The departmental graduate program is grounded in theory and research concerning human communication. Graduate students participate in research teams with a guiding faculty member, enabling hands-on research experience, sometimes on grant-funded projects. A broad range of coursework and educational research opportunities is available, with extensive preparation in scientific research methods. Graduates may enter a variety of academic, private sector, or public positions.

The department offers the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees with a major in communication. Application materials are available online at www.datamonster.sbs.arizona.edu/communication/grads/applying.php. A minor in Communication is an option for graduate students majoring in other departments.

Master's students may select a thesis or non-thesis option and a disciplinary or interdisciplinary track. Students electing the thesis or non-thesis route must complete 33 units. Those electing the interdisciplinary track must take 6-12 units outside the department, as long as those units form a coherent concentration and are approved by the guidance committee. Those pursuing the disciplinary degree program may take up to 3 elective units outside the department. All students must complete the core courses (600, 661, and 671) and two of the required theory seminars (609, 610,. 620, 669). Three units of COMM 900 (research team) and up to 3 units of independent study may be counted toward the minimum 33 units. Students planning to enter a doctoral program are strongly urged to select the thesis option. Students interested in applied programs or positions in industry and government and who do not plan to pursue a Ph.D. are urged to select the non-thesis option.

Doctoral students must complete the following requirements, as well as declare areas of concentration: Major: 36 units (12 of which may be transferred in from the Master's degree). With guidance committee approval, some of these units may be taken from other departments offering courses with communication-related content. All students are required to complete 600, 661, and 671. Students must also complete at least two of the four communication theory seminars (609, 610, 620, and 669). Three units of COMM 900 (research team) may count toward the minimum units required.

Minor (minimum 9 units): All doctoral students must select one or more minors, the requirements of which are determined by the minor department. Scholarly research tool: All students must complete a minimum of 6 additional hours of research methods course work, preferably related to the type of research they plan to conduct for their dissertation. Dissertation: 18 units. For doctoral students, a maximum of 6 units of independent study may be counted toward the major and minor minimum number of units.

Additional requirement for both programs is that all courses counted toward degree minimums must be passed with a grade of B or better (or P or better for S/P Special Grades).