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COMMMA - Communication

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CommunicationGraduate Degree SeekingMA - Master of Arts
Completion requirement

34 

Completion requirement

Major: All students must successfully complete a minimum of 34 units in the major including: core courses, theory courses, and electives. In addition, students are expected to fulfill their research team and thesis or comprehensive exam requirement. Courses with grades of 'C' or lower will not count toward the degree.  

Core Courses (9 units): All students must complete 500, 561, and 571 with a grade of B or better in each.

  • COMM 500 Intro to Graduate Studies in Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 561 Research Methodologies I (3 units)

  • COMM 571 Research Methodologies II (3 units)

Required Theory Seminars (6 units): All students must complete at least two of the required theory seminars from the theory seminar rotation: 609, 610, 620, 669.

  • COMM 609 Advanced Mass Communication Theory (3 units)

  • COMM 610 Interpersonal Theory (3 units)

  • COMM 620 Theories of Social Influence (3 units)

  • COMM 669 Health Communication Theory (3 units)

Completion requirement

Communication Electives, by Option

12 units in Comm electives plus 3 thesis units for thesis option

15 units in Comm electives plus comprehensive exams for non-thesis option

  • COMM 501 Lifespan Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 502 Communication and Music (3 units)

  • COMM 503 Theory of Small Group Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 505 Mass Communication and Children (3 units)

  • COMM 507 Family Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 509 Theories of Mass Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 510 Struggle for the Presidency (3 units)

  • COMM 511 Communication and Conflict Management (3 units)

  • COMM 514 Verbal Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 515 Nonverbal Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 517 Relational Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 517A Relational Communication: Close Relations (3 units)

  • COMM 517B Relational Communication: Work + Professional Relations (3 units)

  • COMM 519 Mass Media Policy and Regulation (3 units)

  • COMM 520 Communication and the Legal Process (3 units)

  • COMM 521 Political Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 526 Public Opinion and Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 550 Communication and Cognition (3 units)

  • COMM 599 Independent Study (1-3 units)

  • COMM 640 Research Methodologies III (3 units)

  • COMM 696A Nonverbal Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696E Mass Media Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696H Communication and Health Messages Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696I Interpersonal Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696O Organizational Communication Theory Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696P Political Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696R Advanced Communication Research Methods Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696T Comm and New Technology Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 699 Independent Study (1-3 units)

Students choose from currently offered graduate courses in Communication.  Courses from outside of the Communication Department may be used with pre-approval from advisor.

Completion requirement

Thesis option students must register for COMM 910 Thesis (3 units) and write a thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Non-Thesis option students must complete Comprehensive Exams.

In both cases, 4 semesters of COMM 900 Research team (1 unit each) is required for both options.

Completion requirement
Completion requirement

Minimum Credit Units

34 

Core Coursework Requirements

AMP Degree & Tuition Policies

1. Students will be considered undergraduates until they complete their undergraduate requirements, which should be no later than the end of the fourth year.

2. Students entering with Advanced Placement Credit and/or who attend summer school may complete their Bachelor’s degree in the Junior year.

3. Students must complete at least 12 of their graduate credits while in graduate status.

4. During years 1-3 (or approximately 0-90 credits) students will be taking undergraduate coursework and charged at the undergraduate rate.

5. Once admitted to AMP, during the senior (or transition year), students may take up to 12 units of graduate coursework which may apply toward both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degrees. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships.

6. Students classified as seniors who have not yet completed a bachelor's degree may enroll in 500-level courses following the Graduate Credit for Seniors Policy. Courses numbered at the 600, 700 and 900 levels are not open to undergraduates.

7. After completion of all Bachelors’ requirements, students will be granted graduate status, be charged at the graduate rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships. The student won’t be eligible to graduate nor will they be eligible for assistantships until all Bachelors’ requirements are completed. While an undergraduate, students are required to keep their graduate coursework cumulative GPA at 3.0, or higher if required by the graduate degree offering unit, to be admitted to the Master’s program.

8. Should a student have completed 12 graduate credits, but not yet completed the undergraduate degree, they will be considered graduate for financial aid and tuition purposes and coded as ‘graduate’ in UAccess. They will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships.

9. At least 12 graduate credits must be taken while in graduate status, after completing all degree requirements for the Bachelor’s.

10. Students should be encouraged to complete their undergraduate requirements as soon as possible, but not later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree. Students finishing their undergraduate requirements later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships. Neither degree will be awarded until the undergraduate requirements are completed along with the Master's requirements.

Core Courses (9 units): All students must complete 500, 561, and 571 with a grade of B or better in each.

  • COMM 500 Intro to Graduate Studies in Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 561 Research Methodologies I (3 units)

  • COMM 571 Research Methodologies II (3 units)

Required Theory Seminars (6 units): All students must complete at least two of the required theory seminars from the theory seminar rotation: 609, 610, 620, 669.

  • COMM 609 Advanced Mass Communication Theory (3 units)

  • COMM 610 Interpersonal Theory (3 units)

  • COMM 620 Theories of Social Influence (3 units)

  • COMM 669 Health Communication Theory (3 units)

 

Elective Coursework

Elective Coursework (18 units): Any Communication courses.  Up to 3 credit hours of electives can be graduate level courses from outside the Communication Department (courses must be pre-approved by the department.

  • COMM 501 Lifespan Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 502 Communication and Music (3 units)

  • COMM 503 Theory of Small Group Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 505 Mass Communication and Children (3 units)

  • COMM 507 Family Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 509 Theories of Mass Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 510 Struggle for the Presidency (3 units)

  • COMM 511 Communication and Conflict Management (3 units)

  • COMM 514 Verbal Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 515 Nonverbal Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 517 Relational Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 517A Relational Communication: Close Relations (3 units)

  • COMM 517B Relational Communication: Work + Professional Relations (3 units)

  • COMM 519 Mass Media Policy and Regulation (3 units)

  • COMM 520 Communication and the Legal Process (3 units)

  • COMM 521 Political Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 526 Public Opinion and Communication (3 units)

  • COMM 550 Communication and Cognition (3 units)

  • COMM 599 Independent Study (1-3 units)

  • COMM 640 Research Methodologies III (3 units)

  • COMM 696A Nonverbal Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696E Mass Media Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696H Communication and Health Messages Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696I Interpersonal Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696O Organizational Communication Theory Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696P Political Communication Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696R Advanced Communication Research Methods Seminar (3 units)

  • COMM 696T Comm and New Technology Seminar (3 units)

 

Additional Requirements

Comprehensive exams during final semester.

 

Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.