Communication Introduction

Program introduction

Degree Requirements

All graduate students receiving the M.A. in Communication degree must complete 36 credit hours. Required coursework for students in the Communication major includes 9 credit hours of core subjects (Communication Theory, Quantitative Research in Communication, and Qualitative Research in Communication), 15 credit hours of major-specific coursework, at least 6 credits hours of electives, and 6 hours of thesis credit. The thesis includes an oral defense administered by the student’s advisory committee and a public presentation of thesis findings. Coursework for the Reputation Management major requires the same 9 credit hours of core subjects, 15 credit hours in specified public relations courses, 9 credit hours of electives in suggested business courses, and 3 hours in professional project or report (non-thesis) credit. Successful completion of the M.A. program’s ethics requirement is part of the progress toward degree. Graduate students are encouraged to present their research at local, regional, or national professional conferences.  

Additional Information

Students in the Communication major engage in reviewing and discussing communication research, collecting and interpreting original data, and synthesizing and presenting communication knowledge to educate others. Degree completion includes a thesis, where students research an area/question of communication interest in depth, using either a qualitative or a quantitative methodology. If you aspire to achieve a Ph.D., a thesis hones research skills in a focused area of interest. If your goal is a professional career, a thesis promotes your ability to conceptualize and to complete a research project from start to finish. We strongly encourage graduate students to attend regional and national conferences to present their work. Full and partial funding opportunities for conference travel are available.

Students in the Reputation Management major apply communication and public relations theories to business problems in real-world situations. These students, public relations practitioners with five or more years of experience, complete professional projects or reports. These allow students to demonstrate that they can put what they have learned in coursework into practice in a variety of business contexts.

The program boasts a nearly 100% placement rate for Communication majors at top Ph.D. departments for graduates interested in pursuing doctoral study. Those planning a professional career typically are employed within four months of graduation. Communication M.A. students are active researchers, provide university and community service through the Communication Graduate Students Association (CGSA), and establish a Hokie community of friends and colleagues.

For Fall admission and consideration for graduate funding (serving as a departmental graduate teaching assistant), the electronic application must be completed by January 13, 2021. First round decisions are made early in February. Second-round applications (which do not include funding requests) are accepted until April 15, 2021, with decisions occurring soon thereafter. The program does not typically accept spring admissions for full-time students; part time students should consult with the graduate director.

Detailed information about the program’s goals, funding opportunities, faculty, and application procedure, may be found by visiting the Communication M.A. webpage.