|
The
central focus is the pragmatic communication in which human
beings engage when they are making decisions, solving problems,
managing conflict, or participating in public discussions.
The Master of Arts in Communication Studies is a two-year
thesis program. Students complete a minimum of 27 credits
in required course work in addition to a required seminar
and thesis credits. Students pursue course work designed
to ground them in communication, media, and rhetorical theories
and criticisms, as well as methods of research and analysis.
During the second year, students tailor their education by taking elective courses
and developing a thesis under the direction of a faculty adviser. The thesis
enables students to develop expertise in their areas of special interest, including
rhetorical theory, rhetorical criticism, political communication, public address,
social movements, argumentation, media studies, mass media law, electronically
mediated communication, history and criticism of film, popular culture, freedom
of speech, race, gender, identity, organizational communication, interpersonal
and small group communication, communication theory, intercultural communication,
and ethnography of communication.
| GRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS |
The most important criterion for admission to the graduate
program is the applicant's potential for success. In assessing
potential, the Graduate Committee considers past academic
performance, letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination
scores, extracurricular activities, and quality of student
writing. The Colorado State University requires a minimum
undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
for admission.
If you have questions about the graduate program, contact:
Dr. Greg Dickinson, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Communication Studies
219 Eddy Building
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1783
Phone: 970-491-6893
e-mail: Greg.Dickinson@ColoState.EDU
top
Graduate
coursework, in combination with the thesis, enables students
to develop expertise in one or a combination of three
areas of emphasis: (1) rhetorical studies, (2) communication
studies, or (3) media studies. All graduate
students take the following four core requirements:
| SPCM
601 |
History of Rhetorical Theory |
| SPCM
638 |
Communication Research Methods |
| SPCM
646 |
Media Theory |
| SPCM 612 |
Rhetorical Criticism |
Other graduate courses includes:
SPCM 503 |
Transformations in Rhetorical Theory |
SPCM 504 |
Rhetoric of Everyday Life |
SPCM 511 |
Topics in Public Address |
| SPCM 512 |
Rhetorical Criticism |
SPCM 520 |
Rhetoric and Public Affairs |
SPCM 523 |
Feminist
Theories of Discourse |
SPCM 532 |
Theories of Interpersonal Communication |
SPCM 533 |
Discourse, Work and Organization |
| SPCM 534 |
Communication and Cultural Diversity |
| SPCM
539 |
Communication Theory |
SPCM 540 |
Rhetoric, Race, and Identity |
SPCM 547 |
Media Industries |
SPCM 548 |
Media Texts |
SPCM 549 |
Media Audiences |
SPCM 550 |
Contemporary Issues in Media |
SPCM 675 |
Speech Communication Pedagogy |
top |
|
|
GRADUATE
PROCEDURES |
Deadline
for applying to the Department of Communication Studies is January 31. |
Application
The following items are required for application to the M.A. program in Communication Studies at Colorado State University:
1. A completed Graduate School Application sent to the Graduate School, with
the application fee. Students may complete this application via the Internet
by contacting the CSU Graduate School web page.
2. Official Transcripts (two copies) sent from all colleges and universities
attended.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required and must be official.
4. Three letters of recommendation are required.
5. A writing sample from the applicant is required. We prefer to see an original
copy of an undergraduate term paper, with the professor's comments.
6.
A statement of educational and professional goals.
The form for this statement can be found in the assistantship
application.
Graduate
Teaching Assistantships (GTA) offer the M.A. candidate a supervised teaching
experience in the Public Speaking Course (SPCC
200) as well as paid tuition and a monthly stipend.
Teaching Colorado State University’s
Public speaking course requires a broad range of
skills and abilities. Public speaking is a course
that instructs students and evaluates their performance
in oral, nonverbal, and written communication. Essential
functions of the SPCC 200 instructor include the
following:
Proficiency
in spoken and written English;
The
ability to model excellent public speaking skills,
both orally and nonverbally;
top |
The
ability to model and instruct students in traditional
modes of speech organization, including outlining;
The
ability to manage classroom discussion and monitor
small group work;
The
ability to evaluate student’s oral performance
during speech rounds;
The
ability, after training by the course director, to
run classroom technology in a way that allows students
to use that technology productively during their
speeches and supports classroom teaching.
Assistantships
are available on a competitive basis. The Department
provides a systematic program of instruction and
mentoring for all Graduate Teaching Assistants to
ensure a successful experience. Although previous
teaching experience is not required, successful applicants
for assistantships must show aptitude for teaching.
GTA Job Description.
Assistantship
applications are available on line:
Assistantship
Application
Requires Adobe Reader -
click to download if you don't have the program - it's
FREE
Please
Note: you must submit a hard
copy of the application to the Department of
Communication Studies.
Deadline
for applying to the Department of Communication Studies is January 31. |
Fellowships and Scholarships. A limited
number of Colorado Fellowship Awards are granted
by the University each year. While competition
is keen, typically one of our students is awarded
a Fellowship each year. Additionally, the Hostettler
Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Department
to an outstanding second-year M.A. candidate in
Communication Studies. Although you must apply to
be awarded the teaching assistantship, you do not
need to apply for a fellowship or for the Hostettler
Scholarship—all applicants are automatically
considered for these awards.
|
|
