and public relations directors to enhance their written, oral, and mass communication knowledge and skills.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Critically appraise communicative acts and/or rhetorical artifacts.
  2. Write a research paper in APA style that sufficiently covers a communication-related topic.
  3. Create and deliver original work in front of an audience.
  4. Advocate for a liberal arts education.
  5. Describe and evaluate communication theories.
  6. Analyze qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
  7. Provide communication services through event planning, internship, and/or service learning.

Admission, Retention, and Graduation

Admission. Beyond the admission requirements for the Graduate College, admission to the Communication, M.A. program requires:

  1. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all undergraduate coursework OR a score in at least the 35th percentile on either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test.
  2. 500-word essay describing what the student hopes to achieve by admission to the program.

Advisement. The Graduate College assigns students an advisor upon admission to graduate studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with the advisor prior to enrollment to discuss policies and procedures relevant to the degree program. Confering with the student, the advisor develops the plan of study, reviews the Statement of Understanding, assists in the selection of classes, and counsels the student.

Candidacy. Students should meet candidacy requirements within the first 15 semester hours of their program and must meet them within the first 21 hours. Students are eligible for admission to candidacy if they have:

  1. Been admitted to the Communication, M.A. program.
  2. Completed COMM 5103 Research Design (cross-listed M S 5103) during the first semester the course was available.
  3. Filed a plan of study approved by the advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
  4. Filed a Statement of Understanding signed by the student, the advisor, with the Dean of the Graduate College.
  5. Completed a minimum of 12 hours of the courses prescribed by the plan of study.
  6. Maintained a “B” average in all graduate coursework attempted.

Retention and Graduation. Candidates for the Master of Arts in Communication degree must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Continue to meet the Graduate College’s retention standards. See the Academic Information page for more information.
  2. Monitor degree progress using the degree audit system in the goNSU portal.
  3. Meet Graduate College policies detailed in Academic Information and Master’s Degree Requirements regarding GPA, minimum grades, coursework age, residency and institutional / state regulations governing degree conferral.
  4. Complete a thesis or pass a comprehensive examination as described below.
  • Thesis Option - After completion of at least 27 hours of graduate coursework, students will enroll in COMM or M S Thesis and choose a thesis advisor and two other members of the thesis committee. Students enroll in a minimum of six (6) thesis hours and have to stay continuously enrolled in at least one thesis hours in the fall and spring semesters until the thesis is complete.  The completed thesis requires an oral defense.  The committee-approved thesis should be sent to the Graduate College 30 days prior to the end of the semester.  Every student is welcome to pursue the thesis option, but students planning to pursue doctorates are strongly encouraged to pursue the thesis option.
  • Non-thesis Option - During the final semester prior to graduation, students seeking the non-thesis option take a comprehensive written examination over 18 hours of coursework completed for the degree. Students can take the exams after all coursework is completed only if granted an extension by the graduate coordinator.  Should any student fail all or a portion of the examination, s/he will be allowed to take a second examination, which might be written or oral, or a combination of the two. The comprehensive examination may be taken no more than twice.   

Communication, M.A. - 36 hours


The degree includes two specialization areas: Communication Studies and Media Studies with the exact distribution left to the discretion of the advisor with approval of the Dean of the Graduate College. No more than two (2) one-hour courses in an academic area will count toward fulfilling requirements of the degree. No more than three (3) hours of internship will count toward fulfilling requirements of the degree.

Areas of Specialization - 18 hours


Select an area of specialization.

Communication Studies - 9 hours


  • Nine hours of COMM courses

Media Studies - 9 hours


  • Nine hours of M S courses

Electives - 12 hours


Non-thesis option


  • Twelve (12) hours of adviser-approved coursework typically from within Communication Studies or Media Studies.

Thesis option


  • Six (6) hours of advisor-approved coursework typically from within Communication Studies or Media Studies
  • At least six (6) thesis hours:

Accelerated B.A. Communication Studies to M.A. Communication Arts Pathway


Note:  Please refer to Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program  for complete information concerning Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Programs.  Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for bachelor’s degree requirements.

IMPORTANT:

  • Students admitted to the Accelerated B.A. Communication Studies to M.A. Communication Arts degree program will complete 12 hours of graduate level credit to apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
  • Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program.
  • Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.
  • Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway.  Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only.

ADP Required Courses - 6 hours


ADP Areas of Specialization - 18 hours


Communication Studies - 9 hours


COMM courses completed as part of the B.A. degree

Six hours from the following courses to be completed as part of the B.A. program.

COMM Electives

  • Three hours of COMM courses

Media Studies - 9 hours


  • Nine hours of M S courses

Electives - 12 hours


Non-thesis option


  • Twelve hours of advisor-approved coursework typically from within Communication Studies or Media Studies

Thesis option


  • Six (6) hours of advisor-approved coursework typically from within Communication Studies or Media Studies
  • At least six (6) thesis hours:

Program Notes


A maximum of nine hours may be completed from advisor-approved courses offered at the 4000 level. A grade of B or better must be earned in any applicable 4000-level courses.

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