Master of Arts in Communication
Degree Requirements and Information

• Admission Requirements
• Information about graduate study at UCCS
• Course Schedule and Bulletin
• The Comprehensive Examination
• Guidelines for preparing an M.A. Thesis Proposal

 

LINKS TO PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• National Communication Association
• International Communication Association
• International Leadership Association

Master of Arts in Communication

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Contact: Dr. Sherwyn Morreale
Director of Graduate Studies
smorreal@uccs.edu

The Master of Arts (MA) in Communication at UCCS offers students the opportunity to engage in advanced study and develop graduate-level expertise for addressing complex communication problems in modern organizations and social systems. This program prepares graduates for careers in the profit and non-profit sectors, as well as in academia. Given the extent to which communication is ubiquitous, the mission of our graduate program is to help students develop an array of scholarly, personal, and professional communication skills suitable to a variety of contexts. Students are encouraged to develop expertise either in professional communication with an emphasis on organizational communication, leadership, and strategic communication, or advanced general studies with an emphasis on communication competence in their own particular area of interest. With either focus, students learn to connect communication knowledge, theory, and research capacities to real-world situations. In addition, our program seeks to instill in students a passion for intellectual and theoretical discovery that transcends career objectives and course expectations.

Learning Outcomes Honoring Our Mission

Upon graduation, all of our students will demonstrate these competencies:

• Broad-based and advanced knowledge and understanding of communication processes and theories related to organizational communication and/or the student's personal area of interest.
• Well developed communication skills, including critical thinking and analysis, speaking, and writing, that prepare for success in the workplace or further graduate studies, including a doctoral program.
• An awareness and motivation to use their communication knowledge and skills with sensitivity to critical issues such as ethics and inclusiveness in a diverse and technologically mediated global environment and society.
• Proficiency in designing and conducting an original communication research study or a research-based training in their chosen area of interest.

A Personalized Program of Graduate Study

In consultation with graduate faculty, graduate students develop a personalized program of study to foster their own learning objectives and career goals. They are required to complete a set of core courses; and the organizational communication focus identifies four required electives. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.

• Plan I is with thesis. This plan requires a minimum of 33 hours of course work, of which 12 hours are four of the core courses (does not include the capstone course) and up to six hours may be thesis credit.
• Plan II is without thesis and requires a minimum of 36 hours of course work, of which 15 hours are the core courses.

With both plans, no more than six hours of graduate course work may be transferred from other universities to fulfill the degree requirements for the MA in Communication. With both plans, only three credits of COMM 9500 Independent Study and three credits of COMM 6020 Communication Research Practicum may be applied to the degree requirements as electives.

Coursework Requirements

Plan I (THESIS - minimum of 33 hours credit)

• four core required courses (12 credits)
• minimum of four graduate elective courses in Communication (12 credits)
• one graduate level course from outside the department (3 credits)
• maximum of six hours of thesis credit (6 credits; can take more elective credit and less thesis credit, if desired)

Plan II (NON-THESIS - minimum of 36 hours credit)

• five core required courses (15 credits)
• six graduate elective courses in Communication (18 credits)
• one graduate level course from outside the Communication Department (3 credits)

Core Course Requirements
(Offered once each year as indicated)

COMM 5010	INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE STUDIES: IN COMMUNICATION (Fall)
COMM 5020	GRADUATE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS (Fall)
COMM 6030	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS: STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS (Spring)
COMM 6040	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS: A PRACTICUM AND ANALYSIS (Fall)
COMM 6050	THE COMMUNICATION GRADUATE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE (Spring)  NOTE: COMM 6050 is not required with Plan I Thesis Option

General Elective Course Offerings

COMM 5100	ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 5150	COMMUNICATION FOR THE CLASSROOM TEACHER
COMM 5240	SEMINAR IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 5280	MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY AND WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION
COMM 5290	SUSTAINABILITY AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
COMM 5330	GENDER AND LEADERSHIP
COMM 5950	SEMINAR IN LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
COMM 6020	RESEARCH PRACTICUM (instructor approval)
COMM 6100	COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY
COMM 6160	COMMUNICATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
COMM 6250	PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATION
COMM 6990	EMERGING COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
COMM 9500	INDEPENDENT STUDY (instructor approval)
IN DEVELOPMENT	STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
IN DEVELOPMENT	MEDIA EFFECTS

Required Electives for Professional Communication

COMM 5100	ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 5240	SEMINAR IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 5950	SEMINAR IN LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
COMM 6990	EMERGING COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Recommended Two Year Schedule of Courses

FALL	SPRING	INTERIM	SUMMER	FALL	SUMMER
5010	6030		Out of Department Course	6040	6050
5020
	1. Elective	2. Elective	3. Elective	4. Elective	6. Elective
				5. Elective

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