Courses Overview

Courses in the Media and Communication Studies program are broken into Foundation courses, Concentration courses, Cognate and a Capstone Experience. The program consists of 33-36 credit hours taken over two years. 33 credit hours for a program that includes a capstone experience and 36 credit hours for the course only option. Courses are designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the dynamic field of communication.

The following course list is meant to give a general overview of the program. A specific plan based on student interest will be developed with an advisor after admission to the program. Students may choose to focus their program based on their personal area of interest. For an example of a typical student course load during the program please see the Sample Program.

Foundation Courses

Analysis of Communication Theory Required
Communication Research Methods Required

Concentration Courses Choose 4-5 courses

Although most concentration courses will come from this list, it is not a comprehensive list of all courses offered. To see a how a concentration area might be developed please see the Sample Program.

Advanced Narrative Video Production
Advocacy Video Production
Communication and Change: Diffusion of Innovations
Communication Regulation and Policy
Documentary Video Production
Foundations of Digital Video Production
Gender and Communication
Historical-Critical Methods
Mass Communication Theory and Effects
Measurement of Listener-Viewer Attitudes and Response
Media, Culture, and the Environment
New Communication Technology Theory and Research
Political Communication
Political Economy
Qualitative Research Methods
Studies in Persuasion
Systems of Mass Communication
Teaching Communication in College
Topics in Interpersonal Communication

Please see graduate bulletin for specific course descriptions.

Cognate/Minor Area Choose 3 courses

Students are required to pursue a cognate or minor area that relates to or enhances their program. Students are strongly encouraged to explore areas in departments across the university. Possible areas from which to select cognate courses include:

African Studies
Studies in Aging
American Studies
Asian Studies
Classical Greek Studies
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Digital Video Production Certificate
Educational psychology/research
English
Gender Studies
Geography & World Systems
Hispanic Marketing Communication Certificate
Information Science
Integrated Marketing Communication
International Affairs
Peace & Conflict Studies
Political Economy
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Social psychology
Sociology of the Family
Theater Studies

Capstone Experience

Students select one of three options to complete the master’s program: Capstone Creative Project, Thesis or Course-Only Option.

Capstone Creative Project - A creative project should represent a student's complete mastery of the skills and knowledge covered in their program of studies.
Sample Creative Projects:
Sometimes a graduate student’s creative project may be closely aligned with a Graduate Certificate Program. Some examples:
- After a student has completed the Graduate Certificate Program in “Digital Video Production,” the student may choose to conceptualize/write, cast, direct and edit a documentary or narrative video.
- After a student has completed the Graduate Certificate Program in “Digital Video Production,” the student may choose to produce, write, and direct one or more episodes of a news or public affairs program that will be cablecast on FSU Channel 4 or broadcast on WFSU-TV.
- After a student has completed a Graduate Certificate Program in “Arts and Community Practice, “ the student, who also has an expertise in web design, may create a website for a local dance company.
Other times, the student’s nine hour of cognate courses may lead to a possible creative project. For examples:
- After completing, 9 hours of graduate courses in English Literature and Film, a student may desire to write a screenplay adaptation of a novel.
- After completing 9 hours of graduate courses in Women’s Studies and Performance Studies, a student may choose to work with a particular population, e.g., African American returning female college students, and help them to compile, edit, and perform their stories for a live theatre audience.
Thesis - The goal of a master's thesis is to add to our general knowledge about communication. This goal can be reached in two ways: (1) conducting research, providing analysis, or offering critical evaluation of an original topic; or (2) replicating previous research, providing a fresh analysis, or offering a new critical evaluation of a topic in light of recent developments in communication scholarship. The thesis option is highly recommended for those who intend to pursue advanced graduate studies.
Course-Only Option - In place of the capstone experience students may complete additional coursework.

Certificate Programs

Students are encouraged to consider the following certificate programs: