Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Communication [BA+MA]


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New Program [Fall 2022]


As a student in Communication, you’ll explore the impact and influence of communication in personal, professional, and public contexts and learn the fundamentals and techniques that give effective communication the power to inform and to persuade. The Combined Communication (BA+MA) prepares students for career opportunities in media, industry, consulting, and academic fields. Students also receive an excellent foundation for success in Ph.D. programs in Communication. The Combined Communication (BA+MA) is appropriate for students who want to seek jobs in the public or private sector that require strong communication skills, knowledge of communication behaviors, and/or research methods in communication and related fields.

Learn

The Communication BA +MA engages students in lifelong learning that addresses socially and globally pressing communication challenges through the scholarly, creative, critical, and practical curriculum and instruction. It prepares students for careers as ethical communicators with a broad understanding of contemporary communication issues and with skills that are adaptable to various contexts. 

Opportunities

Students in the Communication BA+MA program have the opportunity to further develop and refine their communication skills through participating in our internship program, the Undergraduate and Graduate Research Symposia, academic service-learning courses, and our nationally ranked forensics team. Many of our Communication graduates have gone on to challenging careers in advertising, business administration, government, health services, human resources, management, marketing, politics, public relations, and social services. Others have found a degree in communication to be excellent preparation for advanced studies in law or pursuing communication-related Ph.D. programs.

Additional Information

The School also offers several scholarships awarded to students annually.

Program Admission (Undergraduate)


Students may not enroll in 500-level courses until they are admitted into the combined program.

Students must meet the following criteria to be admitted to the combined program.

  • Students may apply for admission into the undergraduate portion of a combined program after completing no fewer than 60 undergraduate credit hours. 
  • Students must have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for admission to combined programs.

The School of Communication, Media and Theatre Arts is responsible for informing Records & Registration when a student is admitted into the combined program.

Program Admission (Graduate)


Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Fall or Winter. See Application Deadlines.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be previously admitted to the undergraduate portion of the combined program.

Applicants must confirm with their advisor that they have completed enough undergraduate credits before applying to the graduate portion of the program. A student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours before being fully admitted to the graduate portion of the program.

Program Requirements

This program does not require additional criteria or documents beyond the minimum Graduate School requirements.

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the Application Instructions  and select the appropriate application.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

School Information


Communication, Media & Theatre Arts 124 Judy Sturgis Hill, 734.487.6956

Dennis O’Grady, PhD, Director

Advisor Information


Dennis Patrick O’Grady, PhD, Professor, 121 Quirk, 734.487.6956

Undergraduate Degree -


The requirements listed below will appear on a student’s undergraduate transcript. 

For the undergraduate portion of this program, students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

General Education Requirements:


For specific requirements, please see the Undergraduate Catalog or print a General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 48 hours


Foundation Courses: 15 hours


Cultural Communication

Choose one course from the following.

Public Communication

Choose one course from the following.

Relational Communication

Choose one course from the following.

Organizational Communication

Choose one course from the following.

Restricted Elective Courses: 12 hours


Choose twelve credit hours from the following. Students may not use a course to satisfy both a foundational and restricted elective requirement.

No more than six credit hours from the following courses.

No more than three credit hours from the following alternate department courses.

Capstone Experience: 3 hours


Graduate Courses: 12 hours


A student must be admitted to the combined program before enrolling in a 500-level course.

Minor Requirement:


This major does not require a minor.

Graduate Degree -


The requirements listed below will appear on a student’s graduate transcript.

Degree Requirements: 18 hours


The M.A. in Communication requires students to complete the following:

  1. Early in their graduate work, prepare a program of study in consultation with an assigned graduate advisor;
  2. Successfully meet all conditions stipulated upon entry into the program; and
  3. Complete, with an overall GPA of at least 3.0, a minimum of 30 hours of approved course work.

The required 30 hours are to be distributed among the 12 credit hours of 500 -level courses taken as undergraduate students and the courses listed below. 

A student must satisfy one of the following options.

Thesis Option: 18 hours


  • Required Courses: 6 hours

    Students will complete the following course twice for a total of six hours.

  • 3 hrs
  •  

    Restricted Electives: 12 hours

    Students will select twelve credit hours of COMM courses at the 500-level or above in consultation with the graduate advisor.

Project Option: 18 hours


  • Required Course: 3 hours

  • 3 hrs
  •  

    Restricted Electives: 15 hours

    Students will select fifteen credit hours of COMM courses at the 500-level or above in consultation with the graduate advisor.

Exam Option: 18 hours


A student may elect to complete a program exam. 

The student will select eighteen credit hours of COMM courses at the 500-level or above in consultation with the graduate advisor.  At least three of these credit hours must be at the 600-level or above.

Combined Program Total: 142 hours


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