Communication, MA

School of Communication, College of Communication, Fine Arts & Media

Vision Statement

The School of Communication offers a Master of Arts degree emphasizing a blend of broad theoretical instruction and methodological instruction and application of the communication discipline.  By exploring various discipline in all its iterations.  Graduate students achieve in-depth knowledge of communication phenomena through both our Core classes processes and effects and a variety of elective options either on-campus or online, students work towards acquire the completion skills needed to discover new knowledge through research and other forms of final their thesis or project in preparation for personal and scholarly activity and professional successes after graduation. growth.

Program Contact Information

Roma Subramanian, PhD, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)   
140C Arts & Science Hall (ASH)
402.554.4038
rsubramanian@unomaha.edu

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Program-Specific Requirements

Application Deadlines (Spring 2024, Summer 2024 and Fall 2024)

• Fall: Review begins February 15th
• Spring: Review begins October 1st
• Summer: April 15

Note: Applications will still be received and reviewed until term begins

If you are applying for a graduate assistantship, both admissions and assistantship application materials must be completed by February 15 (for Fall Semester) and October 1 (for Spring Semester) for priority consideration.

Other Requirements

• English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.

  • Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
• Statement of Purpose: The statement should be 500 words in length and should answer the following questions:
  • Why have you chosen the UNO School of Communication master’s degree program?
  • What are your areas of scholarly interest and research?
  • What are your personal or professional plans after you complete the master’s degree?  How will this degree support your plans?
• Writing Sample: An academic or otherwise-demonstrative writing sample (e.g., term paper, senior thesis, or research paper) that demonstrates the applicant's strengths as a writer and researcher.
• Resume or CV: Identify major and minor field(s) of study, overall GPA, and GPA within major, as well as all relevant experience.
• Letters of Recommendation - Three letters are required. A minimum of one letter from a faculty member of the applicant's undergraduate program should be included if at all possible. Other letters should address an applicant's ability to do advanced-level academic work.
• Optional: the GRE exam is not required, but will be reviewed as part of the overall application if provided.

Admission Status

• Unconditional Admission may be granted to a student whose record includes at least the following:
  • Certification of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Documentation through official transcripts using a 4.0 grade point scale of having earned at least:
    • A 3.25 in communication or undergraduate major work.
    • Either a 3.0 overall undergraduate average GPA or a 3.25 average GPA in the last half of undergraduate credit hours, and
    • Inclusion of nine (9) to 15 undergraduate (junior or senior level) theory and/or research courses in communication (e.g., communication studies, speech communication, broadcasting, journalism, mass communication, media communication or studies, rhetoric) or a related field as approved by the graduate program chair (GPC) and/or the graduate admissions committee.
• Provisional Admission may be granted for reasons of experience, maturity or other circumstances to a student who does not meet the unconditional admission standards.  A student will not be admitted who does not meet UNO Graduate College provisional admission standards (a 2.75 GPA for both undergraduate major and minor).
  • The school's graduate admission committee may require any one or any combination of the following in deciding whether or not to recommend provisional admission:
    • Completion of prescribed course(s) (not for graduate credit) with a grade of “B” (3.0/4.0) or better, with course(s) approved in advance by the GPC and/or the graduate admission committee.
    • Completion of the first 12 graduate hours of coursework with a grade of "B" (3.0/4.0) or better as a non-declared student.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

The core courses provide intensive and broad coverage of communication as a field of advanced study. The core integrates mass and speech communication theories and research methodologies from all aspects of the discipline. If a student fails to achieve an average grade of “B” (3.0/4.0) in the overall core, the student may retake each core course with a grade below “B” once, and must obtain an average grade of “B” or higher to remain in the program. The core courses must be completed within the first 18-21 credit hours of a student's program (This requirement may be waived for students entering the communication graduate program with approved graduate credits to be used in the plan of study).

Thesis Option

All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the supervisory committee, submitting the Supervisory Committee and Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval and submission of the thesis.

Project Option

The project, in lieu of a thesis, is based on a proposal approved by the student’s committee. The student must complete a project which is defended orally before his or her project committee.

Exit Requirements

Students will take either six (6) thesis credit hours or three (3) project hours during the final semester(s) of their program. These credit hours must be 1) taken either concurrently or after the student’s final semester of coursework and 2) must be taken and completed in order to successfully complete the program.  The thesis or project is considered the final part of the program. With this in mind, coursework will be completed before or concurrently with the thesis or project (it is strongly encouraged that coursework is completed prior to the thesis or project). Students will meet with the GPC to discuss which option consider.

Thesis Option

All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming a supervisory committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval and submission of a thesis. Theses are defended orally before the student’s committee once completed.

Project Option

The project, in lieu of a thesis, is based on a proposal approved by the student’s committee. The student must complete a project that is defended orally before the student’s project committee.

Certificates Offered

• Communication Certificate
• Human Resources and Training Certificate
• Technical Communication Certificate