Communication

Communication concerns the creation, placement, and management of purposive messages for the realization of individual, organizational, and/or societal goals, while acknowledging the consequences and complexities of interacting with various audiences in various contexts. Our graduate programs focus on developing leaders capable of strategic and ethical thinking, speaking, writing and research on communication problems. To be effective leaders in the practice and study of communication, students learn to dynamically engage communication problems through a principled approach and are equipped with the methodological tools to evaluate the efficacy of the solutions they develop. The programs prepare students for careers or further graduate study in advertising, advocacy, consulting, corporate communication, health communication, human resources/relations, journalism, leadership, media management, new media, organizational communication, and public relations.

The department offers a program of study leading to a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication degree. The department also offers a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication. MA students typically satisfy the requirements of the Graduate Certificate en route to the MA degree. Students who do not wish to pursue the full Master’s degree, at least initially, may use the Certificate of Graduate Study as a post-baccalaureate stepping stone toward career advancement or further graduate study. Students who already have a Master’s degree may use the Graduate Certificate to enhance their graduate education with a communication specialization.

Master of Arts Program Requirements

Core Courses (Required)

Communication theory and research are the foundation of graduate study in the department. After being oriented to graduate study within the program, students are required to engage coursework in communication theory and at least one of the two required courses in methodology, qualitative or quantitative research methods in communication, prior to engaging any other coursework in the program.

Focal Courses (Electives) 

Upon completion of foundational coursework in the program, students engage focal courses in the discipline. To ensure adequate exposure to the multiple dimensions of communication, students complete two courses within each of the following focal areas: Principles, Practices and Contexts. Principles courses focus on the overarching philosophical, ethical, and methodological issues relevant to the study and practice of communication in multiple contexts. Practices courses focus on the strategic application of communication principles to the creation of messages within particular contexts. Contexts courses focus on the places, spaces, situations, and modalities within which principled communication has significant impact. Each elective course falls under one of these three areas.

Completion of a Degree Capstone

To complete the MA in Communication degree, students must complete a capstone experience. The capstone can be completed in one of three ways: by successfully completing a comprehensive examination plus 5-6 additional elective credits; by completing the COM 9001 Portfolio course and completing an additional 2-3 credits; or by completing a six-credit Master’s Thesis. The details of the capstone requirement are listed below.

Capstone Requirement Options

Comprehensive Exam Option: After completing all required courses and a minimum of 21 credits, students may apply to complete a written take-home comprehensive examination. The examination covers two areas: either COM 8001 Qualitative Research Methods or COM 8002 Quantitative Research Methods, and an elective course in the student’s area of specialization. Students may be required to orally defend their written responses to demonstrate sufficient competency. The Comprehensive Exam Option is non-credit bearing, which permits students to take an addition 5-6 credits to complete the degree. This option is ideal for students who wish to make more courses a part of their experience.

Portfolio Option: After completing all required courses and a minimum of 21 credit hours, students may enroll in COM 9001 Portfolio. The Portfolio Option allows students to select, revise, and expand the scope of projects undertaken during their graduate coursework at Villanova. Through these projects, students reflect upon and showcase their application of a communication perspective to real-world aesthetic, business, ethical, intellectual, or social problems. Students are required to publicly defend their work to successfully complete the course. Completing the Portfolio Option earns students 3 credits toward the degree. This option is ideal for students who wish to leave the program with a polished, professional portfolio of their work.

Thesis Option: After completing all required courses and at least 18 credit hours of coursework, students may apply to submit a written thesis and complete an oral defense to satisfy the capstone requirement. The thesis project is designed and completed under the supervision of an advisor, who must be graduate faculty in Communication, and who is assisted by a committee of at least two other faculty members or professional consultants, one of whom must be from Communication. The thesis committee must be formed and approved by the program prior to registering for thesis credits. Work on the thesis earns the equivalent of two courses (6 credits) toward the degree. This option is ideal for students who have a passion project or who wish to continue their graduate studies at the doctoral level.

In summary, the MA degree requires completion of at least 33 credit hours as follows:

• Required courses (10 hrs.):
  • COM 8008 Orientation to Graduate Study (1 hr.) and
  • COM 8100 The Communication Perspective (3 hrs.) and
  • COM 8001 Qualitative Research Methods (3 hrs.) and
  • COM 8002 Quantitative Research Methods (3 hrs.)

Note: COM 8008, COM 8100 and either COM 8001 or COM 8002 must be completed prior to or concurrent with any other course.

• At least two focal courses in each of the following areas (5-6 hours; students may opt to take two 1-credit courses along with Orientation (COM 8008) instead of a 3-credit elective course under the advisement of their graduate faculty mentor):
  Principles (focus on the overarching philosophical, ethical, and methodological issues relevant to the study and practice of communication in multiple contexts.)
  Practices (focus on the strategic application of communication principles to the creation of messages within particular contexts.)
  Contexts (focus on the places, spaces, situations, and modalities within which principled communication has significant impact.)
• Completion of Degree Capstone: either a comprehensive examination plus 5-6 additional elective course credits (students may opt to take two 1-credit courses along with Orientation (COM 8008) instead of a 3-credit elective course under the advisement of their graduate faculty mentor) or a written Master’s Thesis (6 credits).

Additional Notes:

• With program approval, students may substitute up to 2 graduate courses (up to 6 credits) from outside of Graduate Studies in Communication that productively complement program offerings.
• No more than 2 independent study courses (up to 6 credits) will be counted toward MA degree requirements;
• No more than 3 one-credit courses will be counted toward MA degree requirements including the required one-credit Orientation.
• Students pursuing a Masters degree are eligible to receive a Graduate Certificate. See the section on Certificate Programs for requirements and policies.
• Certain courses are offered in a variety of blended in-person and online formats. See Graduate Director or program website for current offerings.

Combined Bachelor/Master Program in Communication

Exceptional Communication majors interested in obtaining a Master of Arts in Communication in conjunction with their Bachelor of Arts can earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe through the combined BA/MA program. This program allows qualified undergraduate majors to take graduate level courses during their senior year and complete the remaining requirements for the Master’s degree during a fifth year of study. Graduate courses (up to 10 credits) taken during the senior year count toward both undergraduate degree requirements as well the course requirements for the graduate program. With completion of all undergraduate requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree at the end of their fourth year of study and then continue in the graduate program.

Students should apply directly to the program director in their junior year of undergraduate study. Students will then be permitted to double-count up to nine credits of graduate study towards both their bachelor and master degrees. Students will work closely with their advisor to ensure the appropriate graduate coursework is taken while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Students must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.00 and students are not permitted to enroll in more than 16 credits while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Students should refer to the Combined Bachelor Master Programs website for detailed policies and procedure.