M.A. Program Tracks

The Master of Arts programs offered by the college include a thesis or a professional option. Students in either option are required to pass a comprehensive examination after completion of the core coursework. See Appendix D for a thorough description of this examination.

Thesis Program:

The thesis program totals 31 credit hours and requires 25 hours of coursework and a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit. The 25 hours of coursework must include the following courses:

MCOM 5160 - Seminar in Graduate Study (1 hour)
MCOM 5366 - Mass Communications Theory (3 hours)
MCOM 5364 - Research Methods (3 hours)
MCOM 5374 - Data Analysis (3 hours)

The thesis is comprehensive original research and typically takes a full summer or regular semester to complete. Thesis research is conducted and the research report written under the guidance of a thesis committee of at least two faculty members.

Professional Track:

The professional program requires 37 hours of coursework that must include the following courses:

MCOM 5160 – Seminar in Graduate Study (1 hour)
MCOM 5366 – Mass Communications Theory (3 hours)
MCOM 5364 – Research Methods (3 hours)
One of the following:
- MCOM 5374 - Data Analysis
- MCOM 5349 – Administration of Communications Media
- MCOM 5320 – Media Law
- MCOM 6315 – Integrated Campaigns
- EMC 6315 – Media Economics (when taught as such)

The professional program requires the completion of a master’s report. The master’s report must be completed under the supervision of two members of the graduate faculty in mass communications. Students may elect to add a third supervisor chosen from the graduate faculty in an academic unit outside of mass communications. To inquire about examples of past submitted reports, contact the Graduate Program Director.

COMC 30-hour M.A. Track:

The professional program requires 30 hours of coursework that must include the following course schedule:

Fall
- MCOM 5364 Research Methods
- PR 5343 Public Relations Cases and Problems
- MCOM 5366 Theory
- College Grad Elective (or “Final Project” course in final semester)
Spring
- ADV 5326 Advertising and the Consumer
- MCOM 53XX Digital Media
- MCOM 6315 Integrated Communication Campaigns
- College Grad Elective (or “Final Project” course in final semester)
Summer I
- MCOM 5349 Administration of Communication Media
- College Grad Elective (or “Final Project” course in final semester)
Summer II
- MCOM 5344 Public Opinion and Propaganda
- College Grad Elective (or “Final Project” course in final semester)

Students who prefer to take classes in one summer semester or other may substitute a summer elective in alternate summer semester for either MCOM 5349 or MCOM 5344.

In the final semester, students must enroll in a MCOM 6050 course that will serve as the “Final Comprehensive Evaluation” course for the individual student.

Concerning Final Project

The comprehensive exam requirement will be deleted from the MA program.
The thesis proposal defense will serve as “final comprehensive evaluation” for thesis-track students.
All non-thesis students will complete a “final comprehensive evaluation” in the form of a capstone final project. The course, which will be taken in the student’s final semester:
- will use the current MCOM 6050 designation.
- will be listed under a graduate faculty member.
- will require students to complete an assignment in the form of a:
  - practicum/internship
  - portfolio
  - directed readings
  - applied research project
  - will require students to orally present assignment to graduate faculty.

Sports Media Track:

The Sport & Media option is one of the professional M.A. programs in the College of Mass Communications. A typical curriculum in this option is:

MCOM 5160 – Seminar in Graduate Study (1 hour)
MCOM 5366 – Mass Communications Theory (3 hours)
MCOM 5364 – Research Methods (3 hours)
MCOM 6330 – Seminar in Sport and Media (3 hours)
MCOM 5370 – Three-hour internship in sport and media
ESS 5324 – Marketing and Promotion in Sport (3 hours)
MCOM 6050 – Six-hour project at a professional sports organization or the U.S. Olympic Committee.
One of the following (3 hours each):
- MCOM 5374 – Data Analysis
- MCOM 5349 – Administration of Communications Media
- MCOM 5320 – Media Law
- MCOM 6315 – Integrated Campaigns
- EMC 6315 – Media Economics (when taught as such)
Two courses from (3 hours each):
- PR 6315 – Special Topics in Public Relations
- PR 5343 – Public Relations Problems and Cases
- ADV 5326 – Advertising and the Consumer
- ADV 5322 – Contemporary Issues in Advertising
- MCOM 5344 – Seminar in Public Opinion and Propaganda
Two courses from (3 hours each):
- ESS 5320 – Sport Leadership
- ESS 5321 – Financial Management in Sport
- ESS 5322 – Management of Sport and Athletics
- ESS 5325 – Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sport
- ESS 5327 – Sport Facility Planning and Management

Recommended M.A. Course Schedules

Thesis Master’s Degree

FIRST FALL TERM (10 credit hours)

MCOM 5160 – Seminar in Graduate Study (1 credit)
MCOM 5366 – Mass Communications Theory
MCOM 5364 – Research Methods
One 3 credit hour elective

FIRST SPRING TERM (9 credit hours)

MCOM 5374 – Data Analysis
Two 3 credit hour electives

FIRST SUMMER TERM (3 credit hours)

One 3 credit hour elective & the comprehensive examination

SECOND SUMMER TERM (3 credit hours)

One 3 credit hour elective

SECOND FALL TERM (6 credit hours)

Six hours of thesis credit

Professional Master's Degree

FIRST FALL TERM (10 credit hours)

MCOM 5160 – Seminar in Graduate Study (1 credit)
MCOM 5366 – Mass Communications Theory
MCOM 5364 – Research Methods
One 3 credit hour elective

FIRST SPRING TERM (12 credit hours)

MCOM 5374 – Data Analysis
Three 3 credit hour electives