Professional Communication (M.S.)

Purdue University
Master of Science (M.S.)

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 serve students seeking career management and staff positions as communication specialists in industrial, service, governmental, and media-related sectors of the economy. The curriculum may also be used as preparation for doctoral programs.

Students prepare plans of study in one of two broad areas: communication management or media specialist. Students who pursue this program benefit from four distinctive features: (1) the curricular fusion of two respected academic traditions: rhetorical and communication theory; (2) a functionally proportioned study of rhetorical and communication theory and practice; (3) the complementary relation of the required core, which provides a coherent theoretical base, and the selections offered by the applied specialization and cognate options, which facilitate development of a plan of study tailored to personal career goals; and (4) the scheduling of offerings to accommodate part-time students, including employed professionals, and to expedite completion of the program in as little as two academic years.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum consists of 33 credits in approved courses, a synthesis paper, and a written comprehensive examination. Comprehensive examinations will be routine. Under exceptional circumstances, you may be exempted from taking your comprehensive examination by the advising committee. The circumstances will include (1) achieving A’s in all graduate courses (if you meet the following two criteria regarding synthesis paper and conference paper/publication and have all A’s in courses up to your last semester, you are exempt from comprehensive exams even if you are taking courses that semester); (2) having the synthesis paper approved by the deadline for that semester; and (3) either having a single-authored competitive paper presented at a regional or national scholarly meeting or having a single-authored competitive paper published in a regional or national scholarly journal.

Teaching Assistantships

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available and provide tuition reduction and a stipend. The assistantship normally requires teaching two Fundamentals of Speech Communication courses or other duties as assigned. All recipients must be enrolled in two graduate courses during each of the regular semesters of the academic year. See www.ipfw.edu/comm/grad for details.

Communication Theory Core (12 credits)

At least one of the following: (3 credits)

At least three of the following: (9 credits)

COM 51200 - Theories of Interpersonal Communication Cr. 3.
COM 51800 - Theories of Persuasion Cr. 3.
COM 52000 - Small Group Communication Cr. 3.
COM 52100 - Theories of Rhetoric Cr. 3.
COM 52700 - Introduction to Cultural Studies Cr. 3.
COM 55900 - Current Trends in Mass Communication Research Cr. 3.
COM 57400 - Organizational Communication Cr. 3.

Specialization Courses (up to 21 credits)

COM 50200 - Classroom Communication Cr. 3.
COM 50700 - Introduction to Semiotics Cr. 3.
COM 50800 - Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction Cr. 3.
COM 51500 - Persuasion in Social Movements Cr. 3.
COM 51600 - Analysis of Persuasive Messages Cr. 3.
COM 51700 - Communication in Politics Cr. 3.
COM 52200 - History and Criticism of Public Communication Cr. 3.
COM 52300 - Communication in Personal Relationships Cr. 3.
COM 52500 - Advanced Interviewing Cr. 3.
COM 53100 - Special Topics in Mass Communication Cr. 3.
COM 53400 - Comparative Telecommunication Systems Cr. 3.
COM 53700 - Educational/Instructional Television Cr. 3.
COM 55700 - Legal Dimensions of Communication Cr. 3.
COM 56000 - Rhetorical Dimensions of Mass Media Cr. 3.
COM 56300 - Public Policy in Telecommunication Cr. 3.
COM 57600 - Health Communication Cr. 3.
COM 59000 - Directed Study of Special Problems Cr. 1-3.
COM 59700 - 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.