The degree program requires completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours of study, of which no more than 12 may be transfer credit (including graudate courses taken at the College of Chalreston). An approved plan of study for each student must be on file with the Graduate School after the completion of no more than nine graduate credit hours. All graduate students must earn a satisfactory rating on a comprehensive examination after completing 24 graduate hours in the program. The policies governing administration of the comprehensive examination are determined by Department of Communication Graduate Committee.

Students may choose a thesis option or a non-thesis option for completing the program. The thesis option requires completion of a traditional research project, with students registering for three credit hours of Master's Thesis during each of two consecutive semesters (COMM 701-702). For any thesis project extending into additional semesters, including the summer, students are required to register for additional Master's Thesis hours. Master's Thesis hours do not satisfy elective credit hours.

The non-thesis option requires completion of an approved three-credit-hour graduate Internship (COMM 795), with a provision for waiving the internship requirement if a student demonstrates appropriate professional experience in a communication career. Those receiving an internship waiver must still complete a minimum of 33 graduate credit hours to earn the Master of Arts in Communication. The large and established undergraduate internship program in the Department of Communication will provide the infrastructure necessary to develop more advanced graduate internship options. The policies governing the graduate internship program are determined by the Department of Communication Graduate Committee.

Whether in the thesis or non-thesis option, all students are required to complete the following courses:

COMM 501 Quantitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)

COMM 502 Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)

COMM 510 Communication Theory (3 credit hours)

COMM 521 or 580 Seminar Requirement (3 credit hours)

COMM 681 or 682 Rhetorical Theory Requirement (3 credit hours)

Students also must complete one of three seminar or special-topics courses (COMM 520, 521, or 580) to acquire proficiency in a communication context.

All options for degree completion requirements are constrained by elapsed time and GPA requirements for graduation and any other graduation requirements specified by the Graduate School of the College of Charleston .

Elective Courses

The courses listed below can be used as electives in the degree program:

COMM 507 Seminar in Communication Management (3)

COMM 522 International and Intercultural Communication (3)

COMM 524 Speechwriting in Public Communication (3)

COMM 525 Executive Communication (3)

COMM 535 Public Relations Campaigns (3)

COMM 561 Identity and Impression Management (3)

COMM 584 Contemporary Problems in Communication Ethics (3)

COMM 698 Tutorial (3)

COMM 699 Independent Study (1-3 credit hours)
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COMM 700 Seminar (3 credit hours)

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