FAQ

HOW MANY CREDITS ARE NEEDED TO FINISH THE GRADUATE PROGRAM?

The M.S. program in Strategic Communication is a 36 credit hour program. A full-time student generally takes 9 credit hours per semester, so you can finish in four semesters. Part-time students typically take 3 or 6 credit hours per semester. If a part-time student takes courses in the summer, he or she can finish the program in approximately 3-4 years, depending on the availability of summer courses.

SHOULD I DO A THESIS IF I PLAN TO GO INTO A DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE? 

In our program, you will learn how to conduct a research study and report it in an appropriate format. Students are encouraged to submit their completed research studies to a regional or national communication conference. Generally, doctoral programs are interested in your ability to conduct research and write a research report, whether it comes in the form of a research study or a thesis.

WHAT KIND OF JOB WILL THIS MASTER’S DEGREE QUALIFY ME FOR?

Graduates of our program work in public relations, strategic communications, corporate training, management, sales, college teaching and a variety of other occupations.

ARE THERE ASSISTANTSHIPS AVAILALE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS?

Our program offers various assistantships, which require students to work a certain number of hours in exchange for a monthly stipend during spring and fall semesters and/or full tuition waiver. Assistantships provide the potential for few to no out-of-pocket costs for our students.

Assistantships include:

  • Graduate Assistant - The student receives a monthly stipend by assisting the School of Communication or other departments on campus with various responsibilities.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant - The student receives full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend by learning to teach college level communication courses by shadowing a professor and attending weekly meetings. At the end of one full year, the student who make satisfying progress in teaching and are in good academic standing becomes a Graduate Teaching Fellow.
  • Graduate Teaching Fellow - The student receives full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend by teaching two sections of an intro-level communication course each semester as the instructor on record. Only available to GTAs who make satisfying progress in their first year of training with a good academic standing. 

DO I NEED TO TAKE A STANDARDIZED TEST BEFORE GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM? 

Our program does not require you to take the GRE.