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Nov 22, 2024
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2005-2007 EIU Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Communication Studies
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 Return to: Graduate Degree Programs
Program Mission: The Master of Arts in Communication Studies
provides students with an opportunity to engage in a multifaceted
course of study which is grounded in a strong theoretical base but also
recognizes the marketplace. A high level of interaction between
students and faculty provides students with the opportunity to
construct individualized programs of advanced study. The program
prepares students to be more competitive in the work place or to
continue studies in a Ph.D. program.
Admission Requirements: A limited number of students are
accepted each year; admission to the program is competitive. To
be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the
requirements for admission to the Graduate School (See “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”).
A minimum of 18 hours in communication studies with a grade of C or
better is required in order to be admitted to the program. An
applicant must complete a written statement of goals, submit a writing
sample and three letters of recommendation attesting to the potential
for successful completion of graduate work. International applicants
whose native language is not English must obtain a score of 600 or
higher on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
or a score of 250 of higher on the computer-based TOEFL. While
students may be admitted to the Graduate School with fewer than 18
hours in communication studies, any deficiency in undergraduate speech
communication hours must be made up before the student will be admitted
to degree candidacy in Communication Studies. Study Plan Approval: The
study plan shall be filed with the departmental graduate coordinator
prior to the completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit which
count toward the graduate degree. A study plan is developed in
consultation with an assigned advisor and must be approved by the
graduate coordinator.
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Degree Requirements
The approved study plan is the guiding document for each student’s
course of study. A student, in consultation with an advisor,
develops a course of study with a minimum of 36 semester hours
reflecting individual interests and career objectives while recognizing
the diverse nature of the discipline in both content and method.
The study plan should reflect the following guidelines.
- All students are expected to take a core of 12 hours composed of CMN 5000, CMN 5005, CMN 5010, and CMN 5020.
- The total program (including the core but excluding CMN 5500) is a
minimum of 36 hours.
- A maximum of 9 hours may come from approved graduate courses outside the department.
- A maximum of 9 hours may be earned in a combination of CMN 5920, CMN 5940, CMN 5950, CMN 5990, and/or CMN 5997.
- A maximum of 6 semester hours of CMN 4750 to CMN 4999 may apply
toward the degree provided that the courses are taught by members of
the graduate faculty, that additional assignments of a graduate nature
are clearly defined as part of the course requirements, and that the
inclusion of these courses is approved as part of the study plan.
- A maximum of 12 hours of courses described in bullets three, four, and five may be counted in the study plan.
Capstone Experience
Students must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the discipline in order to complete their degree. To do so all students must take and successfully pass comprehensive exams covering the core classes. Students may then choose between a thesis, creative thesis, or comprehensive exams covering nine hours of elective classes to finish demonstrating comprehensive knowledge. Students considering doctoral work are encouraged to complete a thesis.
Financial Assistance
The department’s primary source of financial assistance for its
graduate students is teaching assistantships in such courses as
introductory public speaking. Teaching such classes requires a
deep familiarity with American culture and with the norms and patterns
of communication embedded in that culture. Consequently, teaching
assistantships are not offered to applicants who are not native
speakers of English before they have spent sufficient time in this
country to become well acquainted with American culture.
International students who believe they have the requisite language
skills and culture knowledge for teaching communication courses to a
largely American student body may ask to be considered for teaching
assistantships. To be considered, such students must provide
evidence of proficiency in oral English. One form of evidence is
the attainment of a high score on the Test of Spoken English
(TSE). This requirement is in addition to the TOEFL score which
is required for admission.
Applications for assistantships are normally due in February with
the award for the following academic year. Graduate teaching
assistants must enroll in CMN 5500 in both the fall and spring
semesters. Graduate Assistantships
Information on graduate assistantships may be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Graduate Studies or Chair, Department of Communication Studies, 1825 Coleman Hall, EIU. |
Return to: Graduate Degree Programs
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