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Communication Studies (MA)
Department of Communication Studies
http://www.uni.edu/commstudies/graduate-program
326 Lang Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0139
Head: Christopher R. Martin, Interim Department Head
Phone: (319) 273-6118
E-mail: christopher.martin@uni.edu
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Tom Hall
Phone: (319) 273-7159
E-mail: tom.hall@uni.edu
Read the UNI Catalog description:
Detailed information on the major, including directions for procedures to follow for applying, in planning a program, and requesting assignment of an advisor, may be obtained from the Head of the Department of Communication Studies, the Director of Graduate Studies, or on the department’s Web page at the following address: www.uni.edu/commstudies/graduate-program.
The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.
Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.
A student may seek a General Communication program or specialize in Communication Education, Mass Communication, Organizational Communication, Performance Studies, or Public Relations. The major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options. A minimum of 30 semester hours for the thesis option and 33 hours for the non-thesis option are required. A minimum of 18 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required for the thesis option, including 6 hours of thesis credit. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 200/6000-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.
A student is required to successfully complete either a research project (non-thesis option) or thesis. Successful completion of a final written comprehensive examination is required for both the thesis and non-thesis options.
Of the 30 or 33 hours required:
- 20 hours of course work in Communication Studies (no more than 10 hours outside the department and/or by transfer).
- No more than 6 hours of independent work: readings, projects, or specialized individual instruction.
- No more than 3 hours of workshop credit.
Communication Education Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Language and Communication | 3 | |
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Communication Education | 3 | |
Electives (select 18 hours from the following): | 18 | |
The Two-Year College | ||
Group Communication Theory and Analysis | ||
Organizational Cultures and Communication | ||
Rhetoric and Civic Culture | ||
Nonverbal Communication | ||
Mediation Theory and Process | ||
Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
Communication and Conflict Management | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Family Communication | ||
Listening | ||
Language and Communication | ||
Technology and Human Communication | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
Thesis Option
Required Core: | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Communication Education | 3 | |
Research | 6 | |
Electives (select 12 hours from the following): | 12 | |
The Two-Year College | ||
Group Communication Theory and Analysis | ||
Organizational Cultures and Communication | ||
Rhetoric and Civic Culture | ||
Nonverbal Communication | ||
Mediation Theory and Process | ||
Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
Communication and Conflict Management | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Family Communication | ||
Listening | ||
Language and Communication | ||
Technology and Human Communication | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
General Communication Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core: | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Select one of the following 200/6000-level seminars: | 3 | |
Seminar in Public Relations (6 hrs.) | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Electives (select 21 hours from the following): | 21 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Mass Communication Theory | ||
Communication Research Methodology (an additional section/s of this besides what is required)) | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Other 200/6000-level or 100g/5000-level (approved through MyUniverse student request) | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
Thesis Option
Required Core | 18 | |
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | ||
Communication Theory | ||
Communication Research Methodology | ||
Select one of the following 200/6000-level semiars: | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Research (6 hrs.) | ||
Electives (select 12 hours from the following): | 12 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Mass Communication Theory | ||
Communication Research Methodology (an additional section/s of this besides what is required.) | ||
Seminar in Public Relations * | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Other 200/6000-level or 100g/5000-level (approved by advisor and submitted through student request) | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
* | First seminar course/topic counts toward core requirement, additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives. |
Mass Communication Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Mass Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Mass Communication | 3 | |
Electives (select 21 hours from the following): | 21 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Selected Topics in Electronic Media | ||
Electronic Media Industries: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media: Processes and Effects | ||
Electronic Media Criticism: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media: Law and Policy | ||
Electronic Media and Culture | ||
Communication Technologies | ||
Electronic Media: Audience Analysis | ||
Electronic Media Management | ||
COMM EM 6285 (Readings) | ||
COMM EM 6286 (Studies in) | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
Graduate Internship | ||
History of Mass Communication | ||
Specialized Reporting: (Topics) | ||
Advanced Reporting | ||
Mass Communication Law and Ethics | ||
Global Mass Communication Systems | ||
Feature Writing | ||
Public Relations: Integrated Communications | ||
Public Relations: Cases and Studies | ||
Global Public Relations | ||
Public Relations Campaign Methods | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
* | First seminar course/topic counts toward core requirement, additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives. |
Thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Mass Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Mass Communication | 3 | |
Research (6 hrs.) | 6 | |
Select 12 hours of electives from the following: * | 12 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Selected Topics in Electronic Media | ||
Electronic Media Industries: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media: Processes and Effects | ||
Electronic Media Criticism: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media: Law and Policy | ||
Electronic Media and Culture | ||
Communication Technologies | ||
Electronic Media: Audience Analysis | ||
Electronic Media Management | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
COMM EM 6285 (Readings) | ||
COMM EM 6286 (Studies in) | ||
Graduate Internship | ||
History of Mass Communication | ||
Mass Communication Law and Ethics | ||
Global Mass Communication Systems | ||
Advanced Reporting | ||
Feature Writing | ||
Specialized Reporting: (Topics) | ||
Public Relations: Integrated Communications | ||
Public Relations: Cases and Studies | ||
Global Public Relations | ||
Public Relations Campaign Methods | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
* | First seminar course/topic counts toward core requirement, additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives. |
Organizational Communication Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Organizational Communication (6 hrs.) | 6 | |
Seminar in Communication Education | 3 | |
Department Electives (select 15 hours from the following): * | 15 | |
Health Communication | ||
Organizational Cultures and Communication | ||
Organizational Communication Assessment | ||
Communication and Conflict Management | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
* | With no more than 6 hours taken outside the department. First and second seminar course/topics count toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topics count as electives. Elective courses outside the department may also be taken with advisor approval (e.g., courses in business, education, sociology, psychology, etc.) and submitted through a student request on MyUNIverse. |
Thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Organizational Communication | 6 | |
Seminar in Communication Education | 3 | |
Research | 6 | |
Electives (select 6 hours from the following): * | 6 | |
Health Communication | ||
Organizational Cultures and Communication | ||
Organizational Communication Assessment | ||
Communication and Conflict Management | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Public Relations | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
* | With no more than 3 hours taken outside the department. First and second courses/topics count toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives. Elective courses outside the department may also be taken with advisor approval (e.g., courses in business, education, sociology, psychology, etc.) and submitted through a student request on MyUNIverse. |
Performance Studies Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Performance Studies | 3 | |
Electives (select 21 hours from the following): * | 21 | |
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Language and Communication | ||
Communication, Community, and Change | ||
Social Protest: Performance and Rhetoric | ||
Performance and Social Change | ||
Cultural Performance | ||
Interpreters Theatre Production | ||
Technology and Human Communication | ||
Readings in Performance Studies | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Electronic Media: Processes and Effects | ||
Electronic Media Criticism: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media and Culture | ||
Communication Technologies | ||
Electronic Media: Audience Analysis | ||
Acting Studio | ||
Theatre Management | ||
Playwriting | ||
Craft of Poetry | ||
Craft of Fiction | ||
Poetry Workshop | ||
Fiction Workshop | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
* | With no more than 9 hours taken outside the department. |
Thesis Option:
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Performance Studies | 3 | |
Research (6 hrs.) | 6 | |
Electives (select 12 hours from the following): | 12 | |
Intercultural Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Language and Communication | ||
Communication, Community, and Change | ||
Social Protest: Performance and Rhetoric | ||
Performance and Social Change | ||
Cultural Performance | ||
Interpreters Theatre Production | ||
Technology and Human Communication | ||
Readings in Performance Studies | ||
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Electronic Media: Processes and Effects | ||
Electronic Media Criticism: (Topic) | ||
Electronic Media and Culture | ||
Communication Technologies | ||
Electronic Media: Audience Analysis | ||
Acting Studio | ||
Theatre Management | ||
Playwriting | ||
Craft of Poetry | ||
Craft of Fiction | ||
Poetry Workshop | ||
Fiction Workshop | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
* | With no more than 9 hours taken outside the department. |
Public Relations Emphasis
Non-thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Public Relations | 3 | |
Public Relations: Integrated Communications | 3 | |
Electives (select 18 hours from the following): | 18 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Communication Education | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
COMMGRAD 6285 (Readings) | ||
COMMGRAD 6286 (Studies in) | ||
Graduate Internship | ||
Selected Topics in Communication | ||
Selected Topics in Electronic Media | ||
History of Mass Communication | ||
Specialized Reporting: (Topics) | ||
Advanced Reporting | ||
Mass Communication Law and Ethics | ||
Global Mass Communication Systems | ||
Feature Writing | ||
Public Relations: Cases and Studies | ||
Global Public Relations | ||
Public Relations Campaign Methods | ||
Total Hours | 33 | |
* | First seminar course/topic can count toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives. |
Thesis Option
Required Core | ||
Introduction to Graduate Study and Research | 3 | |
Communication Theory | 3 | |
Mass Communication Theory | ||
Mass Communication Theory | ||
Communication Research Methodology | 3 | |
Seminar in Public Relations | 3 | |
Research (6 hrs.) | 6 | |
Public Relations: Integrated Communications | 3 | |
Electives (select 9 hours from the following): * | 9 | |
Critical and Cultural Studies in Communication | ||
Seminar in Organizational Communication | ||
Seminar in Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Seminar in Performance Studies | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication | ||
Seminar in Mass Communication (first course/topic counts toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives) | ||
COMMGRAD 6285 (Readings) | ||
COMMGRAD 6286 (Studies in) | ||
Graduate Internship | ||
History of Mass Communication | ||
Specialized Reporting: (Topics) | ||
Advanced Reporting | ||
Mass Communication Law and Ethics | ||
Global Mass Communication Systems | ||
Feature Writing | ||
Public Relations: Cases and Studies | ||
Global Public Relations | ||
Public Relations Campaign Methods | ||
Total Hours | 30 | |
* | First seminar course/topic can count toward core requirement; additional course(s)/topic(s) count as electives |