Program highlights
- Funding opportunities. Competitive graduate assistantships (GA) come with a scholarship and stipend. GA positions typically entail working with faculty in classroom settings, or assisting with research or other duties.
- Expert research faculty. The School of Media and Communication faculty actively conducts research, publishes in top tier journals and frequently presents at conferences. Graduate students are frequently invited to participate in their research. Our faculty members are enthusiastic mentors.
- Vibrant and inclusive community. Our students have the opportunity to engage with a diverse community of scholars and professionals from around the world. You will engage in stimulating discussions and collaborate with peers who bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table.
- Global perspective. We believe that an enriching academic environment is one that values and respects the contributions of individuals from all backgrounds and cultures. Through our curriculum, we explore various media and communication theories, practices and case studies that reflect the global nature of the field. We actively promote cross-cultural exchange and encourage students to explore media and communication practices beyond their own cultural boundaries.
- Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. Earn your undergraduate degree and a master’s in media and communication (the generalist option) from BGSU in just five years. The accelerated program is open to students majoring in communication, media production and studies or journalism and public relations.
Career opportunities
The BGSU M.A. degree in media and communications primarily prepares you for:
- A research career in industry and nonprofits
- A media or communication Ph.D. program and a career in academia
Career paths
- Research professor
- Teaching faculty
- Research fellow
- Senior researcher
- Policy researcher
- Nonprofit researcher
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
Core courses provide an overview of the history of communication studies.
All students cover the foundations of social science research and explore connections of those foundations to different forms of quantitative research across communications. Courses cover key concepts in observations, measurement, sampling and operationalization for content analysis, survey and experimental research.
You will get to know graduate faculty and their research interests, as well as cultivate scholarly writing and research skills.
Coursework choices are flexible and made in consultation with an advisor. Your plan of study will vary, depending on whether you choose the generalist option or intercultural/International specialization.
All students complete a thesis, research project or comprehensive exam. Students who write the M.A. thesis should anticipate completing in two full years (5-6 semesters). Those who opt for the research project or comprehensive exam may complete the degree program in four semesters.
You will build a knowledge base that will prepare you for further academic studies by exploring the three areas of emphasis within the School of Media and Communication:
- Media audiences and processes
- Interpersonal communication
- Critical media studies and rhetoric
You may concentrate your coursework in one area or take courses across multiple areas. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. An advisor can guide you to the best path.
This specialization is closely aligned with the school’s emphasis in critical media studies and rhetoric. You will take coursework that provides theoretical and conceptual grounding in topics related to international and intercultural communication. You also take methods courses that prepare you for the rigors of a thesis or research project, should you choose either of those plans to complete the degree.
Sample courses
- Communication and Conflict
- Gender, Media and Culture
- Perspectives on International Media
- Intercultural Communication
- Race and Communication
- Communication for Social Change
- International Media
Coverdell Fellowship for former Peace Corps volunteers
The Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows Program is a graduate fellowship program that offers financial assistance to returned volunteers who wish to earn graduate degrees. The BGSU master’s program in media and communication translates the skills and knowledge that volunteers acquire during their Peace Corps experience into a career that promotes understanding of the world and its people.
The Master of Arts in media and communication program is a part of the School of Media and Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 09/25/2024 11:32AM