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Communication Studies M.A.

USA

12

2

What will I learn?

Prepares you to establish or further your careers as a professional in communication or related fields such as personnel, business administration, or human services, or for continuing study in a Ph.D. program.

Specializations

Specializations offered in interpersonal communication, media studies, organizational communication, and public discourse. In consultation with advisors, students prepare for careers in public and private industry, government, or academic areas. Students are encouraged to develop their course plans to foster their evolving academic and career needs. Thus, one might advance specific interests and competencies in areas such as college teaching, communication technology, conflict management, political media, organizational communication training and development, sports media, health communication, science communication, or public relations. Individual specialties can be developed within each of the specialization areas.

Beyond selecting a program of emphasis from one of the above identified content areas, students may choose an additional focus in the area of pedagogy. Students must apply to the pedagogy focus and those selected are required to take three semesters (3 credits total) of COM 503 (Graduate Practicum: Teaching Communication Seminar) and have concurrent teaching experience of at least one section in COM 100, with up to two sections per semester through the Communication Studies Department

For students’ convenience, most courses are offered in late afternoon or evening in Providence and Kingston. Full- and part-time programs of study are available.

Program requirements: An approved program will include a minimum of 30 credits for both the thesis and nonthesis options. COM 501 and 502 are required for all students. All students must complete one seminar in each of the four focus areas (12 credits): COM 510-interpersonal communication; COM 520-media studies /COM522-media and the environment; COM 530-organizational communication; and COM 540-public discourse. An additional course in research methods, statistics (e.g., STA 409 Statistical Methods in Research or PSY/STA 532: Experimental Design), or data analysis is strongly recommended.

For the thesis option, the requirements are 24 course credits plus thesis (6 credits) and its oral defense. For the nonthesis option (admission with approval of the director of graduate studies), requirements are 30 credits of course work that includes a course requiring a substantial paper based on significant independent study, plus a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive consists of two sections: the written section, which examines the students proficiency and knowledge in each of the four focus areas; and the oral section, which allows for the student to strengthen written answers, and to address material related to the written questions.

For thesis students, six elective credits beyond their 18 specified credits may be taken. For nonthesis students, up to 12 credits of free electives may be taken. A limited number of 500- and 600-level courses in other departments and programs may be used for program credit if approved by the graduate program director as part of the students program of study before the courses are taken.

Students who take six credits per semester, plus one summer, may complete their studies in two years.

Majors

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Media Studies
  • Organizational Communication
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Which department am I in?

College of Arts and Sciences

Study options

Full Time (2 years)

Tuition fees
US$31,952.00 per year
Please note this fee is subject to change.
Start date

3 September 2025

Venue

University of Rhode Island

Kingston Campus,

75 Briar Lane,

KINGSTON,

Rhode Island,

2881, United States

Full Time (2 years)

Tuition fees
US$31,952.00 per year
Please note this fee is subject to change.
Start date

3 September 2025

Venue

Feinstein Providence Campus

Chafee Social Science Center,

142 Flagg Road,

KINGSTON,

Rhode Island,

2881, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

Generally, a bachelor’s degree with undergraduate credit in communication studies. Applicants should submit a paper with a research focus written for an undergraduate course. Students from other academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply and may be admitted with the permission of the director of graduate studies, although some basic courses may have to be taken for no program credit. Nonnative speakers of English are expected to demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English communication (TOEFL score of 230 CBT or 88 iBT for admission; minimum of 250 CBT or 100 iBT, including 23 speaking score, for consideration for teaching assistantships.

Application Deadline: February 1 for applicants who wish to be considered for financial aid. July 15 (rolling decisions on applications)

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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