Professional Communication (M.A.)

Purdue University
Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department of Communication
College of Arts and Sciences
Marcia D. Dixson, Chair
Steven A. Carr, Graduate Program Director
260-481-6825 ~ www.ipfw.edu/comm/grad ~ Neff Hall 230

The master’s program in professional communication serves students seeking to advance their education beyond an undergraduate degree. Whether you are looking to enhance your career in broadcasting, business, education, new media, or social services; or if you are preparing to enter a Ph.D. program, the master’s program can help you achieve your goals.

Our program emphasizes three areas of specialization:

Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Theory
Media Criticism, History, and Theory
Rhetorical Criticism and Theory

The program meets the needs of students who work full time. During fall and spring, most graduate courses are scheduled once a week in the evening. During summer, an additional course is offered. Students can take one class a semester, or go full time and complete the program in less than two years.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum consists of 33 credits in approved courses, a synthesis paper, and a written comprehensive examination. Students who maintain a 4.0 GPA and who have an academic paper competitively accepted either for publication or for presentation at an academic conference may be exempted from taking the comprehensive examination. An advising committee will consider an exemption when a student: (1) has achieved A’s in all graduate courses; (2) has the synthesis paper approved by the deadline for that semester; and (3) either has a single-authored competitive paper presented at a regional or national scholarly meeting, or a single-authored competitive paper published in a regional ornational scholarly journal.

Communication Methods Courses (3 credits)

At least one of the following: (3 credits)

At least three of the following: (9 credits)

COM 512 - Theories of Interpersonal Communication Cr. 3.
COM 518 - Theories of Persuasion Cr. 3.
COM 520 - Small Group Communication Cr. 3.
COM 521 - Theories of Rhetoric Cr. 3.
COM 527 - Introduction to Cultural Studies Cr. 3.
COM 559 - Current Trends in Mass Communication Research Cr. 3.
COM 574 - Organizational Communication Cr. 3.

Specialization Courses (up to 21 credits)

COM 502 - Classroom Communication Cr. 3.
COM 507 - Introduction to Semiotics Cr. 3.
COM 508 - Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction Cr. 3.
COM 515 - Persuasion in Social Movements Cr. 3.
COM 516 - Analysis of Persuasive Messages Cr. 3.
COM 517 - Communication in Politics Cr. 3.
COM 522 - History and Criticism of Public Communication Cr. 3.
COM 523 - Communication in Personal Relationships Cr. 3.
COM 525 - Advanced Interviewing Cr. 3.
COM 531 - Special Topics in Mass Communication Cr. 3.
COM 534 - Comparative Telecommunication Systems Cr. 3.
COM 537 - Educational/Instructional Television Cr. 3.
COM 557 - Legal Dimensions of Communication Cr. 3.
COM 560 - Rhetorical Dimensions of Mass Media Cr. 3.
COM 563 - Public Policy in Telecommunication Cr. 3.
COM 576 - Health Communication Cr. 3.
COM 590 - Directed Study of Special Problems Cr. 1-3.
COM 597 - Special Topics in Communication Cr. 3.

Cognate Studies

Credits selected, with the approval of your advisor or advising committee, from upper division or graduate courses in communication or other disciplines.