Graduate Study in Communication

Department of Communication Utah State University

Degrees offered: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS)
Areas of Specialization: Broadcast/Electronic Journalism, Media Criticism, Public Relations/Corporate Communications, Print Journalism.
Admission requirements: All students in the graduate program in communication must complete the department's English Language Proficiency Examination, and must complete or demonstrate competency in the following Foundation Courses in communication: COM 1110, 3110, 4020 and 4030. Competency may be demonstrated through previous coursework or experience, and one or more of these requirements may be waived with permission of the graduate program coordinator. These credits do not count toward the graduate degree. Other undergraduate courses may be required.

Students may elect either Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (professional) options to fulfill the degree requirements of 30 semester credits as outlined below. Plan A is intended for students planning to continue graduate study, to teach or to enter professions requiring research skills. Plan B is intended for students seeking a terminal professional degree. Selection of either Plan A or Plan B option must be made in consultation with the student's advisor and filed with the graduate coordinator by the end of the first semester of study.

All students must complete core requirements in either plan. Students must, in consultation with advior, select an appropriate research tools class in research methods; course need not be in Communication.

PLAN A: MEDIA RESEARCH
Core Requirements (18 cr.) 6000-Introduction to Graduate Study in Mass Communication (3)
6020-Mass Communication Theory (3)
6400-Media Criticism (3)
6970-Thesis (6)
Research tools (3)*
COM Electives (6 cr.)
(Select two courses) 		6010-Media Historiography (3)
6030-International Communication (3)
6040-Seminar in Mass Media Research Methods (3) or
6050-Seminar in Mass Media Issues and Problems (3)
6410-Gender and the Mass Media (3)
6420-Mass Media & Politics (3)
Cognate Area (6 cr.) Student may include additional COM electives with advisor permission.
* Research tools are courses in any department, selected in consultation with the advisor, that provide methodological training most appropriate for the student.

PLAN B: MEDIA PRACTICE
Core Requirements (15 cr.) 6000-Introduction to Graduate Study in Mass Communication (3)
6020-Mass Communication Theory (3)
6400-Media Criticism (3)
6500-Special Projects in Mass Communication Research and Practice (3)
Research tools (3)*
COM Electives (6 cr.) Students must elect either Option One or Option Two
Option One (2 courses from this list) Option Two (1 each from A&B)
6010-Mass Media Historiography (3)
6030-International Communication (3)
6050-Sem: Mass Media Issues/Problems (3)
6110-Literary Journalism (3)
6300-Case Studies in Public Relations (3)
6310-Mass Media Management (3)
6320-Advanced Corporate Communication (3)
6420-Mass Media & Politics (3) 		A (elect 1)
6010-Mass Media Historiography (3)
6030-International Communication (3)
6050-Sem: Mass Media Issues/Problems (3)
6110-Literary Journalism (3)
6300-Case Studies in PR (3)
6310-Mass Media Management (3)
6320-Advanced Corporate Comm (3)
6420-Mass Media & Politics (3)
B (elect 1)
6210-Multimedia (3)
6220-Advanced Video Production (3)
6230-Advanced Video Documentary Production (3)
(Other B courses may be substituted with advisor permission)
Cognate Area (9 cr.) Student may include additional COM electives with advisor permission.

* Research tools are courses in any department, selected in consultation with the advisor, that provide methodological training most appropriate for the student.

COMMUNICATION GRADUATE CURRICULUM
6000-Intro to Graduate Study in Mass Communication (3)
6010-Mass Media Historiography (3)
6020-Mass Communication Theory (3)
6030-International Communication (3)
6040-Seminar in Mass Media Research Methods (3)
6050-Seminar in Mass Media Issues and Problems (3)
6110-Literary Journalism (3)
6210-Multimedia (3)
6220-Advanced Video Production (3)
6230-Advanced Video Documentary Production (3)
6300-Case Studies in Public Relations (3)
6310-Mass Media Management (3)
6320-Advanced Corporate Communication (3)
6400-Media Criticism (3)
6410-Gender and the Mass Media (3)
6420-Mass Media & Politics (3)
6500-Special Projects in Mass Communication Research and Practice (1-3)
6970-Thesis (1-3)
6990-Graduate Advisement (1-3)

UP to the USU Department of Communication Home Page

For more information about the USU Department of Communication contact Ted Pease (tpease@wpo.hass.usu.edu).
For more information about this Web Site contact Steve Anderson at Utah State University (sanderso@cc.usu.edu) or Jacob Anawalt at (SLS5B@CC.USU.EDU).