Communication (MA)

UCF's Master of Arts in Communication prepares students for a wide range of professions in academia and the public and private sectors. This program, comprised of industry-leading scholars and professionals, provides students with the knowledge to succeed as expert communicators - all within a convenient and practical curriculum.

Housed in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, the MA in Communication is part of UCF Downtown, a 21st-century campus with access to arts, culture, nightlife, and business. While some courses are offered online, required core courses and most electives are offered in a face-to-face or mixed-mode formats, typically Monday - Thursday evenings at UCF Downtown.

The MA degree program in Communication is a four-semester program for full-time students. Part-time students make take up to seven years to complete the program. Both thesis and nonthesis options are offered and both consist of a minimum of 33 semester hours of work.

Total Credit Hours Required: 33 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • All required courses must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.
  • Complete the following:
    • COM5312 - Introduction of Communication Research (3)
    • COM6008 - Proseminar in Communication (3)
    • COM6401 - Communication Theory (3)

Research Methods Concentration

• Complete at least 1 of the following:
  • COM6303 - Qualitative Research Methods in Communication (3)
  • COM6304 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication (3)

Elective Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • In addition to the courses listed below, special topics courses, study abroad courses, independent study, directed research, internship, and graduate-level courses taken outside the Nicholson School of Communication and Media may be counted as restricted electives, pending approval by the program director, for up to 6 credit hours total.
  • Earn at least 18 credits from the following:
    • ADV6209 - Advertising and Society (3)
    • COM5932 - Topics in Communication Theory and Research (3)
    • COM6046 - Interpersonal Communication (3)
    • COM6047 - Interpersonal Support in the Workplace (3)
    • COM6048 - Communication in Close Relationships (3)
    • COM6121 - Communication Management (3)
    • COM6145 - Organizational Communication (3)
    • COM6425 - Symbolism in Terrorism (3)
    • COM6463 - Studies in Intercultural Communication (3)
    • COM6463 - Studies in Intercultural Communication (3)
    • COM6467 - Studies in Persuasion (3)
    • COM6468 - Communication and Conflict (3)
    • COM6535 - Communication Campaigns (3)
    • COM6525 - Communication Strategy and Planning (3)
    • MMC6202 - Legal and Ethical Issues for Communication (3)
    • MMC6266 - Communications Convergence and Media Planning (3)
    • MMC6307 - International Communication (3)
    • MMC6407 - Visual Communication Theory (3)
    • MMC6567 - New Media (3)
    • MMC6600 - Media Effects and Audience Analysis (3)
    • MMC6607 - Communication and Society (3)
    • MMC6612 - Communication and Government (3)
    • MMC6735 - Social Media as Mass Communication (3)
    • PUR6005 - Theories of Public Relations (3)
    • PUR6215 - Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility (3)
    • PUR6403 - Crisis Public Relations (3)
    • PUR6405 - Communication and Public Relations in Politics and Government (3)
    • SPC6340 - Teaching Communication (3)
    • SPC6442 - Small Group Communication (3)

Thesis/Nonthesis Options

• Complete all of the following
  Thesis Option
  • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: COM 6971 Thesis (minimum of 3 credit hours, can be taken individually) The thesis option requires a minimum of 3 hours of thesis credit and a successful defense of a thesis. Students may enroll in thesis hours after they have successfully completed the three core courses and their thesis committee has been approved by the department, college, and Graduate Studies. The student's permanent faculty adviser will chair their committee, which also will include two additional graduate faculty members in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. One additional member, who is also a graduate faculty member, may be added from outside the NSCM. All members of the thesis committee are selected in consultation with the student's permanent faculty adviser. When a topic has been selected, students, in conjunction with their permanent adviser, will develop a thesis proposal. Copies of the proposal will be routed to members to their thesis committee and a proposal hearing scheduled. All student must pass a proposal hearing as well as a final oral defense of their thesis. Students who elect to write a thesis should become familiar with the university's requirements and deadlines for organizing and submitting the thesis.
  Nonthesis Options
  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Students who decide not to complete a thesis may choose to complete either the comprehensive examination nonthesis option OR an applied professional project nonthesis option.
    Nonthesis Option 1: Comprehensive Examination
    • Complete all of the following
      • The nonthesis comprehensive examination option is a four-examination requirement that assesses students' coursework competency. Students who choose the comprehensive examination option must take one additional elective course (three credit hours) and successfully complete the comprehensive examinations. Upon completing their 18th hour in the program, students must select a permanent advisor and form a comprehensive exam committee. The examinations will cover research methods, communication theory, and elective areas selected together by the student with his or her comprehensive examination committee. In order to fulfill the comprehensive exam requirement, the student must earn a passing grade on all exams. If a student fails to pass any of the comprehensive exam area questions, they are allowed two additional attempts to satisfy the comprehensive exam requirement. Once an exam in an area is passed, the student does not have to sit for that exam area again. Students are allowed three attempts to satisfy the comprehensive exam requirement. Students are expected to refer to the Communication MA Graduate Program Handbook for the comprehensive examination protocol.
      • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Additional Elective
    Nonthesis Option 2: Applied Professional Project
    • Complete all of the following
      • The nonthesis applied project option requires students to demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the graduate program to a problem/topic that integrates the range of communication theory, practice, and research presented throughout the program. Upon completing their 18th hours in the program, each student must select a permanent advisor and form an applied project committee. The student will work directly with a faculty adviser to develop a project and the adviser will supervise the project. Students and faculty advisors are encouraged to meet with committee members at the proposal and final defense stages. The grading system for the project is Pass/No Pass. Students who receive a grade of Pass will be allowed to graduate assuming all other requirements are met.
      • Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
        • COM6909 - Research Report (1 - 99)

Equipment Fee

• Full-time students in the Communication MA program pay a $16 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $8 per semester.

Independent Learning

• Students who elect the thesis option engage in independent learning through the design and implementation of original research in the thesis process. Students who pursue the comprehensive examination option experience independent learning through their individual preparation for each of four comprehensive examinations. Students who pursue the applied project option engage in applied, original communication research in an applied setting. All students engage in independent learning in every Communication core course. A research paper or project is required in each of these classes. The papers and projects provide independent learning by requiring students to design and carry out research projects and develop analytical papers, some of which are submitted to conferences and/or journals for peer review. Internships and independent studies are also common opportunities for independent learning in the Communication MA program.

Grand Total Credits: 36

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Applicants should adhere to the application requirements outlined below. An application will not be reviewed for admission until it is verified as complete by the UCF College of Graduate Studies.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• Official transcripts
• Résumé or CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Two letters of recommendation
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.

The following information is required for those who wish to be considered for funding initiated by the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, but is recommended for all applicants:

• Additional letter of recommendation (total of three)

Application Deadlines

*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, 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.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

The majority of financial assistance provided by the Nicholson School of Communication and Media graduate program is granted through assistantships. The number of total Assistantships at the Master’s level is limited, and varies year-to-year. Preference will be given to applicants who complete their application for admission prior to the January 15th priority deadline. It is the applicants' responsibility to ensure they have a complete application on file by the priority deadline. Applicants may indicate their interst in an assistantship in the application and follow up with the admission specialist or program coordinator. Students on assistantship are paid a stipend, receive tuition support, and are eligible for health insurance. For general information regarding assistantships at UCF, refer to the Assistantships (www.students.graduate.ucf.edu/assistantships) section of the College of Graduate Studies website.

• Graduate Teaching Assistants are assigned to work with faculty members and assist them with their teaching responsibilities. This includes assisting with large lecture classes, grading exams, compiling information for lectures, and working with students, as instructed, to help keep a class operating smoothly.
• Graduate Teaching Associates are graduate students who, after completing eighteen hours of their graduate program of study and the required university and department training, are assigned to teach their own sections of undergraduate courses. Typically, Graduate Teaching Associates teach SPC 1608 (Fundamentals of Oral Communication) or SPC 1603 (Fundamentals of Technical Presentation).