Communication Studies - Master of Arts

The department offers thesis, comprehensive exam, and applied project options in its Masters of Arts program. All options require a minimum of 36 credits, which includes not only Communication Studies courses but at least one course from outside the department. The thesis option requires at least 30 credits of coursework, 6 credits of thesis hours (COMM 599 Master's Thesis), and an oral defense of the thesis and coursework. The comprehensive exam option requires 36 credits of coursework, plus six hours of written examination, followed by an oral defense. The applied project option requires at least 30 credits of coursework, 6 credits of project  hours (COMM 598 MA Project and an oral defense of the project and coursework All options require a minimum of 30 credit hours of Communication Studies courses.

Select 15 credits from Communication Studies electives for the thesis option. Take 15 credits plus at least 3 credits from related disciplines for the comprehensive exam option. Two courses (6 credits) for courses that have numbers 450+ can be counted. For all options, a total of 36 credits is required, 30 credits of COMM, a B- or better in all courses, and a minimum 3.0 GPA to graduate

An M.A. Tracking Form for thesis, comprehensive exam, and applied project options are found on the department website.

Graduate course rotation:

Fall 

COMM 540 Seminar in Political communication 

COMM 570 Seminar in Organizational Communication 

COMM 583 Seminar in Theories of Communication 

Spring

COMM 505 Research Methods/COMM 506 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication

COMM 576 Seminar on Communication and Culture

COMM 584 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication

Thesis Option:

Prefix Title Credits
Degree Requirements
COMM 505Research Methods 13
or COMM 506 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 583Seminar in Theories of Communication3
Select three courses from the following:9
Seminar in Political communication3
Seminar in Organizational Communication3
Seminar on Communication and Culture3
Seminar in Interpersonal Communication3
Electives 2
Select 9-12 credits of COMM Electives 9-12
Select 3-6 credits must be from courses in Related Fields (outside of COMM courses and must be numbered 450+)3-6
Thesis
COMM 599Master's Thesis6
Total Credits36
1

Students must receive a minimum grade of a B or better in the methods course for which they wish to apply to their thesis work. Approval of the students thesis advisor may also be required.

2

In order to graduate, students will need a total of 36 credits, of which 30 credits must be from COMM coursework. Please consult your advisor about your specific requirements and how to complete them in order to graduate.

Comprehensive Exam Option:

Prefix Title Credits
Degree Requirements
COMM 505Research Methods3
or COMM 506 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 583Seminar in Theories of Communication3
Select three courses from the following:9
Seminar in Political communication3
Seminar in Organizational Communication3
Seminar on Communication and Culture3
Seminar in Interpersonal Communication3
Electives 1
Select 15-18 credits from COMM Electives15-18
Select 3-6 credits must be from courses in Related Fields (outside of COMM courses and must be numbered 450+)3-6
Total Credits36
 
1

In order to graduate, students will need a total of 36 credits, of which 30 credits must be from COMM coursework. Please consult your advisor about your specific requirements and how to complete them in order to graduate.

 

Applied Project Option:

Prefix Title Credits
Degree Requirements
COMM 505Research Methods3
or COMM 506 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 583Seminar in Theories of Communication3
Select three courses from the following:9
Seminar in Political communication3
Seminar in Organizational Communication3
Seminar on Communication and Culture3
Seminar in Interpersonal Communication3
Electives 1
Select 9-12 credits from Electives in Related Fields, 3-6 credits from (graduate levels; numbered 450+).9-12
Select 3-6 credits must be from courses in Related Fields (outside of COMM courses and must be numbered 450+)3-6
Project Option
COMM 598MA Project6
Total Credits36
1

In order to graduate, students will need a total of 36 credits, of which 30 credits must be from COMM coursework. Please consult your advisor about your specific requirements and how to complete them in order to graduate.

Entrance Requirements for Graduate Study in Communication Studies

Students wishing to enroll in the Master program in Communication Studies must meet the following criteria:

  1. Hold a BA or BS degree, from an accredited institution of higher learning; Social Science disciplines are preferred
  2. Hold a minimum grade point average of 3.00

*The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test is not required for admission; however, existing GRE scores that are high will strengthen a candidate's application and are highly regarded in the awarding of Graduate Assistantships. 

New Mexico State University master’s accelerated program provides the opportunity for academically qualified undergraduate students to begin working on a master’s degree during their junior and senior years while completing a bachelor’s degree. Typically, a bachelor’s degree requires four years to complete, and a master’s degree requires an additional two years. The master’s accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to complete a graduate program in an accelerated manner. You can also check NMSU’s catalog for additional information about our programs. The MAP program allows undergraduate students to take graduate courses and count up to twelve credits toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees in COMM.

MAP Requirements

  • The Graduate School allows qualified junior or senior students to substitute its graduate courses for required or elective courses in an undergraduate degree program and then subsequently count those same courses as fulfilling graduate requirements in a related graduate program.
  • Undergraduate students may apply for acceptance to the accelerated master’s program after completing 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework of which a minimum of 25 semester credit hours must be completed at NMSU.
  • The grade point average must be at a minimum of 3.25.
  • Students must receive a grade of B or higher in this coursework to be counted for graduate credit. If a grade of B- or lower is earned, it will not count toward the graduate degree.

Accepted MAP Courses

The following courses are accepted for use in the MAP program, any other courses may be considered after a consultation with an advisor. An exception will need to be made to the degree audit in order for the additional course(s) to be included on both the Undergraduate and Graduate degrees.

Prefix Title Credits
COMM 550Seminar in Communication Technologies3
COMM 557Seminar Strategic Communication3
COMM 562Seminar in Family Communication3
COMM 565Seminar in Nonverbal Communication3
COMM 571Seminar in Sports Communication3
COMM 595Communication Internship for Graduate Students3

Enrollment in graduate courses requires the approval of the Department Chair and a completed MAP form before the first semester to take MAP courses for dual credit. Please meet with Dr. Armfield for more information.