Communication (MA)
Master of Arts in Communication (COMMMA)
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Communications
Program Webpage: louisville.edu/communication
Program Information
The Master of Arts in Communication is a 37-credit hour program. It includes 22 credit hours of foundation and core courses, nine hours of electives, and a six (6)-credit hour thesis or non-thesis option. The non-thesis option includes a three (3)-credit hour practicum and an additional three(3)-credit hour elective course.
At least 19 of the 37 credit hours must be in courses at the 600 level.
Upon admission to the program, the student will work with the Director of Graduate Studies to establish a plan of study. After the second semester, students choosing the thesis option will select a mentor who will provide guidance for the thesis and selecting two additional faculty to serve on the thesis committee, one of whom must be outside the Department of Communication. Students choosing the non-thesis option will select a mentor who will provide guidance concerning the practicum and course selection. Students choosing the non-thesis option will take a written comprehensive exam administered by the Communication Department faculty.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need an undergraduate degree in Communication or a related discipline, a 3.0 GPA on a four-point scale, and official GRE scores. Conditional admission is possible for students with lower GRE scores and/or undergraduate GPA.
Application materials include:
- An official copy of university transcripts
- A writing sample
- A personal statement
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- An application
- Application fee
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| COMM 506 | Ethical Problems in Communication - CUE, WR | 3 |
| COMM 601 | Professional Seminar in Communication | 1 |
| COMM 605 | Communication Theory & Practice | 3 |
| COMM 616 | Qualitative Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 617 | Quantitative Methods in Communication | 3 |
| Area 1: Interactional Communication | ||
| Select ONE of the following: | 3 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Communication Pedagogy | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Personality and Communication | ||
| Corporate Communication | ||
| Risk Communication | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Area 2: Integrated Comunication | ||
| Select ONE of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer-Mediated Communication - WR | ||
| Science Communication | ||
| Integrated Marketing Communication Campaigns | ||
| Public Relations and Crisis Management | ||
| Selected Topics in Mass Media | ||
| Special Topics (Health Comm Campaign) | ||
| Area 3: Social Advocacy | ||
| Select ONE of the following: | 3 | |
| Special Topics in Communication Studies | ||
| Public Communication Campaigns | ||
| Persuasive Movements | ||
| Problems of Public Discourse | ||
| Communication and Multiculturalism | ||
| Communication in Social Service | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Electives | ||
| Students may concentrate in an area by taking additional area courses as electives. 1 | 9 | |
| Thesis or Non-Thesis Option | ||
| Select thesis or non-thesis option | 6 | |
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis (includes oral defense) | ||
| Non-Thesis Option | ||
| Practicum | ||
5XX or 6XX elective | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 37 | |
| 1 | Electives include COMM 510; COMM 660; COMM 690. Three hours of Practicum or Directed Reading may be taken beyond the courses taken for a non-thesis option. Three hours may be taken outside of the Communication Department with the consent of the Faculty Mentor. Additional electives may be outside of Communication with consent of the Graduate Director. |
Pending approval of the department program coordinator, and approval by the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies, a student may transfer up to six (6) credit hours of graduate credit from another institution.
Non-thesis option: Students electing a non-thesis option will complete the 37 credit hours specified above, with two differences. Students who select the non-thesis option will substitute one 600-level practicum and one elective for the six (6) thesis hours. The non-thesis option also will include a Comprehensive Examination administered by Department Faculty.
Experiential Component
The Master of Arts does not require an experiential component. However, students may choose to do a practicum in a private business, community organization, or government agency that deals with communication. Students may complete the practicum in two ways. A student may turn current work or volunteer experience into a research project, or a student not previously affiliated with the practicum site may develop a project useful to the organization. In both cases, the student will work with a Communication Department faculty member to shape the project and will write a formal paper dealing with the project. Students who choose the practicum will be applying knowledge acquired in Communication coursework directly to area needs, thus serving the community and helping to build stronger university/community ties.
