College of Arts and Sciences

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts, Master of Science, Joint Master of Arts or Master of Science and Doctor of Jurisprudence (jointly with the School of Law), Joint Master of Arts or Master of Science and Master of Business Administration (jointly with the Kelley School of Business), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. telecom­munications track in the Mass Communications Program).

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements).

Master of Arts Degree

The M.A. in Telecommunications is designed to train students for academic careers in communications and related fields. Graduates will be prepared to enter a Ph.D. program, teach at small colleges, or accept analytical and research positions in media and creative industries.

Admission Requirements 

1. At least a B (3.0) average in an undergraduate program;
2. appropriate level of performance on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (all scores above 500 or verbal and quantitative scores above 500 and analytical score at or above 4.0);
3. statement of purpose;
4. three letters of recommendation;
5. completion of departmental background information form; and
6. paper TOEFL score greater than 600, computer-based TOEFL score greater than 250, or Internet-based TOEFL score greater than 100 for international students.

Applications from students who have not majored in communi­cation at the bachelor’s level are welcomed. If admitted, these students may be required to take supplementary courses.

Grades

B (3.0) average or above. Any semester’s work averaging less than B will result in the student’s being placed on academic probation. Accumulation of three individual course grades of C (2.0) or lower for graduate credit will result in dismissal of the student from the program. The department evaluates each student’s progress toward the degree every year.

Advisory Committee

Each student will receive initial guidance from a faculty mem­ber assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies. During the second semester, each student will select a three-member Advisory Committee that will be responsible for approving the student’s Program of Study, the thesis and granting approval for the degree. At least two members of the Advisory Com­mittee must be from the Department of Telecommunications. Students who fail to select an Advisory Committee or construct a Program of Study by the end of the second semester in the program will be considered as making inadequate progress toward the degree.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 30 credit hours, including

1. T501 Philosophy of Inquiry in Telecommunications, T502 Introduction to Research Methods in Telecommunications, and either T503 Telecommunications Theory or T504 Tele­communications Policy Studies, with a grade of B (3.0) or above;
2. T800 Thesis: Telecommunications, normally taken for 6 credit hours;
3. Program of Study listing all courses toward the degree, approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.

At least 21 credit hours must be taken within the Department of Telecommunications. Students must take at least three courses related to their thesis topic.

Thesis

Oral defense required, administered by the student’s Advisory Commit­tee.

Master of Science Degree

The M.S. in Telecommunications is designed to prepare stu­dents for professional careers in media design, production, and management.

Admission Requirements 

1. At least a B (3.0) average in an undergraduate program,
2. appropriate level of performance on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (all scores above 500 or verbal and quantitative scores above 500 and analytical score at or above 4.0) for most MS applicants – check with the department for exceptions to this rule;
3. statement of purpose;
4. three letters of recommendation;
5. completion of departmental background information form; and
6. paper TOEFL score greater than 600, computer-based TOEFL score greater than 250, or internet-based TOEFL score greater than 100 for international students.

Applications from students who have not majored in communi­cation at the bachelor’s level are welcomed. If admitted, these students may be required to take supplementary courses.

Grades

B (3.0) average or above. Any semester’s work averaging less than B will result in the student’s being placed on academic probation. Accumulation of three individual course grades of C (2.0) or lower for graduate credit will result in dismissal of the student from the program. The department evaluates each student’s progress toward the degree every year.

Advisory Committee

Each student will receive initial guidance from a faculty mem­ber assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies. During the second semester, each student will select a three-member Advisory Committee that will be responsible for approving the student’s Program of Study, administering the final exam, and granting approval for the degree. At least two members of the Advisory Committee must be from the Department of Telecommunications. Students who fail to select an Advisory Committee or construct a Program of Study by the end of the second semester in the program will be considered as making inadequate progress toward the degree.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours, including

1. T505 Media Organizations, with a grade of B (3.0) or above;
2. one core course corresponding to a chosen concentration area, with a grade of B (3.0) or above:
   • Game Design Concentration: T580 Interactive Story­telling and Computer Games or
   • Management Concentration: T522 Managing the Creative Process;
3. Program of Study listing all courses toward the degree, approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.

Final Examination

Students must pass a comprehensive written and oral exami­nation, administered by the student’s Advisory Committee. The exam consists of:

1. Written questions on core coursework, written questions on elective coursework, and an oral defense, OR
2. Written questions on core coursework, written questions on a media design project, and an oral defense.

Joint Degree: Master of Arts or Master of Science in Telecommunications and Doctor of Jurisprudence in the School of Law

To be eligible to receive the degrees of Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Arts or Master of Science in Telecommunica­tions, which must be received simultaneously, a student must:

1. complete 79 semester hours of credit in the School of Law including all of the required course work;
2. complete 27 hours of credit in the Department of Telecom­munications, including all of its required course work;
3. earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.3 on all work taken in the School of Law and at least 3.0 on all work taken in theDepartment of Telecommunications.

Joint Degree: Master of Arts or Master of Science in Telecommunications and Master of Business Administration in the Kelley School of Business

To be eligible to receive the degrees of Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts or Master of Science in Telecommunications, which must be received simultaneously, a student must:

1. complete 42 credit hours in the Kelley School of Business, including all of the required course work;
2. complete 27 credit hours for the Master of Arts in Telecom­munications or 33 credit hours for the Master of Science in Telecommunications, including all of the required course work;
3. earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on all work taken in the telecommunications program and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on all work taken in the Kelley School of Business;
4. be in residence for six semesters (or their equivalent of full-time resident study; three of these semesters must be in telecommunications and three must be in the Kelley School of Business).

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Mass Com­munications: Telecommunications Track

The Department of Telecommunications, in cooperation with the School of Journalism, offers a doctoral program in mass communications.

Admission Requirements

1. Master’s degree from a recognized institution;
2. at least a 3.5 grade point average in a master’s program;
3. appropriate level of achievement on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (all scores above 500 or verbal and quantitative score above 500 and analytical score at or above 4.0);
4. statement of purpose;
5. three letters of recommendation;
6. completion of departmental background information form;
7. paper TOEFL score greater than 600, computer-based TOEFL score greater than 250, or Internet-based TOEFL score greater than 100 for international students;
8. writing sample.

Applications from students who have not majored in com­munication at the master’s level are welcomed. If admitted, these students may be required to take supplementary courses. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies as to whether gradu­ate credit might be granted for a non-communication master’s degree and if supplementary course work is necessary.

Grades

As described above for master’s programs.

Advisory Committee

Each student will receive initial guidance from a faculty mem­ber assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies. During the second semester, each student will select an Advisory Com­mittee consisting of at least two members from the major area and one from another. Students who fail to select an Advisory Committee or construct a Program of Study by the end of the second semester in the program will be considered as making inadequate progress toward the degree.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 90 credit hours, including

1. The core consisting of T501 Philosophy of Inquiry in Tele­communications, T502 Introduction to Research Methods in Telecommunications, T503 Telecommunications Theory, and T504 Introduction to Telecommunications Policy Studies with a grade of at least a B in each course;
2. T600 Proseminar in Telecommunications Research for four semesters;
3. 12 credit hours in a methodology area;
4. a minimum of six courses in the Department of Telecom­munications if student is transferring 16-30 credits, eight courses if transferring 1-15 credits, and 10 courses (at least four completed after receipt of the M.A.) if student has an M.A. from this department;
5. completion of a minor as required by the minor depart­ment;
6. no more than 6 credits of independent study;
7. no more than 15 credit hours in the dissertation,
8. Program of Study listing all courses toward the degree, approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.

Within these requirements, students design a rigorous and coherent individualized plan of study with the help of their advisory committee. This program is to be approved by the student’s Advisory Committee, the Graduate Director (with the advice of the Graduate Committee), and the Department Chair by the end of the second semester of course work.

Minor

Consistent with University Graduate School policy, each student must have at least one minor subject. Course work in the minor must be approved by the student’s Advisory Committee and must meet the requirements of the minor department.

Research Skill Requirement

12 credits of appropriate research skills courses approved by the student’s Advisory Committee (see number 3 under “Course Requirements” above).

Qualifying Examination

Written and oral, covering the methodology area, the core, the minor, and the student’s individualized areas of specialization.

Final Examination

Oral, primarily a defense of the dissertation.

Ph.D. Minor in Telecommunications

Doctoral students from other departments may choose tele­communications as an outside minor. A minimum of 15 credits in the department at the 500 level or above is required, includ­ing T501.