The West Chester Master's Program in Communication Studies focuses on building better leaders by improving their communication skills. Effective leaders must be effective communicators, and effective communicators need to develop a broad array of communication skills. In addition, the M.A. program is designed to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge in communication theory and methodology of the social scientific approach. Our program is intended for students in one of three vocational areas:
• New Careers
As a result of their Masters in Communication Studies, students have launched new careers in Internet Web Design, Training and Development, Community Organization, Consultation, Marketing, Association Management, Public Relations, and Teaching at the secondary, community college, small college, or university level.
• Career Development
Many students pursue their degrees while maintaining positions in the Delaware Valley's major corporations. They seek vocational advances as they acquire the conceptual foundations and professional skills for becoming a leader in their organization's communicative competence.
• Continuous Learning
Some students have used their West Chester M.A. to launch a Ph.D. in Communication Studies and now teach in Universities throughout the United States or work as researchers in the private sector.
Course Structure
• Non-Thesis/Applied Curriculum Option (36 credits)
1. Required Core (21 credits)
COM 501: Theoretical Perspectives on Human Communication (3)
COM 502: Communication Research Methods (3)
15 additional credits selected from departmental offerings
2. Applied Courses (15 credits)
These courses are to be selected from other departments or from communication studies courses. A three-credit or six-credit graduate internship (COM 598) may be selected upon successful completion of the required core but requires graduate coordinator approval.
3. Comprehensive Examinations
Non-thesis students may schedule their comprehensive written examinations in three areas during the semester that, upon completion, they are within six credit hours of completing the program. B
• Thesis option (36 credits)
1. Required Core (27 credits)
COM 501: Theoretical Perspectives on Human Communication (3)
COM 502: Communication Research Methods (3)
COM 601: Communication Studies Thesis 1 (3)
COM 602: Communication Studies Thesis 2 (3)
15 additional credits selected from departmental offerings
2. Applied Courses (9 credits)
These courses are to be selected from other departments or from communication studies courses.
3. Comprehensive Examinations
Thesis students may schedule their comprehensive written examinations in three areas during the semester that, upon completion, they are within six credit hours of completing the program. Thesis students also will defend their theses orally.
Note: students are not required to take summer classes, and students may attend as full-time or part-time student
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