In completing their course of study, graduate students will follow a Plan A or Plan B program. Students in Plan A complete a minimum of 33 credits that includes both course work and a thesis. Students in Plan B complete a minimum of 36 credits of course work and a research project. Descriptions of both plans are provided below. Please see graduate course descriptions for more information about specific classes.
Plan A
This program is designed for students who are interested in a traditional Master of Science degree. The culmination of study involves producing a published research document, the thesis. Each student works with his or her graduate committee to develop a thesis topic derived from theory in communication, generate hypotheses or research questions, conduct research, and analyze and report the findings. The student’s graduate committee approves each thesis through an examination process, the oral defense. Selected abstracts of M.S. theses can be found here. Students must earn 33 credits to receive the M.S. degree.
Required Core
JTC 500 Communication Research and Evaluation Methods (3)
JTC 501 Process and Effects of Technical Communication (3)
JTC 560 Managing Communications Systems (3)
JTC 698 Research (3)
JTC 699 Thesis (3) – Thesis proposal and thesis defended before student’s graduate committee.
Elective Core
Select at least six credits from the following:
JTC 614 Public Communication Campaigns (3)
JTC 630 Health Communication (3)
JTC 640 Telecommunication (3)
JTC 650 Public Relations Management (3)
JTC 660 Communication in Technology Transfer (3)
JTC 661 Information Design (3)
JTC 662 Communicating Science and Technology (3)
JTC 665 Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (3)
Journalism Electives
Select at least six credits from either the Elective Core above or other 500-level or above journalism courses (300- or 400-level with the approval of the graduate coordinator and the student’s graduate adviser). See undergraduate course listings here.
Outside Course Work
Select at least six credits from either inside the JTC Department or from an outside department. These six credits may be fulfilled by taking three credits inside and three credits outside the department, six inside the department or six outside the department. Courses should be graduate-level or upper-level undergraduate courses. The courses should enhance a student’s background in technical, professional, social scientific or related fields.
Plan B
This program enables students who work for or with an organization to conduct a communication project for that organization. This plan works well for students who are employed full-time and enroll in school part-time. Working with a graduate committee and the organization, students apply communication theory and research methods to address the organization’s needs. The student’s graduate committee approves the project through an examination process, the oral defense. Students must earn 36 credits to receive the M.S. degree.
Required Core
JTC 500 Communication Research and Evaluation Methods (3)
JTC 501 Process and Effects of Technical Communication (3)
JTC 560 Managing Communications Systems (3)
JTC 698 Research (3) – Research project must be approved by the student’s graduate committee.
Elective Core
Select at least nine credits from the following:
JTC 614 Public Communication Campaigns (3)
JTC 630 Health Communication (3)
JTC 640 Telecommunication (3)
JTC 650 Public Relations Management (3)
JTC 660 Communication in Technology Transfer (3)
JTC 661 Information Design (3)
JTC 662 Communicating Science and Technology (3)
JTC 665 Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (3)
Journalism Electives
Select at least nine credits from either the Elective Core above or other 500-level or above journalism courses (300- or 400-level with the approval of the graduate coordinator and the student’s graduate adviser). See undergraduate course listings here.
Outside Course Work
Select at least six credits from either inside the JTC Department or from an outside department. These six credits may be fulfilled by taking three credits inside and three credits outside the department, six inside the department or six outside the department. The courses should enhance a student’s background in technical, professional, social scientific or related fields.
Each student in our Master of Science program who pursues Plan A submits a thesis that is published and made available through the library. A thesis is an academic report of a research study that is derived from a theoretical perspective in communication. Selected abstracts of M.S. theses can be found here.
Students who choose Plan B work with an organization with whom they have an existing relationship. Working with the graduate committee and the organization, they apply communication theory and research methods to address the organization’s needs. The student’s graduate committee approves the project through an examination process, the oral defense.
A graduate student's choice of a Plan A or Plan B program (see above for descriptions) will drive the format of the thesis or project. Requirements for graduate theses can be found in the Graduate School’s Thesis Manual.
No later than the end of a student's second semester or upon the completion of twelve credits, whichever comes first, students are to find a permanent adviser, second committee member from the journalism faculty and a third committee member from another department. The student's efforts will be guided by this committee as the student designs his or her research.
It is your responsibility to identify and to ask a department faculty member to serve as your permanent adviser. When you seek faculty members to serve on your graduate committee, find faculty members who have appropriate background for your proposed thesis or research project topic, and who are interested in your proposed topic.
Students who choose 
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