Communication (COMM)

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Abstract

The Department of Communication offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The department takes as its intellectual focus the strategic use of discourse in the public sphere. Areas of study include intercultural communication; persuasion and social influence; public relations; and rhetoric and political culture.

Students with both research and pre-professional objectives enter the master's program, and about half of them pursue doctoral study for an academic career. Others find employment after graduation in corporate communication, government policy research, personnel training and development, politics, public relations management, public service, speechwriting and other areas that require a highly developed knowledge of communication. Most graduates of the doctoral program pursue academic careers; however, some work in public policy research and other professions requiring highly developed research skills.

Admissions Information

Admission to both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs is based on the student's prior academic record, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, statement of goals and research interests, sample of scholarly writing, and other information relevant to the applicant's likelihood of completing the program. TOEFL or IELTS are required of all international applicants (except applicants from the United Kingdom, Commonwealth Caribbean, Ireland, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand whose first language is English). Although most applicants to the program will have a prior degree in communication, others with an interest in studying communication may be admitted (with the possibility of additional courses assigned to remedy deficiencies).

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	For best consideration applications and all supporting materials should be received by December 1. (applications will be reviewed through February 1) (December 1 preferred) .	This program does not accept applications for this semester.
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

1. Official Transcripts from all Colleges attended
2. GRE General
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation
4. Sample of Scholarly Writing
5. TOEFL for all international applicants or IELTS (except applicants from the United Kingdom, Commonwealth Caribbean, Ireland, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand whose first language is English). The Test of Written English (TWE) is required for those not completing the IBT TOEFL.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.)

A minimum of 30 hours is required for the master's degree. Students who select the thesis option must complete and successfully defend an original research project that contributes to knowledge of communication. Those who select the non-thesis option must complete a comprehensive examination and a research paper in their area of interest. All students, regardless of option, are required to master the fundamentals of communication inquiry, including knowledge of communication research methods.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. requires (1) course work that introduces disciplinary research in an area of specialization in communication, a cognate discipline, and research methods; (2) a comprehensive examination that certifies mastery of disciplinary knowledge and preparation for independent research; and (3) completion and successful defense of a dissertation that advances knowledge of communication.

Facilities and Special Resources

The campus provides extensive mainframe and personal computer resources and excellent library collections in communication. In addition, the Washington metropolitan area provides research and laboratory facilities for studying communication unmatched by other departments in the discipline. Students in rhetoric and political culture are immersed in the formal and informal institutions of American government and draw upon the holdings of the Library of Congress, the National Archives and many public and private archival collections such as the Smithsonian Institution and the George Meany Center for Labor Studies.

The Communication Colloquium Series provides students with the opportunity to interact with noted communication scholars from across the country and to present their own research.

Financial Assistance

Most departmental financial aid is in the form of graduate assistantships. However, a limited number of fellowships are available. The application deadline for financial aid is December 1 for best consideration.

Contact Information

For additional information on graduate study in Communication, contact:

Director of Graduate Studies Professor Shawn Parry-Giles
2130 Skinner Building
College Park, MD  20742-7635
Telephone: (301) 405-6527
Fax: (301) 314-9471
commgrad@deans.umd.edu

http://www.comm.umd.edu

Program Management Specialist- Diana White
2130 Skinner Building
College Park, MD  20742-7635
Telephone: (301) 405-0870
Fax: (301) 314-9471
commgrad@deans.umd.edu

http://www.comm.umd.edu

Courses: COMM COMM

Related Programs and Campus Units

Journalism
Engineering: Telecommunications
English Language and Literature
Hearing and Speech Sciences
Clinical Audiology