For more information, contact Dr. Richard Ward, Graduate Coordinator, rward@jaguar1.usouthal.edu, 251-380-2800

The Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communication curriculum is aimed at meeting the needs of both the communication practitioner and the research-oriented individual. The curriculum of the graduate program consists of a twelve-hour core; a complement of elected courses from the graduate course offerings of the Department of Communication and other departments, and a culminating project (thesis or final project).

Graduate study in the Department of Communication at the University of South Alabama seeks to broaden the student's perspective and develop originality and competence in analysis and research. The student's course of study should result in a demonstrable depth of understanding in areas of concentration selected by the student and approved by the student's advisor.

What are the objectives of the program?

The program is designed to encourage students to become specialists in public relations, mass communication, journalism, corporate communication, organizational communication, or other areas of corporate or public communication. It is intended to produce graduates who are competent in facilitating the internal communication of an organization or in facilitating communication to members of the public. Graduates of this program can prepare for professional careers in a wide variety of enterprises. Graduates of the program electing to complete the thesis option will be qualified to enter a doctoral program in communication or a related field.

In addition to career development or preparation for a Ph.D., a main objective of the program is development of the student's critical thinking regarding communication-based problems. Thus, critical examination of theoretical concepts and application of theory to relevant problems is a major focus of most of the course offerings.

Admission to the Graduate Program

1. What are admission requirements to the graduate program in communication?

For admission into the program leading to the Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communication an applicant must fulfill the following departmental requirements as stated in the University of South Alabama Graduate Bulletin:

1. Regular Standing

1. General Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. A minimal grade-point average of 3.00 on all undergraduate work (A=4.0).
3. Sufficient Courses in the major subject to qualify for graduate study in the discipline. (The applicant's record will be evaluated by the Graduate Coordinator.)
4. International students must submit documentation of TOEFL test score of 525 or above, or its equivalent.
5. Approval by the Graduate Program Coordinator for Communication, the Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate Dean.

1. Departmental Requirements
2.  
   1. Submission of a satisfactory score on the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (1000 or better combined points on the quantitative and verbal portions). GMAT, Miller Analogies, or LSAT scores may be substituted if approved by the graduate coordinator.
   2. Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant in supervisory or instructional capacity.
   3. A communication theory background including research courses equivalent to that of a student who has completed the undergraduate degree in Communication at the University of South Alabama. Students without a Bachelor's degree in communication will have their previous educational and corporate experience evaluated by the department's Graduate Studies Committee. This evaluation will determine the student's need to take undergraduate course work to prepare the student for the graduate program.

1. What is provisional standing?
2. Provisional standing is awarded to students who do not meet the basic requirements for regular admission. General admission requirements are the same as those for regular standing with the exception of the grade-point average and submission of standardized scores. Provisional standing is granted to students with a minimal grade-point average of 2.5 on all undergraduate work (A=4.0) or 2.75 on the last 64 hours of college work. Provisional standing may also be granted because Graduate Record Examination scores are not available or are below the combined score of 1000 for regular standing, or if the student does not have the required theory and/or research-methods background.

   Provisional-standing 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, provided at least a B average is maintained in all such work attempted. Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Record Examination may be waived by the Graduate Student Coordinator. The provisional standing student who does not have the required B average upon completing at least 15 semester hours of graduate credit toward the degree requirements will be subject to dismissal from the graduate school.

   NOTE: Grades received in undergraduate courses taken to fulfill Paragraph 3 of the Departmental Requirements WILL be included in a student's calculated GPA.

3. If I was admitted with provisional standing, when and how do I file for regular standing?

After successfully completing 9 hours of graduate course work with a B average, obtain a Change of Status Form (GS Form 2A) and give it to your academic advisor for his or her approval. The form is then submitted to the departmental Graduate Program Coordinator and goes through the approval process to the Graduate School. Application for regular status must be made prior to completion of 15 credit hours. 

Degree Requirements and Courses

1. How many semester hours are required?

A minimum of 36 semester hours of credit in approved 400- and 500-level course work is required to receive the thesis-based M.A. degree. A minimum of 24 semester hours must be taken at the University of South Alabama. At least 24 semester hours must be in communication. Non-thesis project M.A. requirements include 6 additional semester hours of course work.

1. What are core courses and do they have to be taken in sequential order?
2. For students with a B.A. in Communication, the normal requirements consist of 12 semester hours of core courses (CA 500-Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication; CA 501-Communication Research Methods I; CA 502-Communication Theory; and CA 503-Communication Research Methods II).

   Each Student must take each of the core courses to be eligible for the Master's Degree in Corporate and Public Communication. CA 500 must be taken before or during the first semester a student attempts other 500-level courses in the department. Although the other4 three core courses are usually taken in sequential order, there is no requirement to do so.

3. When are core courses offered throughout the school year?
4. Usually, CA 500 is offered during fall semester only. Occasionally, but not usually, CA 500 is offered in the Spring if student demand is sufficient to justify the course offering. CA 501 is usually offered in the Fall semester as well. CA 502 and CA 503 are usually offered in the Spring Semester.
5. Other than the core courses, what courses should I take?
6. Students must complete 36 hours of graduate course work, which can include 3 hours for thesis or project. Those with an undergraduate communication major, with the approval of an advisor, may take 9 of these hours outside of the department. A maximum of 12 hours of advanced undergraduate-level course work (400-level) may be counted toward the graduate degree provided: 1) graduate students in courses at that level perform additional work to satisfy graduate standing, 2) the course (or its equivalent) was not taken at and counted toward the undergraduate degree, and 3) the student's advisor approves of the course as part of the student's graduate program. Usually 400-level courses outside the Department of Communication will not be approved for graduate credit.
7. What is the minimum grade-point average I must maintain on all courses taken towards the graduate degree?
8. A minimum overall 3.0 grade point average on all work attempted in the program is required for graduation. Courses in which a student receives the grade of "D" or below may not be counted toward the degree program. A maximum of two courses with the grade of "C" may be counted toward the degree program. Students who receive three grades of "C" or below, regardless of the overall GPA, will be dismissed from the program.
9. How long do I have to finish the Master's degree, and how long does it normally take?
10. All requir3ments for a graduate degree must be completed within five calendar years from the date of matriculation as a graduate student. Most students will complete the degree within a two-year period. The length of study depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the thesis or final project.
11. What is a full-time course load?

Six to ten graduate credit hours (two or three 3-hour courses) constitute a full-time course load for a graduate student.

Graduate Assistantships

1. What is a graduate assistantship?

Graduate assistantships may be awarded to qualified graduate students by a competitive application process. Assistants currently receive a $6,000 academic-year stipend and a tuition waiver for up to 10 semester credit hours. This is in return for work performed in the Department of Communication. Two types of assistantships are offered by the department: A Graduate Research Assistantship and a Graduate Teaching Assistantship.

1. What do I need to do to apply for a graduate assistantship? What are the requirements for having an assistantship?
2. Students must complete a graduate assistantship application, which includes three (3) letters of recommendation. Further, students must have attained full-standing status and submit Graduate Record Examination test scores to be eligible for consideration for a graduate assistantship. An assistantship application can be obtained from a Department of Communication secretary.
3. What would I do as a graduate assistant?

Graduate research assistants assist department faculty in research, help with special projects or provide support for instruction in courses. This kind of contact with faculty provides important hands-on experience in data collection, statistical interpretation and research application.

Graduate teaching assistants will have responsibility for two sections of CA110-Public Speaking, and attending a one-night-a-week seminar on teaching the introductory speech class.

Graduate assistants work 20 hours per week and must be registered for at least 6 hours of course work. Graduate assistants will report for work at the beginning of registration each semester. The final examination week is also considered a work week. Graduate assistants will establish regular office hours and keep a weekly log of hours worked and work completed.

It is expected that students holding assistantships do not hold other employment. Any other employment must be approved by the Graduate Studies Coordinator.