Communication (M.A.)
Description
Trinity’s Master of Arts in Communication Program provides graduate education in communication leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree for working individuals who are seeking to advance their understanding of communication and enhance their career possibilities. The Program is committed to the scholarly and intellectual development of the diverse community in the Washington metro area through the process of life-long learning in the discipline of communication.
The Program provides students with a strong foundation in communication history, theory and research while offering areas of emphasis in the study of communication as it relates to media and politics and organizations in general. Underlying all aspects of the program is an appreciation of the current technological revolution and its profound influence on communication.
The Program requires 36 credits (twelve 3-credit classes). Courses are offered in an accelerated format in the evenings or on weekends. Significant individual study and guided independent learning throughout each course are required to meet the objectives of each course and the overall goals of the program. Students normally take three courses per semester and complete their degree in two academic calendar years (21 months), although students may elect to complete the degree in three academic calendar years by taking two courses per semester.
Requirements
Required Courses (36 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
COM 600 Communication HistoryProvides an overview of the development of communication study from its origins in Greece to its contemporary social scientific and rhetorical orientations.
3 credits
COM 601 Communication TheorySurveys the contemporary state of human communication theory. Theories of communication as they apply to interpersonal, organizational, and mass media are discussed. Rhetorical approaches to the theoretical study of communication are also covered.
3 credits
COM 602 Communication ResearchSurveys basic quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication research. Students are introduced to basic communication research design.
3 credits
COM 603 New Communication TechnologyIntroduces students to critical concepts and hands-on skills related to new communication technologies, which mostly are a reconfiguration and recontextualization of older media such as film, television and graphic design for print publications. The course will focus on internet technologies such as the World Wide Web and computer-mediated communication (CMC) media such as e-mail, instant messenger, etc. and will allow students to engage in actual Web production and CMC exercises at the same time they read about critical essays about Internet culture.
3 credits
SEVEN elective Communication courses in the student’s area of interest, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor. Five of these electives must be graduate-level courses in Communication; the remaining two electives must also be at the graduate level but should be courses taken outside of the Communication program.
ONE degree capstone course:
COM 699 Graduate Capstone in CommunicationRequires students to prepare and submit a paper for publication on a topic of their choosing. Students demonstrate their ability to complete an original research project in communication.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Students must successfully complete the core courses in the MA in Communication degree program, COM 600, COM 601, COM 602, COM 603, before the start of the semester they will be enrolled in COM 699. Additionally, students must have successfully completed 27 credits by the start of the semester they will be enrolled in COM 699.
Program Policies
Graduate students in communication should refer to the academic policies governing graduate students in the School of Professional Studies.
Comprehensive Assessment:
The Communication Program requires students to complete a comprehensive assessment in the Capstone Seminar. The comprehensive assessment will include the preparation of a communication research project on a topic approved by the professor. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better on this project to complete the program.
Cross-tallied Courses:
Unless noted otherwise, courses that are cross-tallied represent identical courses offered with a different program prefix. Students may not enroll in or receive credit for more than one iteration of a cross-tallied course even in different semesters.
Grades in Graduate Courses:
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate and no more than one grade of “C” may appear on their transcript.
Elective Courses:
All courses must be at the 400-level or higher to count toward the degree. Students must take two courses outside of the Communication Program.
Pass/No Pass:
Graduate students may not take courses on a Pass/No Pass basis; courses taken Pass/No Pass do not fulfill certificate requirements.
TELL Policy:
TELL credits are not applicable toward the degree.
Transfer Policy:
Students may transfer up to 6 graduate credits from other appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning toward the degree with approval from their faculty advisor. Associations recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEA) confer appropriate accreditation; these associations include but are not limited to regional accreditors.
Course Descriptions
COM 501 Rhetorical CriticismRhetorical Criticism is an advanced seminar in the history, theory, methods, and practice of rhetorical criticism. The seminar introduces students to the art of critically analyzing public discourse. The development of various critical strategies and specific methods of rhetorical criticism, such as cultural criticism and feminist criticism, are covered.
3 credits
COM 515 Management CommunicationIntroduces contemporary theories, approaches, and functions of communication in managing, including management of people, processes, technologies and structures, with emphasis in relationship maintenance, small group teams and oral presentation skills. The development of practical and critical thinking skills for decision making, organization design, motivation, leadership and cultural diversity in organizations. Particular attention is paid to how information technologies are changing the context and process of management. This course meets concurrently with Communication 315--graduate students will be expected to complete additional research and projects to receive graduate credit.
3 credits
COM 525 Intercultural CommunicationApplies basic principles of intercultural communication to the analysis of specific situations involving cultural differences. Emphasis is on the influence of culture on the communication process, including differences in values, assumptions and communication. Models of intercultural communication analysis are developed and applied to issues dealing with relations between a dominant society and subcultures, social change, and international relations.
3 credits
COM 535 International CommunicationInternational Communication is the study of how information flows across the boundaries of nation-states and the impact of such flows on local governments, religions and cultures. Course is taught concurrently with COM 355--graduate students will be required to complete additional research projects to receive graduate credit.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COM 600 and COM 601
COM 550 Women in OrganizationsThe course focuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives. Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication. Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts. Topics include Women in leadership, Sexual harassment, Feminist organizational theory. Course is taught concurrently with COM 450--graduate students will be required to complete additional research projects to receive graduate credit.
3 credits
COM 560 Small Group CommunicationAdvanced-level theory and practice of small group interaction. Examines current research, focusing on learning applications of theories to relevant settings.
COM 570 Publicity and Media RelationsExamines the role of a publicist in various organizations and their relationship with the media. Also looks at the basics of media relations, testing and evaluating publicity and using publicity as a tool. Students are expected to produce publicity campaigns.
3 credits
COM 575 Communication and ConflictProvides students with a theoretical introduction and experiential learning in the role of communication in conflict management. The focus is upon interpersonal interactions, including dyadic and small group levels in various settings such as friendships, marriage, family and the workplace.
3 credits
COM 582 LeadershipExplores the dynamics of communication, leadership, power, and authority in organizations. The course provides an overview of traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership. Topics include: cross-cultural communication and leadership, charismatic and transformational leadership, followership, power and organizational politics.
3 credits
COM 585 Organizational Communication
COM 588 Gender and CommunicationProvides an in depth exploration of theory and methods for examining communication and gender roles. Topics include gendered communication; gender and media; family communication; gendered violence; gender; and education, gender, and institutions.
3 credits
COM 592 SpeechwritingConcentrates on the preparation of speeches for other people to deliver, emphasizing the need to adapt to another person's ideas and style.
3 credits
COM 600 Communication HistoryProvides an overview of the development of communication study from its origins in Greece to its contemporary social scientific and rhetorical orientations.
3 credits
COM 601 Communication TheorySurveys the contemporary state of human communication theory. Theories of communication as they apply to interpersonal, organizational, and mass media are discussed. Rhetorical approaches to the theoretical study of communication are also covered.
3 credits
COM 602 Communication ResearchSurveys basic quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication research. Students are introduced to basic communication research design.
3 credits
COM 603 New Communication TechnologyIntroduces students to critical concepts and hands-on skills related to new communication technologies, which mostly are a reconfiguration and recontextualization of older media such as film, television and graphic design for print publications. The course will focus on internet technologies such as the World Wide Web and computer-mediated communication (CMC) media such as e-mail, instant messenger, etc. and will allow students to engage in actual Web production and CMC exercises at the same time they read about critical essays about Internet culture.
3 credits
COM 610 Seminar in Political CommunicationSurveys the contemporary state of research in the area of political communication. Topics covered may include campaigning, speech making, media coverage, political advertising or the influence of popular culture on politics and society. Topics vary each semester.
3 credits
COM 680 Topics in Mass CommunicationThis seminar course investigates various contemporary topics in regards mass communication. Recent topics include media regulation, war and the media and media ownership. May be taken for repeat credit upon topic change.
3 credits
COM 691 Communication InternshipOn-the-job training in communication through approved field-work study programs. Internships are supervised by the Communication program faculty.
3 credits
COM 699 Graduate Capstone in CommunicationRequires students to prepare and submit a paper for publication on a topic of their choosing. Students demonstrate their ability to complete an original research project in communication.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Students must successfully complete the core courses in the MA in Communication degree program, COM 600, COM 601, COM 602, COM 603, before the start of the semester they will be enrolled in COM 699. Additionally, students must have successfully completed 27 credits by the start of the semester they will be enrolled in COM 699.