Sample Program

The Media and Communication Studies Program consists of 33-36 credit hours taken over two years. The following sample program is offered as an example of a student's course load for the duration of the program. Students are given a great deal of flexibility to design a program of study that best meets their educational and career goals. A specific plan based on student interest will be developed with an advisor after admission to the program.

Year One

Fall Semester

Requirement: Analysis of Communication Theory (COM 5401)
Requirement: Communication Research Methods (COM 5312)
Concentration: Student choice - see examples below
Cognate: Student choice - see examples

Spring Semester

Concentration: Student choice - see examples below
Concentration: Student choice - see examples below
Cognate or Concentration: Student choice
Cognate: Student choice - see examples

Summer Semester

Concentration: Student choice - see examples below
Cognate: Student choice - see examples
Capstone Experience: Student choice

Year Two

Fall Semester

Additional Coursework: Students may choose the course work only option in place of the capstone experience.

OR

Capstone Experience: Creative Project or Thesis

Generally the capstone experience is completed in the fall of the second year. For details on the various capstone experience options please see the Courses Overview page.

Example Concentration Courses

Students, with assistance from committee members, will select 12 to 15 hours of concentration courses in a specific area of media and communication studies (taught by one of the Media and Communication Studies faculty). For instance, students interested in media studies might be advised to take classes in media regulation and policy, media effects, and audience analysis. Students interested in politics and communication might be advised to take classes in rhetoric, persuasion, and political communication. Students interested in creating media content might be advised to take classes in digital video production and new communication technologies.

To give students a sense of how a concentration area might be developed, we offer a few examples:

Media Technology	Political Communication	Media Research
MMC 6469 Communication and Change: Diffusion of Innovations	RTV5702 Communication regulation and policy	RTV5253 New Communication Technology: Theory and Research
RTV5253 New Communication Technology: Theory and Research	SPC5545 Studies in Persuasion	COM5314 Measurement of Listener-Viewer Attitudes and Response
RTV6425 Advocacy Video Production	RTV6425 Advocacy Video Production	COM5316 Statistical Methods in Communication
COM6400 Foundations of Digital Video Production	COM6400 Media, Culture, and the Environment	COM6400 Qualitative Research Methods
RTV5325 Documentary Video Production	COM6400 Gender and Communication	ADV5505 Media Market Research