Required Coursework

MA Portion

  • Core Courses: COMM 200, 202, 204A, 204B
  • 1 Survey Course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • 3 Elective Content Courses (at least 1 in the department)
  • 8 units of COMM 598 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation)
  • COMM 505 (Department Colloquium) every quarter; 4 units count toward the MA
  • Completion and Defense of Master’s Thesis

PhD Portion

  • Core Courses: COMM 204C and a Second Survey Course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • 4 Elective Content Courses (at least 1 outside the department)
  • 2 Elective Methods/Tools Courses (8 units)
  • 4 units of COMM 596A (Directed Research)
  • 12 units of COMM 597 (Preparation for the Qualifying Examination); optional for students taking a reading quarter
  • 12 units of COMM 599 (Dissertation Preparation)
  • COMM 505 (Department Colloquium) every quarter
  • Successful Completion of Qualifying Exams
  • Completion and Defense of Doctoral Dissertation

Note: One COMM 593 (Directed Reading) may count toward the elective requirement in each portion. One additional COMM 593 may count as an elective with the approval of the student’s advisor and the Graduate Director, granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Sample Program of Study (Years 1–5)

Year 1–2 courses complete the MA (44 units); years 3–5 are the PhD portion. Students are advised to enroll in 12 units most quarters; 8 units is the minimum for full-time status.

Sample MA/PhD program of study by quarter, years 1–5, with milestones and deadlines
Year Quarter Recommended courses Milestones & deadlines
Year 1 (MA) Fall
  • COMM 202 Introduction to Communication Graduate Studies
  • COMM 204A Research Methods in Communication
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

13 units

 —
Winter
  • COMM 204B Introduction to Applied Statistics
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Content elective (out-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

13 units
  • Required: nominate MA advisor by end of Winter; inform the Student Affairs Manager.
Spring
  • COMM 200 Communication Theory Construction
  • Survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

9 units
  • Required: nominate MA committee by end of Spring (through GradPoint Students).
  • Recommended: defend thesis proposal by end of Spring.
Year 2 (MA) Fall
  • Survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (4 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

8 units
  • Recommended: complete MA coursework requirements by end of Fall (no official deadline).
  • Recommended: defend thesis proposal in Fall if not already done.
Winter
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (7 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

8 units
  • Required: thesis proposal approved by January 15, or the student falls out of academic good standing.
Spring
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (7 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

8 units
  • Recommended: defend MA thesis by end of Spring
Year 3 (PhD) Fall
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Methods/tools
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Required: MA thesis defended by November 1, or the student falls out of academic good standing.
  • Last quarter in which units may transfer between MA and PhD requirements without petition.
Winter
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Content elective (out-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Spring
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Methods/tools
  • COMM 596A Directed Research
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Recommended: choose a PhD advisor and finalize the PhD committee by end of Spring. Both must be selected no later than the quarter before qualifying exam begins.
  • Begin discussing the quals reading list with committee members as soon as they agree to serve.
Year 4 (PhD) Fall
  • Quals writing quarter
  • COMM 597 Preparation for the Qualifying Examination
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Recommended: defend qualifying exams during finals week of the writing quarter (no later than week 2 of Winter).
Winter
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Spring
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Recommended: dissertation proposal defended and approved by end of Spring.
Year 5 (PhD) Fall
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Required: dissertation proposal approved by November 1.
Winter
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
  • Recommended: complete data collection by end of Winter.
Spring
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —

MA Progress Benchmarks

Two deadlines determine academic good standing during the MA:

  • Students are expected to have their thesis proposal approved by their committee by the end of Spring in year 1. A student whose proposal has not been approved by January 15 of year 2 falls out of academic good standing.
  • Students are expected to successfully defend the MA thesis by the end of Spring quarter in year 2. A student who has not successfully defended by November 1 of year 3 falls out of academic good standing.

PhD Progress Benchmarks

Three deadlines determine academic good standing during the PhD:

  • Students are expected to write and defend their qualifying exams in Fall of year 4. A student who has not advanced to candidacy by the end of year 4 falls out of academic good standing.
  • Students are expected to have their dissertation proposal approved by their committee by the end of Spring in year 4. A student whose proposal has not been approved by November 1 of year 5 falls out of academic good standing.
  • Students are expected to defend and file the dissertation by the end of year 5.

See V.3.1 Good Standing Policy in the Graduate Handbook for what falling out of good standing entails.

Related Handbook Sections