Degree Requirements
M.A. in Communication
Prerequisites to Degree Program: A student entering graduate studies should have a minimum of 24 semester hours in undergraduate credit within the area of communication or closely related studies. Prospective students must supply: 1) three letters of recommendation (preferably from professors who can comment on their ability to do graduate-level work), 2) an essay-length writing sample (preferably an essay or research paper written for a class) and 3) a statement of their goals for graduate study in Communication at the University of Arkansas.
Requirements for a Master of Arts Degree: Requirements for a Master of Arts Degree: A minimum of 33 semester hours in graduate-level courses plus successful defense of comprehensive exams, 30 semester hours plus the capstone course (3 hours), or 27 hours of course work and a thesis (6 hours).. The following departmental requirements must be met by students pursuing the M.A. in Communication:
- Completion of the COMM 5163 Introduction to Communication Paradigms during their first semester of resident graduate study in which it is offered.
- Two graduate courses in communication research methods taken in their first year of graduate study and selected from the following: COMM 5173 Qualitative Methods in Communication, COMM 5123 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication, or COMM 5183 Rhetorical Methods.
- Three hours of capstone project credit (COMM 5923 Capstone Course in Communication), or six hours of thesis credit (COMM 600V Master's Thesis), or successful defense of comprehensive exams. Each student must complete and successfully defend either a capstone project or an M.A. thesis.
- In addition to the Paradigms class, the two required methods courses, and the selected exit option (i.e., thesis or capstone course), at least four three-hour 5000-level courses must be completed in the Department of Communication. At least three of these courses should be in one focal area of civic engagement.
- The remaining hours of graduate credit must be selected from the following options:
- Additional 5000-level departmental seminars;
- Up to six hours of graduate-level courses outside the department that directly relate to the student’s plan of study;
- Three hours of internship credit in COMM 5913 Internship in Communication;
- Up to six hours of credit in COMM 590V Special Problems.
Students should also be aware of Graduate School requirements with regard to master's degrees.