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INTRODUCTION
The Master of Arts in Communication is a broad-based degree program that integrates theoretical and research components of mass communication and organizational and rhetorical communication. The program is designed to prepare recent graduates and experienced professionals for doctoral studies, professional advancement, and personal enrichment.
The department’s graduate faculty combines applied knowledge with communication theory and works to engage students to think critically as they address communication practices and issues. Courses examine how communication creates, sustains, and changes personal lives, organizations, political and cultural institutions, and society.
The program curriculum consist of 33 credit hours, including a twelve-hour core, elected courses from the communication and other university departments, and a final project or thesis.
This manual is subject to change as departmental and graduate school policies change. It is not a binding contract.
ADMISSION
All applications must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator, the Director for graduate Studies for the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate Dean. Students must also meet the following requirements for admission into the graduate program.
http://www.southalabama.edu/admissions/applygradeadline.html
GRE/GMAT Scores
Students must submit a satisfactory score on the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination or the Graduate Management Admissions Test. The scores required for regular admission are:
GRE:
1000 or more combined points on the quantitative and verbal portions.
GMAT:
A combined score of 1000 or more when calculated as follows: 200 x undergraduate GPA + GMAT score.
Earned graduate degree
An earned graduate degree may substitute for graduate entry exam scores. Students must submit a written request along with evidence of the degree to the graduate director for review.
Undergraduate requirements
Students must submit official copies of undergraduate transcripts indicating the following:
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0.
• A major in communication or 21 semester hours in communication.
o A master’s degree earned in a field other than communication may be offered as a substitute for a major in communication. Students must submit written request for review to the graduate director.
International students
• International students must submit documentation of TOEFL test scores of at least 525.
• Students who are required to take the English Language Proficiency Examination and whose scores suggest an English language deficiency must take the appropriate English as a Second Language courses. These courses are not counted as part of the 33-hour degree program.
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION
Students who do not meet the requirement for regular admission may apply for provisional admission if they meet the following standards.
GRE/GMAT Scores
GRE
800 or better combined points on the quantitative and verbal portions.
GMAT
A combined score of 800 or better when calculated as follows: 200 x undergraduate GPA + GMAT score.
Undergraduate requirements
Students must submit official copies of undergraduate transcripts indicating the following:
• A minimum grade point average of 2.5 on all undergraduate work or a 2.75 on the last 64 hours of undergraduate work.
• An undergraduate major or minor in communication or 21 completed semester hours in communication.
• Provisional students will be eligible for regular standing after accruing at least nine 500-level semester hours (usually three courses) taken for graduate credit toward the degree requirements with at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Provisional students who do not have a 3.0 GPA after completing 15 hours of course work will be subject to dismissal from the program.
Filing for Regular Status
After successfully completing 9 hours of graduate course work with a 3.0 average, students must complete a Change of Status Form (GS Form 2A) and submit it to an academic advisor for approval. The graduate coordinator and the Graduate School must also approve the status change.
Applications for regular status must be submitted prior to completion of 15 credit hours.
Non-degree Seeking Status
Students may register for and complete up to five courses without formal entrance into the program.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND COURSES
Students must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of credit in approved 500-level courses. This includes three hours for thesis or project work. A minimum of 24 semester hours must be completed at the University of South Alabama. At least 24 semester hours must be taken in communication.
Core courses
For students with an undergraduate degree in communication, the normal requirements consist of the following four courses:
• CA 500, Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication (generally offered in the fall semester)
• CA 501, Communication Research Methods (generally offered in the spring semester)
• CA 502, Communication Theory (generally offered in the fall semester)
• CA 503, Communication Research Methods II (generally offered in the spring semester)
Students beginning in the fall must take CA 500 before or concurrently with the first 500-level class. Students beginning in the spring semester must take CA 500 the following fall.
Although students are advised to take CA 501, 502, and 503 sequentially, they are not required to do so.
Remaining courses
• With advisor approval, students may take nine of the 33 required graduate hours outside of the communication department.
• No more than 18 hours of dual-listed courses (400/500-level listing for the same course) may be counted toward meeting the minimum hours required fo a degree.
Directed Studies – CA 594
Directed study courses involve independent study of a communication topic. The purpose is to provide study in an area of specialization not covered by an existing course.
• Students must submit topic proposals to a graduate faculty member. Once the topic is approved, both the faculty member and the students must sign a contract describing student expectations and outcomes and grading criteria.
• Students can register for between one and three credit hours in CA 594 courses with course requirements determined accordingly.
• Students may take a maximum of 6 hours in directed study coursework.
Grade requirements
• A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted is required for graduation.
• Courses in which the students received a “D” or below will not be counted toward the degree program.
• A maximum of two courses with a grade of “C” will be counted toward the degree program.
• Students receiving three grades of “C” or below, regardless of the overall GPA, will be dismissed from the program.
Time limitations
• All degree requirements must be completed within seven calendar years.
• Most students who take nine hours per semester complete the degree within a two-year period.
• The time required for degree completion depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the thesis or final project.
Course load
• Two or three courses (6-10 credit hours) per semester constitute a full-time course load.
WRITTEN COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS
All degree candidates must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination. The exam lasts six hours and covers material from department graduate courses offered during the latest three-year period.
The examination provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate independent thought and depth of understanding of the discipline. Using examples from the area of specialization, students should be prepared to demonstrate the ability to:
• Conceptualize problems
• Create and critique research designs
• Evaluate literature, research theories, models, and methodologies
• Discern, discuss, and explain substantive issues, problems, trends, alternative perspectives and research approaches in both general and specific areas.
Exam Administration and Grading
Students have six hours to respond to three in-depth questions that address theory, research methods, and the application of communication knowledge. The names are removed from the exams before graduate faculty members review and grade the essays. Students must receive a “pass” from at least two readers on each of the three questions to pass the exam.
Exam Scheduling
• Exams are scheduled near the end of course work and when at least 27 credit hours have been completed.
• Students are responsible for completing the appropriate forms at least two weeks before taking the exams.
• Exams must be successfully completed no later than one semester before graduation.
• Exams are given to all students on the Friday before the fall or spring semester begins.
Retaking the Exam
• If a student passes two questions and fails one, the Graduate Coordinator may give the option of retaking the one, poorly answered question, rather than re-answering all of the questions. Such an option is scheduled at the convenience of the faculty members who will review the work.
• Students who fail two questions but pass one will need to take the exam again during a scheduled exam period. They do not have to answer the passing question again.
• The exam may be taken only twice. Failing the exam twice results in program dismissal.
THESIS OR FINAL PROJECT
Students who wish to pursue a doctorate degree are encouraged to conduct original research and complete a master’s thesis. Students who do not plan to continue their graduate education may opt to complete a professional project.
Thesis Guidelines
The master's thesis is a capstone experience of the master's degree candidate and offers evidence of the student's original research and writing ability. In completing the thesis, the student demonstrates the ability to conduct independent research.
The graduate student has the primary responsibility for the thesis research and writing. The student is responsible for ensuring that the thesis manuscript meets accepted standards for scholarly writing, including spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The student should read the Graduate School’s Thesis Guidelines thoroughly and know the requirements and guidelines for preparation of the thesis.
http://www.southalabama.edu/graduateprograms/ThesisDissertationGuide.pdf
The student also should identify and become familiar with a recognized academic style manual appropriate to his/her academic discipline. Both documents should be used in the preparation of the thesis. Other student responsibilities include:
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an absolutely and uncompromisingly honest manner. Evidence of plagiarism may result in program dismissal.
Institutional Review Board
By federal law, all research involving human or animal subjects requires prior ethical review and approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Copies of the necessary forms and instructions for submission are available at: http://www.southalabama.edu/com/research/
Copyright Permission
The student has the responsibility to obtain permission to include (or quote) copyrighted material unless the student is the owner of the copyright or unless the material meets the "fair use" criteria.
The thesis advisor, who must be a member the graduate faculty, accepts and assumes the major responsibility to work directly with the graduate student in the research or creative project.
The Thesis Committee is comprised minimally of the thesis advisor, a second departmental reader, and an outside reader. The members of the committee are available to the student for consultation and advisement.
The Graduate School oversees and implements all policies and procedures governing graduate theses. Students are responsible for reviewing these policies and ensuring that they have followed the guidelines for preparing a thesis. For forms, deadlines, and documents, visit:
http://www.southalabama.edu/graduateprograms/
Steps and Timing
1. As soon as possible, the student selects a thesis topic and chooses a suitable chair, department committee member, and a committee member from an outside department. The student writes a thesis proposal and submits it to the chairperson and the committee for approval.
During the first week of the thesis completion semester the student is encouraged to submit the revised proposal, approved by the chair, to the other committee members. The student and committee members will discuss the project and approve if appropriate. The defense date is also set.
Recommended proposal timeline:
• April 21 of the spring semester for fall graduation.
• April 21 of the spring semester for summer graduation if summer graduation is approved by the committee.
• October 21 of the fall semester for spring graduation.
• The chair responds by December 1 for the fall semester and April 15 for the spring semester.
Thesis deadline for Graduate Dean’s Office
Completed thesis with signature sheet, microfilming form, and bursar receipt
Fall graduation: Generally, mid-November
Spring graduation: Generally, mid-April
Summer graduation: Generally, mid-July
2. A student must complete the appropriate paper work and register for the professional research hours during the semester in which the thesis will be completed and defended. Students must confer with the graduate chair before enrolling for research credit.
3. Working backward from the defense date, the student is encouraged to provide the thesis to the chair six weeks before the defense and a revised copy to the committee three weeks before the defense. Graduate School deadlines must be followed for scheduling and administering the final presentation and defense, which must be undertaken and passed no later than one week prior to the Graduate School’s deadline for submitting material for graduation. Deadline dates in a given semester are available from the Graduate School:
http://www.southalabama.edu/graduateprograms/
ELEMENTS
The Proposal (10-20 double spaced pages)
The student must do enough preliminary research to be able to present a well-defined topic for the research paper and project. The proposal must contain:
• A statement of rationale, including research questions and/or thesis statement.
• A description of the method to be employed in carrying out the research.
• A comprehensive literature review.
• A selected bibliography and/or list of individuals to be consulted or interviewed
• A project timetable.
The research proposal must be a properly cited paper examining the context and history of the subject to be addressed. It should contain a review of previous coverage of the subject as well as the appropriate communication theory. Citation must be in a standard style (Chicago/Turabian, APA, or MLA). The proposal must be comprehensive so that the full committee, at its first meeting with the student, has all the information needed to determine the project’s feasibility and merit. The student must stay in close contact with the committee chair regarding further meetings. The committee decides what, if any, additional work, must be completed before the project is approved.
The Research
Once the proposal is approved and all IRB requirements are met, the student may begin the research. The thesis should contain a comprehensive description and analysis of the research method and findings as well as discussion and conclusion.
PROJECT GUIDELINES
All projects must be comprised of new material, not used for any other class, and must be focused on a single topic area of social, professional, or community significance.
Students will select professional projects based on their areas of interest and expertise. The following suggestions may provide some guidance in project selection. Students, however, are encouraged to propose new project ideas that may not be listed here.
Students who select the project option will work under the guidance of two members of the communication graduate faculty.
The professional project represents a student’s culminating work and should be the best and most creative effort displayed during the degree program.
The project has four parts:
• Written proposal (4-5 pages)
• Background paper with proper citations and bibliography (10-15 pages)
• Document representing the student work
• Written self-critique (2-4 pages)
Steps and Timing
1. In the semester prior to the completion of the project, the student selects a topic and chooses a suitable chair and committee member. Recommended proposal dates:
• April 21 of the spring semester for fall graduation
• April 21 of the spring semester for summer graduation if summer graduation is approved by the committee.
• October 21 of the fall semester for spring graduation.
• The chair responds by December 1 for the fall semester and April 15 for the spring semester.
Once the proposal is approved, the student is solely responsible for submitting appropriate research material to the Institutional Review Board for approval. For details, visit the IRB website: http://www.southalabama.edu/com/research/
2. A student must complete the appropriate paperwork and register for the professional project during the semester in which it will be completed and defended. Students must confer with the committee chair before enrolling for professional project credit.
3. During the first week of the project completion semester the student must submit the revised proposal, approved by the chair, to the other committee member. The student is encouraged to set up a committee meeting by September 15 in the fall, January 30 in the spring, or June 10 if summer is approved. The student and committee members will discuss the project and approve if appropriate. The defense date is also set.
4. Working backward from the defense date, the student is encouraged to provide the research paper to the chair four weeks before the defense and a revised copy to the committee three weeks before the defense.
5. Once the project has received committee approval, the student must submit two bound copies printed on 100 percent cotton paper to the department’s graduate director.
ELEMENTS
The Proposal
The student must do enough preliminary research to be able to present a well-defined topic for the research paper and project. The proposal must contain:
• A statement or rationale, including a description of the target audience.
• A description of the method to be employed in carrying out the project.
• A complete literature review.
• A selected bibliography and/or list of individuals to be consulted or interviewed.
• A description of the project evaluation method.
• A project timetable.
The proposal must be comprehensive so that the full committee, at its first meeting with the student, has all the information needed to determine the project’s feasibility and merit. The student must stay in close contact with the committee chair regarding further meetings. The committee decides what, if any, additional work, must be completed before the project is approved.
The research paper must be a properly cited paper examining the context and history of the subject to be addressed. It should contain a review of previous coverage of the subject as well as the appropriate communication theory. Citation must be in a standard style (Chicago/Turabian, APA, or MLA).
This paper must be completed and submitted to the committee before the professional project begins. Once the paper is submitted, the full committee will meet with the student to review and discuss the paper and upcoming project.
The Internship Project
Completion of semester-length approved internship, at least 20 hours per week.
Students must submit a written paper containing a theoretical analysis of their professional experiences. The student must select a member of the graduate faculty member to oversee the internship and paper and a second committee member.
Professional project examples
• The creation and implementation of a comprehensive advertising or public relations campaign including comprehensive pre and post campaign research.
• The planning and implementation of a professional conference or significant special event.
• The creation of a substantial public relations publication.
• The completed production one 15-minute or 10-page story or a series of small stories at total at least 15 minutes or 10 pages.
• The creation and implementation of a comprehensive organizational communication audit.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
Graduate assistantships may be awarded to qualified graduate students by a competitive application process. Assistants currently receive an $8,000 academic-year stipend and a tuition waiver for up to 10 semester credit hours each term of the appointment. Students are assigned departmental positions that focus on teaching or research.
Applying for an Assistantship
Students must complete a graduate assistantship application, GS Form 12, and submit three letters of recommendation. Students who wish to teach must also submit a statement describing their teaching philosophy.
Responsibilities
Students with research assignments assist department faculty in research, help with special projects, and provide support or course instruction.
Students with teaching responsibilities generally assist with the teaching of two sections of CA 110, Public Speaking, and attend weekly staff meetings. These graduate assistants will be responsible to the Instructor of Record for the particular course.
Other responsibilities include:
• Working at least 20 hours per week
• Registering for at least 6 hours of course work.
• Reporting for work at the beginning of registration each semester. Final exam week is also a work week.
• Establishing regular office hours and keeping a weekly log of hours worked and work completed.
Students with full-time jobs are not eligible for assistantships.
Assistantships may not exceed two years.
GRADUATION
Candidates for the master’s degree must apply for the degree approximately six months in advance of the anticipated graduation date. The Registrar’s office oversees the process and requires an application fee. Once the application is submitted, the registrar’s office completes a checklist to determine if all requirements are met.
THE GRADUATE FACULTY
James L. Aucoin, Professor, B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City; M.A., University of Colorado-Boulder; Ph.D., University of Missouri School of Journalism. Research interests: journalism, ethics, history.
Michele B. Kimball, Assistant Professor, B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., the University of Florida. Research interests: Access to government information, reporters’ privilege, legal and qualitative methods.
Brett Lunceford, Assistant Professor, B.S., Oregon State University; M.A., California State University, Hayward; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University.
Research interests: rhetorical theory, rhetorical criticism, social movements, technology, gender
Patricia Mark, Assistant Professor, B.A., and M.B.A., University of South Alabama; Diplome D’estudes Superieures Commericals, Administratives et Financieres, Pau, France; Ph.D. University of Southern Mississippi.
Research interests: advertising, public relations, and integrated marketing communication.
Reginald Moody, Assistant Professor, B.A., and M.A., the University of South Alabama; Ph.D., the University of Southern Mississippi. Research interests: mass media, advertising, and public relations.
Vanessa Murphree, Associate Professor, B.A., and M.A., University of Alabama; Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi. Research interests: public relations, history
Steven C. Rockwell, Associate Professor, B.A., University of South Alabama; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Alabama. Research interests: new technology, broadcasting
Kathryn Toelken, Assistant Professor, B.A., and M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., Wayne State University. Research interests: crisis communication, organizational learning, intercultural communication.
Richard Ward, Associate Professor, B.A., University of Southern California; M.S., University of Southern Mississippi; Ph.D., University of Texas-Austin.
Research interests: television and film history.
Gerald Wilson, Professor, B.S., Bowling Green State University; M.A., Miami University: Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research interests: interpersonal, small group, and organizational communication.
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