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Description
The Master of Arts in Communication curriculum focuses on theoretical and applied perspectives of communication theory and research, with tracks in Interpersonal Communication and Mass Communication. Graduates derive benefits in a variety of academic and career directions, including entry into doctoral programs, advancement within existing career contexts, and the procurement of new career directions in the public and private sectors.
Degrees OfferedMaster of Arts in Communication - Interpersonal Communication Track
- Mass Communication Track
Admission
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) combined score of at least 1000 from test taken within the last five years.
- GPA of 3.0 or higher in last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study.
- Written statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals.
- For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
Application Due Dates
All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
| Program(s) |
Fall Priority |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| Master of Arts in Communication |
|
|
|
|
| |
Interpersonal Communication Track |
Feb 1 |
Jul 15 |
Dec 1 |
Apr 15 |
| |
Mass Communication Track |
Feb 1 |
Jul 15 |
Dec 1 |
Apr 15 |
International Applicants
| Program(s) |
Fall Priority |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| Master of Arts in Communication |
|
|
|
|
| |
Interpersonal Communication Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
| |
Mass Communication Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
International Transfer Applicants
| Program(s) |
Fall Priority |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| Master of Arts in Communication |
|
|
|
|
| |
Interpersonal Communication Track |
Feb 1 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
| |
Mass Communication Track |
Feb 1 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
Master of Arts in Communication
All students must select a track—Interpersonal Communication or Mass Communication. To select or change a track, students should consult with the graduate program coordinator at the Nicholson School of Communication.
Core Requirements
Interpersonal Communication Track—15 Credit Hours
- COM 6046 Interpersonal Communication (3 credit hours)
- COM 6303 Communication Research I (3 credit hours)
- COM 6304 Communication Research II (3 credit hours)
- SPC 6219 Modern Communication Theory (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)
Mass Communication Track—12 Credit Hours
- MMC 6402 Mass Communication Theory (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6445 Mass Media Research I (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6446 Mass Media Research II (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)
Restricted Electives for All Tracks
Interpersonal Communication Track—15 credit hours in thesis option, 18 credit hours in comprehensive exam option
Mass Communication Track—18 credit hours in thesis option, 21 credit hours in comprehensive exam option
- COM 6121 Communication Management (3 credit hours)
- COM 6467 Studies in Persuasion (3 credit hours)
- COM 6468 Communication and Conflict (3 credit hours)
- COM 6525 Communication Strategy and Planning (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6202 Legal and Ethical Issues for Communication (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6307 International Communication (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6407 Visual Communication Theory (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6567 Seminar in New Media (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6600 Media Effects and Audience Analysis (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6606 Advertising and Society (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6607 Communication and Society (3 credit hours)
- MMC 6612 Communication and Government (3 credit hours)
- PUR 6403 Crisis Public Relations (3 credit hours)
- SPC 6442 Small Group Communication (3 credit hours)
With approval, independent study and internship credit taken through the Nicholson School of Communication may be applied to electives.
Core courses from other tracks, special topics, independent studies, 5000-level courses, and approved courses taken outside the Nicholson School of Communication may be counted as restricted electives.
Degree Completion
Before completing their degree, students must select either the thesis or comprehensive exam option. The decision whether to write a thesis and defend it in an oral examination or to take the comprehensive exams should be made in consultation with the Nicholson School of Communication graduate program director. Typically, students entering or continuing professional careers following the M.A. would select the comprehensive exam option. Those who plan to enter doctoral programs would select the thesis option.
Regardless of track, the requirements are as follows:
Thesis option:
- 30 hours of coursework and 4 hours of thesis preparation and defense
- Students complete a formal thesis on a topic based on consultation with their thesis adviser and committee and will meet both departmental and university thesis requirements.
Comprehensive Exam Option:
- 33 hours of coursework and successful completion of the comprehensive exams
- Students take written examinations from six courses. All exams must be based on graduate courses offered by the Nicholson School of Communication.
- For the Interpersonal Communication Track, the exam courses must include the four core communication courses and two electives. For the Mass Communication Track, the exam courses include the three mass communication courses and three electives.
- Students must pass five of the six exams with grades of "B" or higher to successfully complete the comprehensive exam requirement.
- Students who pass four of the six exams must rewrite the two failed exams and pass one of the two. This is scheduled early in the subsequent semester. Students who pass less than four exams must retake all six exams at the regularly scheduled comprehensive exam times in the subsequent semester.
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
For consideration by the Nicholson School of Communication, students must apply by the priority deadline and submit three letters of recommendation and a brief (one page) resume.
- If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.
Contact Info
Master of Arts in Communication
Burt Pryor, Ph.D. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4655
apryor@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Interpersonal Communication Track
Burt Pryor, Ph.D. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4655
apryor@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Mass Communication Track
Burt Pryor, Ph.D. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4655
apryor@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
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Graduate Students
