Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication Arts (M.A.)


Bulletin/Catalog Year 2019-2020
College Arts and Letters
Department of Communication Arts

Dr. Robert Baron
Chair, Department of Communication
Associate Professor
Location: Music/Mass Communication, Room 166
Phone:  931.221.6819
Email: baronr@apsu.edu

Dr. Christina Hicks-Goldston
Graduate Coordinator, Department of Communication
Associate Professor
Phone: 931.221.7279
Location: Music/Mass Communication, Room  171
Email: hicksgoldstonc@apsu.edu

Program Description

The Austin Peay State University Department of Communication offers four degree programs for its Master of Arts in Communication Arts.

Through the Department of Communication’s M.A. programs, students gain the ability to apply communication theories and concepts to real world communication challenges.  Students work to complete the program at their desired pace, with classes in convenient 8-week terms.  The program offers a diverse array of electives to give students a great deal of flexibility in designing their own program of study.

The M.A. in Communication Arts provides students an opportunity to develop the skills they will need to pursue careers such as public relations, marketing, advertising, media management, human resources, strategic planning, media production, and non-profit work.  Students also have the option to complete a master’s thesis to help prepare for eventual doctoral studies.

The Communication Arts MA programs are entirely online and admit for all terms through APSU’s Clarksville Campus.  The curriculum is designed with the needs of a wide variety of students in mind.  The program allows currently employed professionals to fit classes to their busy schedules, as well as offering traditional students the opportunity to complete the degree in a more traditional two-year time frame.

Admission Requirements

Listed below are the required application materials and the associated scores (if necessary) for each.

  • Application for admission
  • Application Fee:  $45 domestic or $55 international
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
  • Bachelor’s degree, conferred in any field, from a regionally accredited institution showing a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5
  • Minimum GRE revised General Test verbal score of 140 (verbal and quantitative)*
  • Military documents (if applicable)
  • Admission decision by department

* Students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or greater or with a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution may submit an Entrance Exam Waiver Form, for approval by the department, to waive the GRE requirement.

For more information about the application process, please visit apsu.edu/grad-studies.

Total Hours 9


General Communication Concentration


The General Communication Concentration is the most open-ended degree program. It allows students the most elective choices and can help students prepare for doctoral studies by completing a master’s thesis.

Total hours 3 or 6

Electives


Students will work with their advisor to select 18 to 21 credit hours of graduate elective courses. These electives may include up to 9 credit hours from graduate courses outside the Department of Communication.

Total hours 18 or 21

Total hours for degree completion 33


Corporate Communication Concentration


The Corporate Communication Specialization provides students with a broad set of skills that are applicable in many professional communication settings. Students are able to tailor their graduate program by choosing electives to best fit their career needs and objectives.

Total hours 9

Required Research Courses


Total Hours 3

Electives


Students will work with their advisor to select 12 credit hours of graduate elective courses. These electives may include up to 9 credit hours from graduate courses outside the Department of Communication.

Total Hours 12

Total hours for degree completion 33


Marketing Communication Concentration


The Marketing Communication Concentration program is designed to prepare students for careers in marketing communications such as marketing communication, advertising, public relations, sales, and working with converged media.

Total Hours 9

Required Research Course


Total Hours 3

Electives


Students will work with their advisor to select 12 credit hours of graduate elective courses. These electives may include up to 9 credit hours from graduate courses outside the Department of Communication.

Total Hours 12

Total hours for degree completion 33


Media Management Concentration


The Media Management Concentration is designed to provide students with an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their careers to leadership roles in the media industry. Students can use the skills they learn in the program to pursue executive positions in sales, marketing, media operations, and general media management.

Total Hours 9

Required Research Course


Total Hours 3

Electives


Students will work with their advisor to select 12 credit hours of graduate elective courses. These electives may include up to 9 credit hours from graduate courses outside the Department of Communication.

Total Hours 15

Total hours for degree completion 33