Graduate Program

The Department of Communication offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Science in Communication. In keeping with the University’s mission to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic qualities of urban life, our program focuses on discourse in urban communities, and our faculty concentrate on research in the areas of Media Theories; Critical, Cultural and Relational Theories; and Cognitive Theories.

Admission requirements

Admission to the program occurs once a year. All materials are due by February 1 for students to be considered for fall term admission. Applicants must also apply separately to Portland State University. For admission to graduate study, the student’s background and preparation should reflect an ability to pursue graduate work in communication. It is not required that the applicant have an undergraduate degree in communication; students with undergraduate backgrounds in related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Should the student’s preparation be deemed inadequate in certain areas, the student will be required to overcome those deficiencies through formal coursework and/or directed readings. The University requires that incoming graduate students have an average of a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA. Although we will consider applicants with lower overall GPAs, the strong guideline is 3.0 GPA. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are NOT currently required for application. However, they are recommended, and can increase applicant competitiveness. All such work is separate from work toward the master’s degree. Prospective students should check the Department website for specific application details, and applications should be received by February 1.

• Applicants submit a letter of introduction 
• Statement of purpose as to why they want to pursue an advanced degree in communication
• Official transcripts, TOEFL (for international students) and other relevant testing scores
• Three letters of recommendation and recommendation forms
• At least one writing sample 
• Department application form
• An average of a 3.0 overall GPA (not only major GPA, all undergraduate work)  
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (recommended but not required)

Whenever possible the three letters of recommendation should come from individuals closely acquainted with the applicant’s academic career. All students are admitted to the program on a conditional status. The conditional status will be removed when the graduate faculty determine that the student has made satisfactory progress in her or his academic program. Satisfactory progress is determined after students have completed at least 12 credits. Students will be required to earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00, and students who earn less than a B-minus in any class will have their progress reviewed by the graduate faculty. If the faculty agree that the student has made satisfactory progress the conditional status will be removed.

Degree and program requirements

All students must meet both University and Department requirements to successfully complete the program in communication. We offer a Master of Arts and a Master of Science degree. The M.A. requires foreign language proficiency, while the M.S. does not. All students must complete a total of 50 graduate credits, of which 44 are taken in coursework, plus an additional 6 credits toward the student’s thesis or project. Students entering this program are expected to develop an understanding and appreciation of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological breadth of the discipline and to develop expertise in the pursuit of particular interests in the study of communication.
Each student’s program must be based on the following:

Core theory courses:
Three core theory courses (listed below) are required of each student and include the following:
Comm 561 Social, Institutional and Media Theories
Comm 562 Cognitive and Relational Theories
Comm 563 Critical and Cultural Theories

Core methods courses:
Choose at least 2 of 3 courses (4 credits each):
Comm 521 Quantitative Methods of Communication Research
Comm 531 Qualitative Methods of Communication Research;
Comm 532 Critical Methods of Media Inquiry

Emphasis Area:
At least 4 courses

Students are required to develop, in consultation with their adviser, competency in one area of emphasis. Sample courses include:
Comm 520 Political Communication
Comm 538 Everyday Talk
Comm 560 Framing & Mass Media

Elective Area:
Complete 8 credits of elective coursework to complement the student’s area of emphasis, in consultation with the adviser. Students are encouraged to choose electives from within the Department, and courses taken outside the Department must be approved by student’s program adviser in order to count toward the requirements of the degree

Thesis:
(6 credits)

-OR-

Project:
At least 6 credits

Program Options

All students complete one of the following with close supervision of their adviser. We strongly encourage students to pursue the thesis option.

• Thesis Students interested in a research or academic career, or who anticipate advanced graduate work leading toward a Ph.D., should choose the thesis option. The thesis entails a systematic study of a significant problem and contributes to the body of knowledge relevant to the study. Theses may be either quantitative or qualitative. Each student who elects the thesis option will complete a written thesis and pass a final oral examination on the thesis. Prior to beginning work on the thesis, students must demonstrate proficiency in relevant theories and research methods. Students must complete at least 6 thesis credits (Comm 503).

• Project Students who elect the project option will complete an applied focus of discourse in communication. The project is more creative than a thesis in that the requirements may vary from student to student, subject to the approval of the student’s committee. All projects must be grounded in relevant theories, concepts and practices, and all students who chose this option must demonstrate appropriate research and methodological competency. Students must complete at least 6 project credits (Comm 506).