2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Communication

All master's degree programs require a minimum of 50 percent of the non-thesis credit hours applied to the degree to be in 400-level graduate seminars.

Option I - Thesis

This 32-hour master's thesis option requires:

• 9 hours including COM 422, COM 497 and another methods course (COM 402 or COM 473) 
• 5 hours of COM 499 under which student completes thesis
• 18 hours of electives 
• at least 12 of the 18 elective credit hours must be completed in Graduate Seminars. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be completed in other coursework approved for graduate credit to fulfill the elective requirements. A maximum of six credit hours from COM 400 and COM 498 (combined) may be applied to the degree

Option II - Master's Project

This 36-hour master's project option requires: 

• 9 hours including COM 422, COM 497 and another methods course (COM 402 or COM 473) 
• 3 hours of COM 450 in which student completes master's project under the direction of a graduate committee chair and additional committee member
• 24 credit hours of electives 
• at least 15 of the 24 elective credit hours must be completed in Graduate Seminars. A maximum of 9 credit hours may be completed in other coursework approved for graduate credit to fulfill the elective requirements. A maximum of nine credit hours from COM 400 and COM 498 (combined) can be applied to the degree (with no more than six hours of each).