Media and Communication (Archived 2016-17 Graduate Catalog)

Chair: Laura Stafford
Graduate Coordinator: Joshua Atkinson
Address: 302 West Hall
Phone: 419-372-8349
E-mail: smcgrad@bgsu.edu
Media and Communications Program Website

Degrees Offered

Graduate Certificate
MA
Ph.D

Programs Offered

Ph.D. in Media and Communication
MA in Media and Communication (Generalist)
MA in Media and Communication with specialization in International/Intercultural Communication
MA in Media and Communication with specialization in Social & Interactive Media
MA in Media and Communication with specialization in Strategic Communication
Certificate in International/Intercultural Communication
Certificate in in Social & Interactive Media
Certificate in Strategic Communication

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

Applicants to the Graduate Certificate or MA program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a satisfactory academic record. Usually, applicants should have an undergraduate major or minor in a communication-related discipline; others will be considered for admission on an individual basis.

Admission to the doctoral program requires an appropriate master's degree from an accredited institution with an excellent academic record, evidence of research proficiency, and a record which otherwise indicates potential for successful advanced work.

Admission Procedure

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate programs in media and communication should follow the instructions outlined in the Graduate Admission section of this Graduate Catalog.  All application materials should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office.

In addition, applicants should review the admissions requirements specific to the program to which they seek admission.  

Additional criteria for Ph.D. program include: (1) a statement of purpose; (2) three letters of reference sent directly from the recommenders to smcgrad@bgsu.edu; (3) SMC graduate funding application (if requesting funding).

Additional criteria for MA with International/Intercultural Communication specialization and Social & Interactive Media specialization programs include: (1) a statement of purpose; (2) three letters of reference sent directly from the recommenders to smcgrad@bgsu.edu; (3) SMC graduate funding application (if requesting funding).

Additional criteria for MA with Strategic Communication specialization program include: (1) a statement of purpose; (2) three letters of reference sent directly from the recommenders to smcgrad@bgsu.edu.

Additional criteria for graduate certificate programs include: (1) a statement of purpose; (2) two letters of reference sent directly from the recommenders to smcgrad@bgsu.edu

For more information visit the admission website.

Degree Requirements

Ph.D. in Media and Communication

The doctoral program requires the following: 64 hours of coursework beyond the MA: 16 hours of dissertation credit; 12 hours in four core courses; 9 hours in three tool courses; 12 hours in MC emphasis areas; 15 hours of elective MC courses or an approved cognate area outside of the School of Media & Communication. A maximum of 6 hours of readings, internship, or workshop may be counted toward the degree, if deemed to fit into one of the categories above. [Note: One of the three tool courses should be an MC course. Doctoral students can take 5000-level courses, but none of its credit hours may count toward their doctoral degree in Media and Communication. The co/prerequisite graduate-level statistics course may also count, if approved by the graduate program committee.

There are two examinations during the course of the Ph.D. program. The qualifying exams should be taken in the semester a student will be completing 18 hours of credits. Usually, the qualifying exams take place after the 2/3 of the second semester has progressed. The qualifiers are administered in a three-and-a-half-hour time span, in which students answer three questions from three classes that they have taken or are in the process of taking. One question must come from MC 6000; the other two questions are to be chosen by students from 6000/7000 level courses they have taken to the point. Students who do not pass the qualifying exam will not be allowed to proceed in the program. The preliminary examination, administered at or near the completion of coursework, consists of written examinations taken at home for a span of one-week time period. Although other topics may be included, the following categories must be addressed: (1) primary area of interest; (2) secondary area of interest/cognate; (3) theory; (4) methods/tools. The advisor and the student work together to coordinate the execution of preliminary examination. The student’s committee will consist of at least four members: an advisor from Media and Communication, two other Media and Communication faculty members, and an outside member appointed by the Graduate College.

MA in Media and Communication
Plan I: Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, including a minimum of three hours of thesis credit and a thesis. Students who write a thesis must pass an oral final examination with a committee composed of two Media and Communication faculty members and a third member either from Media and Communication or another program.

Plan II: Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, including a minimum of three hours of comps or project credit. Those who chose the comprehensive exam option need to pass a written comprehensive examination; those with the project option need to produce a project. Plan II approval is not granted after the student has requested and received official approval of a thesis topic. In the comprehensive examination for the master’s degree, candidates are expected to demonstrate apt knowledge of the discipline of media and communication, research methodologies, and two other courses. The examination is to be held during one day and completed within four and a half hours. Students in Plan II have the option of completing a project in the place of comprehensive examination. The projects are carried out under the supervision of at least two Media and Communication faculty members.

Candidates under both plans must complete 9 hours in the core. In addition to the core, candidates under both plans must also complete 15 credit hours of electives or specialization courses. Furthermore, candidates need 3 hours of electives and minimum 3 hours of thesis/comps/project. No more than 6 hours of readings or internship count toward the 30 hours.

Certificate in International/Intercultural Communication
This certificate program consists of 5 courses (or 15 credit hours), which can be earned by taking 2 core courses (6 credits), 2 of 4 pre-selected courses (6 credits), and 1 elective course in the School of Media & Communication Graduate curriculum (3 credits) at the 6000/7000-level.

Certificate in Social & Interactive Media
This certificate program consists of 5 courses (or 15 credit hours), which can be earned by taking 2 core courses (6 credits), 2 of 4 pre-selected courses (6 credits), and 1 elective course in the School of Media & Communication Graduate curriculum (3 credits) at the 6000/7000-level.

Certificate in Strategic Communication
This certificate program consists of 5 courses (or 15 credit hours), which can be earned by taking 4 core courses (12 credits) and 1 elective course (3 credits) at the graduate level offered by a BGSU academic program.

Visit the website for a list of the approved media and communication program courses.

Graduate Courses

Please access graduate courses online by clicking the “Browsing Course Catalog” button. Graduate courses offered by the School of Media and Communication use the prefix: MC.