M.A. Program in Mass Communication
How to Finish the M.A. Program
- Find an advisor in consultation with the graduate director. This process usually involves discussing your interests with faculty members who might be appropriate advisors. Until you find an advisor, the graduate director will act as your advisor.
- In your first semester, you should make a course plan with your advisor.
- Write a description of your thesis interests
- Write an explanation of what sorts of courses will be useful in preparing for your thesis
- List the courses that you intend to take in the following semester
- Have your advisor approve your course plan
- Send the course plan to the graduate director
You should do all of this before registration begins for the next semester.
- You will need to take 8 courses for 24 credits.
- 2 of these courses must be JMC 700 and JMC 701
- 2 more must be 800-level JMC courses
- At least 6 of the 8 courses must be in JMC
You must consult with your advisor before registering for courses.
- Complete a 6-credit thesis (JMC 990) based on original research. The thesis process involves the following steps:
- Working with your advisor to develop a thesis topic
- Writing a thesis proposal that introduces your topic, reviews relevant scholarly literature, discusses the aims of your own research, and describes how you intend to conduct your research
- Assembling a committee that consists of your advisor and two other faculty members
- Meeting with your committee to secure approval of your thesis proposal
- Conducting the thesis research and writing
- Circulating the thesis to the thesis committee
- Filing an application to graduate with the Graduate School
- Defending the thesis at a meeting of the thesis committee
- Making any revisions that the committee deems necessary
- Completing the necessary paperwork for the Graduate School
It is crucial that you consult with your advisor at every step in the process.
A Two-Year Plan for Finishing the Program
First semester:
- Take 700 (or 701, if you are beginning in the spring)
- Take another course
- Start developing a thesis topic and exploring it in your coursework
- Find an advisor with the help of the graduate director
Second semester:
- Take 701 (or 700, if you began in the spring)
- Take 1 or 2 other courses
- Continue developing your ideas for your thesis in your coursework
- Start working on a thesis proposal in consultation with your advisor
Third semester:
- Take 2 or 3 courses
- Finish the thesis proposal
- Meet with your committee to gain approval for your proposal
- Begin your thesis research
Fourth semester:
- File an application to graduate with the Graduate School
- Finish any remaining coursework
- Finish your thesis research and writing
- Get your advisor's approval to circulate the thesis to your committee
- Ask your advisor to schedule a thesis defense meeting
- Defend the thesis
- Make any revisions to the thesis that your committee requests
- Secure final approval for the thesis from the committee
- Format the thesis and file it with the Graduate School
If you do not finish in your fourth semester, then keep in mind the following requirements:
- From the time that you begin the program, you have 5 years to complete it
- You must be registered for at least one course during the semester you graduate (the summer counts as its own semester). If you are not registered for any other course during the semester you graduate, then you should register for 0 credits of JMC 888 (you will be charged for 1 credit for this, even if you were previously a TA).
