Communication Studies M.A.
Getting Started
Admission to the Program
Students must fulfill all the general requirements for admission to graduate studies at this university. Applicants should take particular note of the graduate entrance writing requirement. The department welcomes applications from international students. Prospective international students should take particular note of university requirements regarding the TOEFL. Applications for admission to the program should be sent to the department graduate coordinator and must include:
1. A copy of the undergraduate transcript indicating graduation with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and communication courses completed;
2. Three letters of recommendation attesting to academic aptitude and accomplishments;
3. A one-page essay describing life/career goals and the role the applicant sees this degree playing in accomplishing these goals.
4. Completion of the graduate entrance writing requirement.
Admission of students to the program will take one of two forms:
1. Regular Admission. In addition to the general requirements for admission to the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status in this program are:
A. The equivalent of 24 quarter units of communication course work (students with less background may be required to complete selected undergraduate courses prior to admission to the program).
Students pursuing the Integrated Marketing Communication track should complete sixteen units of undergraduate coursework in communication and marketing to include:
COMM 306. Communication Perspectives (4)
COMM 341. Public Relations Theory and Principles (4)
May choose only one of the following two courses:
COMM 400. Communication Research Methodologies (4)
MKTG 416. Marketing Research (4)
MKTG 305. Marketing Principles (4)
MKTG 410. Consumer Behavior (4)
B. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 overall and/or 3.0 for the last half of undergraduate course work.
C. International students must have a TOEFL score of 575 or higher.
2. Conditional Admission. Students who do not meet all the requirements for regular admission may, with the approval of the departmental graduate committee, be admitted on a conditional basis. Conditional admission provides students a trial period to demonstrate their ability. Conditionally admitted students must complete twelve units of course work at the 500- or 600-level with no grade lower than "B" in those courses. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 is needed for elevation to classified graduate student status.
Advancement to Candidacy
1. During the first quarter of enrollment, the student shall, with the consent of the faculty member chosen and the approval of the graduate coordinator, select an advisor.
2. Prior to completion of 16 units, the student and advisor shall form the student's graduate advisory committee. The committee shall consist of the advisor and two faculty members, one of whom may be from a related discipline. The committee shall function to: 1) approve the student's program of study; 2) compose and evaluate the student's comprehensive examination (if applicable); and 3) evaluate and approve the student's thesis or project (if applicable).
3. Upon establishing the committee, and prior to completion of 20 units, the student shall forward for the committee's approval a program of study listing course work to be taken and the capstone experience chosen to complete the degree.
4. Upon approval of the plan by the advisory committee, the program of study shall be sent to the graduate coordinator for departmental approval resulting in advancement to candidacy.
Please refer to the University catalog at http://catalog.csusb.edu for official information.