Course Offering Plan
Master of Arts in Communication from the College of Charleston

Curriculum Information
The degree program requires completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours of study, of which no more than 12 may be transfer credit. 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 the CofC Department of Communication Graduate Committee.

Students may choose a thesis or non-thesis option for completing the program.  The thesis option requires completion of a traditional research project.  Students would register for three credit hours of master's thesis during two consecutive semesters.  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, 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 CofC Department of Communication Graduate Committee.

Schedule Details
The MA in Communication is 33 credit hours and the timeline for completion of the program is determined by the term course load for each student.  Depending on the degree-completion option selected, it is possible for a professional student to enroll in two courses per semester for fall and spring terms and one course each summer to complete the program in two and a half years.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum 3.0 overal GPA and a 3.0 in the major
• A combined GRE verbal and quantitative score of at least 300, and an analytical writing score of 4.0 or better
• Acceptable coursework in communication or a closely related discipline
• Two letters of recommendation from academic sources
• A writing sample demonstrating your academic and research capabilities
• A personal statement outlining your background and specific goals
• Personal interview with the program director (or the director's designee)

CofC Department of Communication
CofC Graduate School Admissions

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