Graduate
Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders
Our program emphasizes communication that invites and embraces diversity. Our students have varied backgrounds and undergraduate majors, including communication, business, English, mass communication, counseling and education.
The curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in a variety of fields – business, education, politics, social and human services, health, human resource development, public relations, advertising, marketing, technology, public administration, and the arts and entertainment. The program also prepares students for doctoral study, and for teaching at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
The graduate degree draws from the departments of Communication Studies and Contemporary Media and Journalism, which have common roots, theories, and research methods.
Master of Arts Degree
The 36-hour curriculum provides a foundation of research and theory. The major requires a common core to ensure that graduates demonstrate mastery of research and theory consistent with the field. Additionally, this program allows elective courses and research options so that the student may develop a customized concentration in a subfield.
Principal Fields for Specialization and Research:Based on their own professional and academic goals, graduate students are encouraged to design individual programs of study in areas such as interpersonal and relational communication, organizational communication, health communication, political communication, intercultural and interethnic communication, media studies, mass communication, strategic communication (advertising, integrated marketing and public relations), journalism and media management.
A student pursuing a graduate degree in communication may select between two options:- Plan A (Scholarly thesis and oral defense).
- Plan B (Course Work with comprehensive exam and oral defense).
Application Process
To apply to our M.A. program, please first visit the Graduate School page. Application requirements, forms, and directions are provided online. Once all of your materials are received by the graduate school, your packet will be forwarded to the Department of Communication Studies for review.
Requirements for acceptance into the M.A. program:
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of undergraduate Communication Studies or a related discipline
- 2-4 page personal statement of purpose that includes the student's philosophy regarding the value and goals of higher education
- Applications are reviewed year round, and you may be accepted and enter in Fall or Spring. Decisions on graduate teaching assistantships are made in the Spring semester for the following Fall semester.
- GRE or other graduate entrance exam
Once you have been accepted into the Communication Studies M.A. program, your application will be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship. Positions for teaching assistantships will be filled no later than March 15.
For additional information, please see the Graduate School Catalog or contact:
Terry Robertson
Department Chair, Associate Professor
(605) 677-6208
T.Robertson@usd.edu
Carolyn Prentice
Director of the Graduate Program
(605) 677-5912
Carolyn.Prentice@usd.edu
Developing effective communication skills is enriching, both personally and professionally.