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Program Details

Graduate Program: Communication (MA)

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Communication (MA)  
Program Description

The Communication MA  program is grounded in theory and research concerning human communication and provides excellent preparation for further graduate study and careers in academia or other fields. The department offers hands-on research and teaching experience and a broad range of coursework and educational opportunities, with specialization in Interpersonal Communication, Media, Health Communication, Small Group and Intergroup Communication, New Communication Technologies, and Political Communication. Flexibility allows students to tailor programs to meet specific career objectives. The thesis option serves as a foundation for students planning to pursue a PhD. Those preparing to work in business, media, government or teaching may select a non-thesis option.

 

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Communication

The Department of Communication faculty examine ways in which human beings exchange messages with one another, the content of those messages, and their effects on individuals and society. The Department's strong commitment to quality teaching and research has earned its faculty and graduate students numerous teaching awards and a ranking as one of the top Communication programs in the nation.

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Daniel Andres Dominguez
520-621-0505
Graduate Program Coordinator
Daniel Andres Dominguez
520-621-0505
Director of Graduate Studies
Jennifer L Stevens Aubrey
520-621-1366
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Kristi Davenport
520-626-1930
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Writing sample (honors thesis, class paper, or similar evidence of scholarly writing)

 3 letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic and intellectual qualifications

 Statement of Purpose (1500-2000 words) should be broken into the following sections: (a) your scholarly and research interests in the field of communication, (b) why you wish to pursue graduate study in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona (including explicit connections between your research interests and our faculty's areas of expertise), and (c) your plans following completion of your graduate degree.

GPA:  3.25 minimum

TRANSCRIPTS:  For purposes of evlauation, we will accept unofficial transcripts of credits earned from ALL colleges and universities attended, uploaded where indicated on application. If applicant accepts offer of admission, we will require official transcripts sent to the Communication Dept at the University of Arizona.

GRE General Tests:  See GRE test scores info below.

For International students: English Proficiency Test is required.  Please refer to the graduate college webpage shown here for types of tests accepted, as well as required scores: https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency. ; Please note: because all of our graduate students are also hired as Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates, applicants must achieve the higher test scores listed under "Special requirements for students who will be acting as Graduate Teaching assistants".

 

 
Standardized Tests

GRE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CODE: 4832  DEPT GRE CODE: 4507

Required test(s):  GRE General Tests:  Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing Subtests. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS also required to take take English Proficiency test (TOEFL preferred).

 Minimum GRE Verbal:  156 
Minimum GRE Quantitative:  146 
Minumum GRE Written:  4.5

Minimum TOEFL:  80 IBT, 550 PBT     or     IELTS  composite score of 7, with no subject area below 6

 
Funding Opportunities

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships, Tuition  Scholarships, Graduate College fellowship funding, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences scholarship and fellowship funding

 
Admissions Deadlines

For Domestic and International Applicants:

  • Fall Admission:Deadlines: January 10
  • The Department of Communication graduate program does NOT accept applications for entry in Spring or Summer semesters.

 

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4507

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

34 

Core Coursework Requirements

Major: All students must successfully complete a minimum of 34 units in the major including: core courses, theory courses, and electives. In addition, students are expected to fulfill their research team and thesis or comprehensive exam requirement. Courses with grades of 'C' or lower will not count toward the degree.  

Core Courses (9 units): All students must complete 500, 561, and 571 with a grade of B or better in each.

  • COMM 500 Intro to Graduate Studies in Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 561 Research Methodologies I (3 units)
  • COMM 571 Research Methodologies II (3 units)

Required Theory Seminars (6 units): All students must complete at least two of the required theory seminars from the theory seminar rotation: 609, 610, 620, 669.

  • COMM 609 Advanced Mass Communication Theory (3 units)
  • COMM 610 Interpersonal Theory (3 units)
  • COMM 620 Theories of Social Influence (3 units)
  • COMM 669 Health Communication Theory (3 units)
 
Elective Coursework

Communication Electives, by Option

12 units in Comm electives plus 3 thesis units for thesis option

15 units in Comm electives plus comprehensive exams for non-thesis option

  • COMM 501 Lifespan Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 502 Communication and Music (3 units)
  • COMM 503 Theory of Small Group Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 505 Mass Communication and Children (3 units)
  • COMM 507 Family Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 509 Theories of Mass Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 510 Struggle for the Presidency (3 units)
  • COMM 511 Communication and Conflict Management (3 units)
  • COMM 514 Verbal Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 515 Nonverbal Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 517 Relational Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 517A Relational Communication: Close Relations (3 units)
  • COMM 517B Relational Communication: Work + Professional Relations (3 units)
  • COMM 519 Mass Media Policy and Regulation (3 units)
  • COMM 520 Communication and the Legal Process (3 units)
  • COMM 521 Political Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 526 Public Opinion and Communication (3 units)
  • COMM 550 Communication and Cognition (3 units)
  • COMM 599 Independent Study (1-3 units)
  • COMM 640 Research Methodologies III (3 units)
  • COMM 696A Nonverbal Communication Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696E Mass Media Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696H Communication and Health Messages Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696I Interpersonal Communication Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696O Organizational Communication Theory Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696P Political Communication Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696R Advanced Communication Research Methods Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 696T Comm and New Technology Seminar (3 units)
  • COMM 699 Independent Study (1-3 units)

Students choose from currently offered graduate courses in Communication.  Courses from outside of the Communication Department may be used with pre-approval from advisor.

 
Additional Requirements

Thesis option students must register for COMM 910 Thesis (3 units) and write a thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Non-Thesis option students must complete Comprehensive Exams.

In both cases, 4 semesters of COMM 900 Research team (1 unit each) is required for both options.

 

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 33.33%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) 1.47
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 28%
Enrollment Percent Female 72%
Enrollment Percent International 40%
Enrollment Percent URM 16%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/COMMMA
Last revised 30 Sep 2022
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