| |  | | Mass Communication | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Graduate Student Services, School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC), University of Minnesota, 110 Murphy Hall, 206 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-4054; fax 612-626-8251; sjmcgrad@tc.umn.edu).
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply to all major fields.
Curriculum—The M.A. degree in mass communication emphasizes the theoretical study of mass communication and analysis of media systems and effects. The degree is intended for those who wish to pursue Ph.D. degrees or teaching and research careers, as well as those who seek communication related positions. The general M.A. program is not designed to provide professional skills training in journalism.
Individuals who have extensive professional experience in mass communication or a B.A. degree in journalism are encouraged to enter the M.A. program. Individuals with strong social science or liberal arts backgrounds in areas such as political science, psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, and English also are encouraged to apply.
The Ph.D. offers training for academic careers primarily in communication instruction, research, or policy. Areas of specialization include media processes, influences, and effects (including health communication, advertising, and political communication); media law, ethics, and history; international communication; and media management. All programs are suffused with the study of new media communication.
Prerequisites for Admission—The minimum requirement for admission is a B.A. degree or equivalent.
Special Application Requirements—Applicants must submit a departmental application; a clearly written statement of career interests, goals, and objectives; three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their scholarship and research potential; a complete set of transcripts; academic work samples in English; and scores from the General Test of the GRE. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores from the TOEFL or IELTS (academic). In addition, such students seeking teaching assistantships are required to pass the SPEAK test of spoken-English proficiency prior to appointment. Admission is considered for fall semester only; the application deadline is December 31.
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).
 For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.
Special Facilities—Special facilities include the Minnesota Journalism Center,
the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, the Institute for New
Media Studies, the Digital Information Resource Center (which houses the Eric
Sevareid Library), and the SJMC Research Division.
Courses—Refer to Journalism and Mass Communication (JOUR) in University Courses for courses pertaining to this program. |
M.A. Plan A Degree Requirements | | A minimum of 27 course credits and 10 thesis credits are required. Coursework must include 12 credits in required core courses and 15 other credits (6–9 credits in other journalism and mass communication seminars or courses, and 6–9 credits in other departments). All coursework must be taken A-F.
Language Requirements—No foreign language is required.
Final Exam—The final exam is oral.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—Minor programs are planned in consultation with the director of graduate studies or another member of the mass communication graduate faculty. The master's minor consists of a minimum of 9 credits in a coherent area, with at least 6 credits at 8xxx. | Ph.D. Degree Requirements | A minimum of 54 course credits and 24 thesis credits are required. Coursework must include 12 credits in required core courses, and at least 42 other graduate credits. Of these credits, at least 21 credits must come from SJMC courses and at least 18 credits from outside the SJMC. All courses included on the Ph.D. degree program form must be graduate level (5xxx or 8xxx) and taken A-F.
Language Requirements—No foreign language is required.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A Ph.D. minor program consists of a minimum of 14 credits in a coherent disciplinary area. Students completing a minor in mass communication are required to take a preliminary written exam covering their coursework. |
Faculty | | For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>. Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).
Professor
Tsan-Kuo Chang, SM
Hazel Dicken-Garcia, SM
John Eighmey, SM
Ronald J. Faber, SM
David P. Fan, Genetics and Cell Biology, ASM
John R. Finnigan, Jr., ASM
Kathleen A. Hansen, SM
Jane E. Kirtley, SM
Mark Snyder, Psychology, ASM
Daniel J. Sullivan, SM
Daniel B. Wackman, SM
Associate Professor
Kenneth O. Doyle, SM
Mark H. Pedelty, M2
Dona B. Schwartz, SM
Gary Schwitzer, M2
Albert R. Tims, Jr., SM
Thomas Wolfe, History, AM2
Assistant Professor
Linus Abraham, M2
Donald Brazeal, M2
Kathryn R. Forde, M2
Jisu Huh, M2
Brian Southwell, SM
Michael R. Stamm, M2
Marco Yjzer, SM |
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