Master of Arts in Communication

Coordinator:
S. Lily Mendoza
315 Wilson Hall
(248) 370-2685
mendoza@oakland.edu

Program description

The Master of Arts Degree in communication provides intellectual grounding in communication theory and research methods, and specialization in one of three areas of concentration offered by the department, namely:  Culture and Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and Media Studies. The program offers opportunities for those wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in communication or a related discipline. It also will be valuable for practitioners in business, education, media or non-profit organizations seeking professional enhancement.

The program is committed to a critical approach to the study of communication and recognizes the central role communication plays in the creation of productive relationships across divisions of identity, culture, and geography and in building more sustainable, equitable, and enriched communities in our increasingly globally connected world. Students will be trained in diverse methodological and epistemological approaches to the study of communication, including rhetoric, intercultural communication, cultural studies, interpersonal communication, and media studies.

Upon graduation, students will have gained a greater understanding of the impact of communication in a range of contexts; a general knowledge of research approaches in communication; and an ability to further the research, writing, and analytical skills needed in today’s world.

Admission terms and application deadlines

All application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the deadlines listed below.

• July 15, 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester
• July 15, 2013 for the Fall 2013 semester

International applicants:  International applications are reviewed for fall admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission.

Special Graduate classification:  Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements

• Application for Admission to Graduate Study        
• Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
  • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
• Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
• Proof of English language proficiency
• International supplemental application and supporting documentation  must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements

• Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the major of the bachelor’s degree.
• Two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms, listed under University graduate application requirements, must be from faculty members familiar with the applicant’s academic work. For applicants, who have been out of school for more than 5 years, at least one recommender must be a faculty member who is able to judge the applicant’s preparation and ability to undertake graduate study. Substitutions for a faculty recommendation may include work supervisors or approved others who can comment on the applicant’s academic potential for graduate work.
• Statement of purpose of no more than 1000 words detailing the reasons why the student is pursuing advanced study of communication and what kind of work they seek to pursue.
• Professional resume
• International applicants must have scores at or above the 90th percentile on the TOEFL examination.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.