graduate study

M.C. for Communication Professionals

This M.C. degree is targeted for mid-career communication professionals (broadly defined to include not only journalists, but also mediators, public information officers, public relation specialists, etc.) who seek to enhance their professional competence by developing their understanding of communication theory and a special area of interest, such as environmental science, business and economics, law, politics, the arts, health and medicine, or urban affairs. Publishable manuscripts or broadcast-quality media projects must be completed while in residency. Only 1-4 students are enrolled at any given time.

The Department also offers two specialized M.C. degrees. Please visit the M.C. Digital Media Program and the Native Voices M.C. Program to learn more about those programs.

M.C. Program Requirements

Completion of a minimum of 45 credits, including:

• At least 12 credits in Communication courses at the 400-500 level.
• At least 15 credits outside the Department of Communication in a coherent substantive area of specialization.
• 10 credits in COM 600 to produce a professional project in an area of specialization for broadcast or publication.
• Passage of an oral defense of the project.
• The remaining credits necessary to meet the 45 units for the degree should be selected in consultation with the supervisory committee.
• At least 21 credits must be at the 500- or 600-level.
• Up to 5 credits of COM 594 (Comm Professional Proseminar) may count toward total, though COM 594 credits are NOT required for M.C. students.
• Up to 3 credits of COM 596 (Comm Pedagogy) may count toward total. These credits are required for students with assistantships and optional for all others.

Time to Completion

It is expected that a student can earn an M.C. in the Department of Communication in two years (six quarters, not counting summer). In accordance with University rules, there is a six-year time limit to completion of the M.C. degree.

Supervisory Committee

Every M.C. student has a supervisory committee that oversees the progress of their graduate studies. An M.C.-level supervisory committee must have at least two members, although the Department strongly recommends a three-member committee. The committee chair must be regular or adjunct graduate faculty in the Department of Communication, and at least half of the total committee membership must be on the graduate faculty. The Graduate Program Assistant must be notified of Chair and Committee selection by the end of the 3rd quarter of study.

Program of Study

All M.C. students must file with the Graduate Program Assistant a Program of Study signed by all committee members by the end of the 3rd quarter of study. The Program of Study also requires review by the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) on behalf of the Graduate Committee to ensure compliance with program requirements. The GPC may bring questions, concerns, or waiver requests to the Graduate Committee for consultation. Typically, a student's supervisory committee does not convene a meeting to review the Program of Study.

Please click here to access the M.C. program of study form in Microsoft Word format.

M.C. Project

The M.C. program will culminate in 10 credits of COM 600, in which the student will complete a project demonstrating the enrichment of his/her professional capabilities in the field of specialization (such as genetics, business, environmental issues, etc.). The specific requirements for the project are decided by the student and the supervisory committee. For example, in broadcast journalism, the project could entail producing an in-depth news or public affairs series of programs or a documentary suitable for broadcast, including conception, research, scripting, and final assembly. In print journalism, it could entail preparing and producing a series of in-depth reports in the area of specialization, including a statement of the purpose of the report, annotation of source material, analysis of the media market for such a report, and the organization, research and writing of the report itself. In new media, it could entail developing an in-depth web site or interactive CD-ROM, including conception, research, storyboards, interface design, and usability testing. Project examples >>

1. Project Proposal

Typically in the autumn quarter of the second year, M.C. students develop and seek committee approval of a project proposal. The proposal is a narrative description of the work that the student intends to undertake, and it is usually developed in close consultation with the chair of an M.C. student's supervisory committee. Different committee chairs have different expectations for the precise preparation of the proposal, so each student should discuss proposal requirements directly with his or her committee chair. The proposal must be approved by at least two committee members, though it is strongly recommended that all members review and approve the proposal. An approved project proposal is due by the end of the 4th quarter of study (excluding summers), but it may not be submitted until a student has removed any outstanding incompletes.

Click here to access the M.C. project proposal approval form in Microsoft Word format. This approval form should be signed by the M.C. supervisory committee and attached to the front of the proposal. After all signatures have been secured, the student should turn in a copy of the cover sheet and proposal to the Graduate Program Assistant.

2. Project Credits

Credits in COM 600 (M.C. project) may not be taken until the project proposal is approved. Thus, it is common for students to take all of their project credits in the Winter and Spring quarters of their second year. If a student intends to finish the project in two years, it is important to make as much progress as possible on the project during the Winter quarter so that it will be ready for committee review and oral defense before the end of the Spring quarter. Fair warning: Faculty are often not available during the summer quarter.

3. Oral Defense of the Project

Satisfactory completion of the project will culminate in an oral defense, typically lasting 1½ hours. To earn the M.C., a student must successfully defend the project at this meeting or make revisions required by the committee. At least two committee members must be present for the thesis defense. Students often defend their thesis in the Spring quarter of their second year.

In order to graduate, students must fill out an on-line master's degree request with the Graduate School.

Summary of Key M.C. Deadlines

• Selection of Supervisory Chair and Committee by the end of the 3rd quarter in the program.
• Program of Study due by the end of the 3rd quarter.
• Project proposal due by the end of the 4th quarter in the program (excluding summer).