Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Communication, Applied Communication Option will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:
- Develop the skills to evaluate research and its applicability within professional settings.
- Demonstrate an understanding of communication theories and their application across personal and professional settings.
- Advance communicative skills across Media, Interpersonal, and/or Organizational contexts.
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate theories and scholarship into a professionally driven culminating project within a focused area of Communication.
Mission Statement: The MA in Communication - Applied Communication Option is a credentialing program designed to equip individuals with advanced skills and techniques; preparing them to be more informed and effective advocates, consumers, and communicators within personal, community, professional, and/or media-based contexts.
Mode of Delivery: The Applied option is designed to be completed entirely online. However, enrollment in select face-to-face courses is an option.
Target Audience: This program is intended for working professionals who are looking to advance their career by attaining a graduate degree.
Acceptance Requirements: To be accepted into the Applied Communication option of this MA program, a student must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 and a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in at least 15 hours of undergraduate communication courses. Students with less than 15 hours of course work in communication may be accepted, but before any courses are taken for graduate credit, they must have a minimum of 15 semester hours of approved undergraduate courses in communication with a minimum grade point average of 3.00. A student who is required to complete background courses must fulfill this requirement by taking specified courses in an undergraduate area - Digital Media Production, Public Relations, or Communication Studies - to ensure a specialized skill sequence in communication. In addition, international students scoring below 550 paper based or 79 on the IBT TOEFL. Students must also complete a research component.
As part of the admissions process, each student seeking admission to the school as a degreeseeking candidate must complete the following:
- Submit a Statement of Purpose for Graduate Studies -The statement should be 1-2 pages, typed and double-spaced. Please address the following areas in your statement:
- The relationship (if any) between previous training/experience, graduate studies, and your professional goals.
- Professional position and career activities you wish to pursue after completing the program.
- Specific goals you wish to achieve in graduate studies.
- Planned area(s) of interest in graduate studies.
- Additional Information you feel is relevant.
- Submit two Recommendation forms from professional or academic sources.
- Submit a writing sample (e.g. a paper from an undergraduate course, professional report); if neither of these samples are available, please contact the graduate coordinator for a writing prompt.
A student may be required to demonstrate proficiency in one modern language or statistics, or other approved research tool, depending upon the student’s area of interest or completion of the program.
