Communication, M.A.

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 30 hours

The graduate program in the study of Communication provides a strong background in communication research and theory. Graduates from the program pursue a variety of careers. Many continue graduate work in Ph.D. programs, become secondary or community college teachers, or find positions in business and media (marketing, management, training, consulting) or as coordinators of social service and volunteer organizations.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission Requirement Snapshot

GPA: 2.7 (and 3.0 in last 15 hours in Communication)

Entrance Exam: N/A

Application Deadline: February 15 (Fall)

International Students not from English Proficiency Exempted Countries: TOEFL required – minimum score of 100 (some exceptions may apply)
See Admission Requirement Details Below

In addition to the general university requirements, for regular admission to this program, the student must have an overall grade point average of 2.7 or higher. A student who does not meet the above requirements may be granted admission with stipulations to graduate study. Acceptance of transfer credit will be dependent upon the decision of the academic advisor. A maximum of 15 semester hours of approved graduate-level courses appropriate to a student's degree program from an accredited college or university may be transferred. Students must receive approval from the department's director of graduate studies or their academic advisor and apply to Graduate Studies for permission to transfer credit. Please email [e-mail] to inquire about assistantship information

See below for Accelerated Admissions to this program for Undergraduate level students.

English Language Competency Requirements for International Students

International students who have a score of 250 CBT² (600 PBT¹, 100 iBT³) or better on the International TOEFL, or 7.0 or better on the IELTS, are eligible for regular admission to the MA program in Communication if all other requirements are met. Students from an English-speaking country may be exempt from submitting an English Proficiency Test. Students who believe that they can demonstrate proficiency by means other than those listed should contact the Graduate Coordinator for the School of Communication, Journalism, and Media for individual consideration.

¹ PBT = Paper-Based Test
² CBT = Computer-Based Test
³ iBT = internet-Based Test

Program Requirements

Required Courses I (12 hours)

COM 600	Introduction to Research and Graduate Study in Communication	3(3-0)
COM 601	Research Design in Communication	3(3-0)
COM 602	Qualitative Research Methods	3(3-0)
COM 661	Contemporary Communication Theory	3(3-0)

Required Courses II (6 hours)

Select one of the following:

COM 730	Plan B Communication Research	1-6(Spec)
COM 798	Thesis	1-6(Spec)

Electives (12 hours)

Courses in communication selected in consultation with an advisor or the graduate director. No more than 3 credits from COM 764 or COM 790.

Total: 30 semester hours

Accelerated Admissions to the Master of Arts in Communication

(Currently enrolled CMU Undergraduate Students only.)

• This program is available to students with the following signed majors: Communication or a related field
• This program may work especially well for students with the following signed majors: Communication, Media Arts
• The Accelerated MA in Communication program allows students to double-count a maximum of 12 credits towards both the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree. Financial aid may be affected for these courses. Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at [e-mail] or (989-774-3674).
• Courses eligible for double-counting (12 credits of the following): COM 511, COM 523, COM 525, COM 527, COM 555, COM 560, COM 561, COM 563, COM 565, COM 568, COM 600, COM 601
• After completing the undergraduate degree, students will need to take a minimum of 18 credits to complete the MA in Communication. If students do not earn 12 double-counted credits prior to completing the undergraduate degree, they will need more than 18 credits to reach the total 30 credits required for the MA in Communication.
• Graduate assistantships are not available to students after completing the undergraduate degree.

Admission requirements

1. Application Deadlines: The recommended deadlines for applications are March 15 to begin in Summer or Fall; and October 15 to begin in Spring. The final deadlines to apply are four weeks before the end of the semester preceding your start term as an accelerated graduate student.
2. Completion of at least 15 credits at CMU with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time they apply.
3. Exceptions to the minimum 3.0 GPA are possible if a student can demonstrate why they are prepared to be successful in graduate coursework.
4. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits (including transfer and AP credits) before starting coursework in the accelerated MA in Communication program.
5. Earn at least a 3.0 in the last 15 hours of Communication courses.

Admissions process

1. Apply for admission to the accelerated MA in Communication program
2. Meet with the graduate program advisor Amy Sindik to identify courses that will be double-counted on the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Acknowledgement and Approval form. This form is on the Office of Graduate Studies website.
3. Students will also need approval from the undergraduate advisor.

Retention and Termination

1. Students must earn an average of a 3.0 (B) in all double-counted courses that will apply to the graduate degree. Grades are monitored each semester, and students who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement will be removed from the accelerated MA in Communication program unless the student obtains an exception from Graduate Studies. Exception requests require the approval of the graduate program advisor and a plan for how the student will achieve the minimum 3.0 average in double-counted courses prior to completion of the undergraduate degree.
2. If a student earns an E in a double-counted course, they will be removed from the accelerated MA in Communication program.
3. If a student is removed from the accelerated MA in Communication program, all completed courses may still be used towards the undergraduate degree, but those credits cannot subsequently be used towards a CMU graduate degree. Students dismissed from the AGDP have the option of applying for readmission into the regular graduate program.