The MA in Lifespan and Digital Communication requires 36 credit hours (non-thesis option) or 33 hours (thesis option). No more than 12 hours may be taken on the 500 level. Both non-thesis and thesis option students take five required core courses (15 hours) that include:

COMM 601        Lifespan Communication Theory and Research        3

COMM 602        Digital Communication Theory and Research           3

COMM 603        Social Change and Communication Systems             3

COMM 604       Lifespan Communication Research Methods             3             

COMM 605        Critical Methods and Digital Communication           3

In addition, students pursuing the non-thesis option take 18 credit hours of COMM electives and a required 3-credit hour capstone seminar COMM 690. Students pursuing the thesis option take an additional 9 credit hours of COMM electives, COMM 696: Thesis Preparation (3 hours) (in the first semester they register for thesis hours) as well as COMM 698 & 699: Thesis (six hours) in lieu of COMM 690.  This thesis is based on original scholarly research and must address a specific and viable topic salient to the student’s core and elective coursework in Lifespan and Digital communication.

The thesis option is recommended for those students who have maintained a high GPA, have the support of a faculty advisor from the Communication and Theatre Arts Department, and who are considering further studies at the doctoral level.  The thesis committee, consisting of a chair and two other faculty members certified for graduate instruction, direct and evaluate the student’s work.  Approval of the thesis proposal by the student’s committee and GPD is required before the completion of 27 hours of coursework.  Upon completion of the thesis, the committee will conduct a two-hour examination and defense of the thesis.