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Program Details

Graduate Program: Communication (MA) - Accelerated Master's Program

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Communication (MA) - Accelerated Master's Program  
Program Description

The Accelerated MA Program (AMP) in Communication is designed to enable outstanding University of Arizona undergraduates to compete both the BA and MA in Communication in five years of study. This program is intended for students interested in enhancing their skill set and competitiveness on the job market and/or in admission to other graduate programs (PhD in Communication, law school, etc.).

 

 
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 the effects they have for 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
Tina R Mendoza
520-621-1366
Graduate Program Coordinator
Tina R Mendoza
520-621-1366
Director of Graduate Studies
Jennifer L Stevens Aubrey
520-621-1366
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Kristi R 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

1. Must be a current Communication major at the University of Arizona.  Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student’s GPA falls below 3.3 at the time they have completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission. (Note: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate coursework).

2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a minimum of 12 units of undergraduate UA.

3. Completion of at least 12 earned undergraduate credits in their major at the University of Arizona’s main campus. Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units.

4. Completion or near completion of general education requirements.

5. Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.

6. Demonstration of the maturity necessary for success in an accelerated, highly competitive program.

7. Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within four years. The undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the student is eligible to have the Master’s degree awarded.

 
Standardized Tests

Required test(s):  None

 

 
Funding Opportunities
The Academic Unit has not provided this information. 
Admissions Deadlines

June 15 after Spring term of junior year as undergraduate

 
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

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

34 

Core Coursework Requirements

AMP Degree & Tuition Policies

1. Students will be considered undergraduates until they complete their undergraduate requirements, which should be no later than the end of the fourth year.

2. Students entering with Advanced Placement Credit and/or who attend summer school may complete their Bachelor’s degree in the Junior year.

3. Students must complete at least 12 of their graduate credits while in graduate status.

4. During years 1-3 (or approximately 0-90 credits) students will be taking undergraduate coursework and charged at the undergraduate rate.

5. Once admitted to AMP, during the senior (or transition year), students may take up to 12 units of graduate coursework which may apply toward both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degrees. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships.

6. Students classified as seniors who have not yet completed a bachelor's degree may enroll in 500-level courses following the Graduate Credit for Seniors Policy. Courses numbered at the 600, 700 and 900 levels are not open to undergraduates.

7. After completion of all Bachelors’ requirements, students will be granted graduate status, be charged at the graduate rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships. The student won’t be eligible to graduate nor will they be eligible for assistantships until all Bachelors’ requirements are completed. While an undergraduate, students are required to keep their graduate coursework cumulative GPA at 3.0, or higher if required by the graduate degree offering unit, to be admitted to the Master’s program.

8. Should a student have completed 12 graduate credits, but not yet completed the undergraduate degree, they will be considered graduate for financial aid and tuition purposes and coded as ‘graduate’ in UAccess. They will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships.

9. At least 12 graduate credits must be taken while in graduate status, after completing all degree requirements for the Bachelor’s.

10. Students should be encouraged to complete their undergraduate requirements as soon as possible, but not later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree. Students finishing their undergraduate requirements later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships. Neither degree will be awarded until the undergraduate requirements are completed along with the Master's requirements.

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

Elective Coursework (18 units): Any Communication courses.  Up to 3 credit hours of electives can be graduate level courses from outside the Communication Department (courses must be pre-approved by the department.

  • 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)
 
Additional Requirements

Comprehensive exams during final semester.

 
Student Handbook

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

 

Additional Information

This is an Accelerated Master's Program (AMP).

The Graduate College offers exceptional undergraduate students in selected majors the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in as few as 5 years. The Accelerated Master's Program is for the top undergraduates in participating majors who plan to continue in a graduate program in the same, or closely related, UA discipline.

Programs will select from among a qualified pool, based on the following criteria. Individual programs may have more stringent or additional requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student's GPA falls below 3.30 at the time s/he has completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission.
  • Completion of at least 12 earned units of undergraduate course work in the major at the UA.
  • Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units in the major.
  • Completion or near completion of general education requirements.
  • Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.
  • Demonstration of the maturity necessary for success in an accelerated, highly competitive program.
  • Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within four years. The undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the student is eligible to have the Master's degree awarded.
  • Interested students should verify departmental requirements as they may have additional or more stringent requirements than the Graduate College minimum requirements.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/COMMMACOMMMAAMP
Last revised 24 Feb 2021
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