Master's Degree Program | Communication Studies | SIU

Master of Arts in Communication Studies

The MA program in Communication Studies prepares students for a variety of post-graduation paths. Many of our students go on to successful careers in communication industries, while others gain entry into top PhD programs. We're a very active program—faculty and graduate students give an average of more than 175 presentations each year at professional conferences. Our program is also home to Kaleidoscope, an annually published, refereed graduate journal of qualitative communication research. Graduate students in the program have the opportunity to review and be involved in the editorship of the journal.

The Communication Studies program sponsors a professional seminar series, teacher training workshops, and extensive production opportunities in our performance laboratory, the Marion Kleinau Theatre. We also cooperates closely with the school of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at SIU, which offers an 18-hour graduate certificate program. In addition, we have an active mentoring program for first-year graduate teaching assistants and many other formal and informal projects and programs.

Plan 1: Thesis 

You must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours, with no more than 6 hours or fewer than 3 hours of thesis credit in CMST 599 counted toward the 30-hour minimum. In addition, you must register for at least one semester hour of credit in CMST 599 during any academic term in which the services of any faculty member are used in the supervision of or consultation concerning the thesis. If your reliance upon faculty assistance justifies, the graduate director may require an appropriately greater number of semester hours in CMST 599. The thesis is submitted to a committee of 3 members of the graduate faculty, at least 2 of whom must be from the School of Communication Studies. The committee must approve the prospectus and will administer an oral examination over the thesis. You are required to submit an electronic copy of your thesis to the Graduate School, one copy to the School of Communication Studies, and paper copy to the thesis director. 

Plan 2: Research Report 

You must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours, with no more than 3 hours or fewer than 1 hour of research report credit in CMST 595 counted toward the 30 hours minimum. You must submit a research report as evidence of research competence.  

An advisory committee, consisting of your advisor and one other member of the graduate faculty in the School of Communication Studies, selected by you and your advisor, will administer an oral examination over the research report before it is submitted to the Graduate School. You must submit one copy of the research report to the Graduate School, one copy to the School of Communication Studies, and one copy to your advisor. 

Plan 3: Coursework Only
(for students admitted Fall 2024 and onward).

You need to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. During the second semester of your first year, you'll select the coursework-only option during your second semester review. While not required, you can choose to take an independent study with a graduate faculty member of your choice. In your final semester, you'll complete a professional practice final project aligned with your career goals. This project may take the form of a training workshop, a research presentation/talk, a performance, a podcast, or some other format approved and chosen in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Completion of the project would result in a public presentation to the student’s advisory committee and other invited faculty and graduate students in the School of Communication Studies.

Program Admission

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School and should have completed a minimum of 24 quarter or 16 credit hours in communication studies or related subjects. A program for remedying deficiencies in background can be arranged by the school’s Graduate Committee.

Inquiries regarding admission to graduate studies in communication studies should be directed to the director of graduate studies of the School of Communication Studies. 

Each applicant should apply online and upload three letters of recommendation. Official transcripts should be mailed directly to the school. In addition, applicants for the Ph.D. in Communication Studies degree program may furnish a research paper as evidence of research and writing ability.

Here is a helpful checklist with more detailed information on the application process.