Open House for Master of Arts in Communication

The Lowcountry Graduate Center and the College of Charleston's Department of Communication sponsored an open house and reception on Thursday, June 15, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., to celebrate the new Master of Arts in Communication. Prospective students were invited to attend this event, which was held at the Lowcountry Graduate Center at 5300 International Boulevard near the Charleston Airport. The featured speaker was Bill Hawkins, Post & Courier executive editor.

The College of Charleston Masters of Arts in Communication will begin at the LGC in Fall 2006. The new master’s degree received final approval May 4th from the SC Commission on Higher Education.

“This master’s degree is consistent with the AngelouEconomics’ Forward Charleston Report, which recommended that Charleston establish and grow a Creative Industries cluster,” said Rew A. “Skip” Godow, LGC Executive Director. "This program will appeal to existing and future communication professionals who are eager to further their education, while establishing their profession in the Charleston region.”

The new College of Charleston degree program grew from student demand for a graduate certificate in organizational communication that began in 2004. Nearly all students in the certificate program want to pursue the full master's degree.

“Charleston has a dynamic economy and a rapidly growing population,” said Brian McGee, current chair of the Department of Communication. “When we look at peer cities, it’s obvious that Charleston should have a master’s program in communication to meet the graduate education needs of this community.”

The new program has thesis and non-thesis options, with core courses in communication theory and research. The program is supported by 18 communication graduate faculty. Courses will be offered in the evenings exclusively at the LGC.