Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Communication Studies M.A.Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Communication Studies, 225 Ford Hall, 224 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-5800; fax: 612-624-6544).
Website: https://cla.umn.edu/comm-studies
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Note: The Communication Studies graduate program does not accept applications directly to the MA; rather, the MA is an additional or alternative credential for students admitted to the Communication Studies PhD program.
The Communication Studies program has a national reputation for excellence in the areas of critical media studies, interpersonal communication, and rhetoric. Our graduate students are highly motivated scholars at the cutting edge of communication research with an equally strong commitment to becoming skilled instructors. Although most students emphasize one of these areas, students take courses across each of the three sub-disciplines.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.50.
Special Application Requirements:
Note: The Communication Studies graduate program does not accept applications directly to the MA; rather, the MA is an additional or alternative credential for students admitted to the Communication Studies PhD program.
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan B: Plan B requires
24 to 27
major credits and
6 to 9
credits outside the major.
The final exam is written and oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project:A publishable, article-length paper consisting of the student's original research.
This program may not be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 3.50
is required for students to remain in good standing.
Major Coursework (24 to 27 credits)
Select 24 to 27 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
COMM 5110 - Special Topics in Communication Theory
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5221 - Media, Race, and Identity
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5231 - Media Outlaws
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5261 - Political Economy of Media Culture
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5411 - Small Group Communication Research
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5431 - The Process of Persuasion
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5441 - Communication in Human Organizations
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5451W - Intercultural Communication Processes
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5611 - Survey of Rhetorical Theory
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5615W - Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5617 - History and Criticism of U.S. Public Discourse: 1630-1865
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5970 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
COMM 8000 - Communication Studies Research Colloquium
(1.0 cr)
COMM 8101 - Introduction to Graduate Communication Studies
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8210 - Seminar: Selected Topics in U.S. Electronic Media
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8402 - Seminar: Interpersonal Communication
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8403 - Seminar: Emotion and Communication
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8451 - Seminar: Intercultural and Diversity Research
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8452 - Seminar: Methods of Intercultural/Diversity Facilitation
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8502 - Seminar: Communication Theory Construction
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8504 - Seminar: Rhetorical Criticism
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8606 - Seminar: Rhetorical Analysis of Campaigns and Movements
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8611 - Seminar: Rhetoric
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8625 - Seminar: Communication Ethics
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8910 - Advanced Topics in Communication Studies
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8994 - Directed Research
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Outside Coursework (6 to 9 credits)
Select credits outside the major, in consultation with the advisor and director of graduate studies, to meet the 33-credit requirement. Other courses can be applied to this requirement with advisor approval.
AFRO 5866 - The Civil Rights and Black Power Movement, 1954-1984
(3.0 cr)
AMES 5920 - Topics in Asian Culture
(3.0 cr)
AMST 4101 - Gender, Sexuality, and Politics in America
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
AMST 8202 - Theoretical Foundations and Current Practice in American Studies
(3.0 cr)
AMST 8231 - Cultural Fallout: The Cold War and Its Legacy, Readings
(3.0 cr)
AMST 8920 - Topics in American Studies
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8001 - Ethnography, Theory, History
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8002 - Ethnography: Contemporary Theory and Practice
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8810 - Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
(3.0 cr)
ARTH 5417 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
BTHX 8000 - Advanced Topics in Bioethics
(1.0-4.0 cr)
CPSY 8302 - Developmental Psychology: Social and Emotional Processes
(4.0 cr)
CPSY 8360 - Special Topics in Developmental Psychology
(1.0-3.0 cr)
CSCL 5555 - Introduction to Semiotics
(3.0 cr)
CSCL 5833 - Marx, Freud, Nietzsche: Intellectual Foundations
(3.0 cr)
CSCL 5993 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
EMS 8100 - Workshop in Early Modern Studies
(1.0-3.0 cr)
ENGL 5140 - Readings in 18th Century Literature and Culture
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 5805 - Writing for Publication
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 8090 - Seminar in Special Subjects
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 8150 - Seminar in Shakespeare
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 8400 - Seminar in Post-Colonial Literature, Culture, and Theory
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 8992 - Directed Reading in Language, Literature, Culture, Rhetoric, Composition, or Creative Writing
(1.0-9.0 cr)
EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 5244 - Survey Design, Sampling, and Implementation
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 5247 - Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 5262 - Intermediate Statistical Methods
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 8251 - Statistical Methods in Education I
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 8252 - Statistical Methods in Education II
(3.0 cr)
FREN 8230 - Critical Issues: Criticism and Thought
(3.0 cr)
FSOS 8001 - Conceptual Frameworks in the Family
(3.0 cr)
FW 8394 - Research in Fisheries
(1.0-4.0 cr)
FW 8494 - Research in Wildlife
(1.0-4.0 cr)
GEOG 8230 - Theoretical Geography
(3.0 cr)
GEOG 8980 - Topics: Geography
(1.0-3.0 cr)
GWSS 5104 - Transnational Feminist Theory
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 5406 - Black Feminist Thought in the American and African Diasporas
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 5502 - Gender and Public Policy
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8210 - Seminar: Feminist Theory & Praxis
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8230 - Seminar: Cultural Criticism and Media Studies
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8250 - Seminar: Nation, State, and Citizenship
(1.0-3.0 cr)
GWSS 8490 - Seminar: Transnational, Postcolonial, Diaspora
(3.0 cr)
HIST 5283 - Marx, Capital and History: An Introduction to Marxist Theory and History
(3.0 cr)
HIST 5960 - Topics in History
(1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 8025 - Politics of Historical Memory
(3.0 cr)
HIST 8910 - Topics in U.S. History
(1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 8993 - Directed Study
(1.0-16.0 cr)
JOUR 8290 - Special Topics in Strategic Communication
(3.0 cr)
JOUR 8650 - Seminar: Psychology of Media Effects
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5371 - Sport and Society
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5511 - Sport and Gender
(3.0 cr)
LING 5900 - Topics in Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
MIMS 8001 - Theories of the Moving Image
(3.0 cr)
MIMS 8003 - Historiography of the Moving Image
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5128 - Anthropology of Education
(3.0 cr)
PA 5290 - Topics in Planning
(0.5-4.0 cr)
PA 5490 - Topics in Social Policy
(1.0-4.0 cr)
PA 5721 - Energy Systems and Policy
(3.0 cr)
PA 5790 - Topics in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy
(1.0-3.0 cr)
PHIL 8510 - Seminar: Aesthetics Studies
(3.0 cr)
POL 8260 - Topics in Political Theory
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5204 - Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
(3.0 cr)
PSY 8203 - Impression Management
(3.0 cr)
PSY 8205 - Principles of Social Psychology
(3.0 cr)
RELS 8190 - Comparative Seminar in Religions in Antiquity
(3.0 cr)
SAGR 8010 - Colloquium in Sustainable Agriculture
(2.0 cr)
SCMC 5993 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
SOC 8090 - Topics in Sociology
(1.5-3.0 cr)
SOC 8311 - Political Sociology
(3.0 cr)
SOC 8790 - Advanced Topics in Sociological Theory
(3.0 cr)
SOC 8801 - Sociological Research Methods
(4.0 cr)
SOC 8890 - Advanced Topics in Research Methods
(2.0-3.0 cr)
TH 8120 - Seminar
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5775 - Rhetorical Traditions: Classical Period
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5776 - The Rhetorical Traditions: Modern Era
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8510 - Seminar in Rhetoric
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8550 - Seminar in Technology, Culture, and Communication
(3.0 cr)
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5611/Writ 5776 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3866/Afro 5866/Hist 3856 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmSt 4101/GLBT 4101 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 8.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CL 5555/CSCL 5555/CSDS 5555 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CSCL 5993/CSDS 5993 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -9.0 [max 15.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | OLPD 5501/EPsy 5243 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EPsy 3264/5231/5261/5263 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EPsy 8251/EPsy 8261 |
Prerequisites: | [EPSY 5261 or equiv] or undergrad statistics course |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EPsy 8252/EPsy 8262 |
Prerequisites: | [8251, 8261 or equiv] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 30.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 4406/Afro 5406/GWSS 4406/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | GLBT 4502/GWSS 4502/GWSS 5502 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ger 8820/Hist 8025 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 15.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -16.0 [max 16.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Kin 5371/Rec 5371 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Kin 5511/Rec 5511 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 5128/OLPD 5128 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 0.5 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 15.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.5 -3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5611/Writ 5776 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |