M.A. in Communication
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in communication or related field from an accredited institution or proof of equivalent education in a foreign institution.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Demonstration of academic achievement and potential as indicated by the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller's Analogy Test (MAT) and upper-level undergraduate and graduate coursework. Applicants are generally expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in upper-level coursework.
- The GRE/MAT is not required for the following:
- Applicants who are UTEP students and are majoring or minoring in communication or a related discipline, or
- Applicants who have graduated from UTEP with a degree in communication or a related discipline within the last 12 years.
- The GRE/MAT is not required for the following:
- A letter of application to the graduate advisor addressing the rationale for advanced study in communication.
- Applicants whose degrees are from non-English speaking institutions are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the Graduate School website for required scores.
Departmental Academic Standards
In addition to the graduate school requirements of maintaining a 3.0 GPA in all courses counting towards a degree, the department requires students to earn a grade of B or better in all core research methods courses (5300, 5310, 5311). Students receiving a C or lower will be required to retake the course. If, after repeating a core research methods course and a grade of B is not achieved, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Degree Requirements
Coursework
-
Thesis Option: 36 credit hours, plus successful completion of thesis.
-
Non-Thesis Option: 36 credit hours, plus successful completion of a project.
Research Core Courses
The core research courses are required for both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Options: 5300, 5310, and 5311.
Oral Examination
An oral examination by the graduate faculty is required for both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Options.
Degree Plan
Required Credits: 36
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Communication (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
| Required Courses: | 15 | |
| Intro to Graduate Studies B | ||
| Quantative Research Methods B | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods B | ||
| Thesis and Thesis | ||
| Select 21 hours from the list below | 21 | |
| Seminar-Contemporary Rhetoric | ||
| Sem./Organizational Comm. | ||
| Environmental Conflict | ||
| Seminar - Communication Theory | ||
| Pop Culture Theory and Comm | ||
| Popular Music & Communication | ||
| Directed Study | ||
Oral Examination: | ||
| Complete oral examination by the graduate faculty | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Communication (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
| Required Courses: | 12 | |
| Intro to Graduate Studies B | ||
| Quantative Research Methods B | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods B | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Select 24 hours from the list below | 24 | |
| Seminar-Contemporary Rhetoric | ||
| Sem./Organizational Comm. | ||
| Environmental Conflict | ||
| Seminar - Communication Theory | ||
| Pop Culture Theory and Comm | ||
| Feminist Theories in Comm | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Comm & Positive Deviance | ||
| Comm & Healthy Communities | ||
| Popular Music & Communication | ||
Oral Examination: | ||
| Complete oral examination by the graduate faculty | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
B Course requires a grade of B or better.