The master's degree in communication and media offers coursework in rhetorical, critical/cultural, and social scientific perspectives and methodologies. Students can complete a traditional research-oriented thesis or a project-based thesis (otherwise known as a Plan B).

Students who choose the traditional research-oriented thesis option will be required to take 27 credit hours plus 4 hours of thesis credits. A minimum of 25 hours must be taken within the COJO department, with a maximum of 6 hours of independent study, 3 hours of internship credit hours, and 3 hours of 4000-level coursework.

Students who choose a Plan B project will be required to take 30 credit hours plus 3 hours of Graduate Project credits (for a total of 33 credit hours). A minimum of 27 hours must be taken within the COJO department, with a maximum of 6 hours of independent study, 3 hours of internship credit hours, and 6 hours of 4000-level coursework.

Full-time students will need to decide by the end of their second semester which type of project they will select. Nine credits a semester is considered full time.

Four required courses in theory and methods insure a solid research base on which students build their individual research. Required classes are completed in the first year so that the second year is used to develop and complete the thesis or project.

HUMAN COMMUNICATION

In human communication, students study many different areas, such as cross-cultural communication, interpersonal communication, small group communication, rhetoric (from ancient to 21st century to visual communication), communication apprehension, and more.

MEDIA COMMUNICATION

In media communication, students study both traditional and new media including advertising, public relations, visual communication, radio and audio, blogging, news, entertainment, political communication, and other forms Internet and mobile driven communication. The master's program in mass media addresses media issues and problems from a theoretical perspective. The program is designed to be flexible so that students can examine questions that relate to their specific interests in the media. Again, areas of interest include, but are not limited to, print media, new media, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations.