Program of Study
Advisement:
The department will assign an Advisor upon student admission, but students may change
advisors if they wish. It is imperative that the student consult with his/her advisor
at the beginning of every semester of registration during the program. Together the
student and advisor can (1) formulate a program of study, (2) submit the program
through a Form C within the first 12 hours of credit, and (3) make any necessary changes in
the program through a Course Substitution form submitted to the Graduate Studies
Office. Advisors must pre-approve the transfer of courses from other departments or
universities not to exceed the maximum of 6 semester hours taken outside the department.
Components:
The 33 hour program of study consists of the following:
- COMM 503 Foundations of Communication Concepts (required)
- COMM 502 Survey Research Methods (required)*
- A second research tools course, either COMM 501, Qualitative Methods OR the new COMM 504, Ethnographic Research in Communication*
- NOTE: An appeal process is provided for students who, because of their career paths or previous course work, do not need BOTH research tool courses.
- At least 18 hours at the 500 level or above.
- If desired, a maximum of 6 hours compatible with the degree may be transferred in or taken outside the department. Transfer credit requires prior approval of Graduate Director or Department Head. Courses taken at Western outside the Department must be approved by the Graduate Director or the Advisor
Requirements After Admission:
- Form C (Degree Program) must be filed by the time the student has completed 12 hours.
- Form D (Admission to Candidacy) must be filed before the student has completed 21 hours.
- COMM 503, Foundations of Communication Concepts and COMM 502, Survey Research Methods and either COMM 501, Qualitative Methods or COMM 504, Ethnography Methods should be taken early (best within the first two semesters)
- A GPA of at least 3.0 must be maintained. No grade below a “C” will be acceptable toward the degree.
- Completion of the Capstone Experience
Thesis Option:
The Thesis represents 6 hours of the student's program of study. The student should invite a graduate faculty member to serve as Thesis Director, and in consultation with the Director, invite at least two other faculty members to form the Thesis Committee. The Thesis Director and Committee will work with the student to design and develop a thesis. COMM 599, Thesis Research/Writing is taken twice, each time in a 3 credit hour segment. (See Thesis Option Guidelines for more detail.)
Comprehensive Examinations:
Students who enter the program will be required to maintain a portfolio of materials of their choice from each course taken for the
M.A. They should also be prepared at the end of the program to deliver a synthesized oral
presentation that focuses on three courses taken for degree credit and featuring the
utilization of emerging communication technologies. They will also respond in a
question/answer session based on the presentation. This material will be delivered to a
panel of communication faculty which will be chosen based on the particular sequence of
courses included in the student’s masters program. (See Graduate Capstone Experience
Guidelines for more detail.)