I. Admission
II. Summer study
III. Degree requirements and courses offered
IV. Financial assistance and opportunities

Features:
How to choose a graduate program.
Graduate Handbook
Master's degree enrollment statistics 1995-2002.
Graduate coursework available on line.
Where can I publish?

Introduction
According to recent studies, more and more students are discovering the value of advanced professional study. This is mirrored in the Department of Communication: about 45 master's degree graduate students study with us here, one of the highest numbers of grad students of any campus department. Graduate study is not only helpful for secondary school teachers who wish to enhance their education for higher salary and advancement; many communication-related industries find a graduate degree a useful and sometimes indispensable resource for staff. This is especially true in management positions.

Of course, students also continue work at the master's level to prepare for doctoral research. The department offers preparation for that goal, and for communication professionals as well. About 15 percent of our master's degree students continue in a Ph.D. program, either continuing at NDSU, or applying elsewhere.

Many students considering Ph.D.-level study choose the thesis option: students are required to write a thesis demonstrating a high level of quantitative or qualitative research knowledge. Some students choose a non-thesis option by taking another class and writing an in-depth essay or other project as agreed upon by the department and the student's major advisor.

Requirements are tailored to fit each student's individual needs. Students may take graduate course work in other disciplines to enhance their graduate program of study. Interdisciplinary approaches to research are encouraged.

Admission to the program
Students holding a baccalaureate degree from a recognized university or college must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:

1. Students must have adequate study in mass communication or speech communication and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience. In speech communication, this means students must have completed work in persuasion or rhetoric, small group theory or interpersonal communication theory, and a performance-based study. In mass communication, this means course work in journalism, media production, and mass media history and theory.

2. Undergraduate G.P.A. must be at least 3.25 or equivalent.

3. The application must include scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

If you fail to meet minimum requirements, but demonstrate potential for successful graduate study, you may be admitted as a provisional or conditional student. Students who demonstrate ability to succeed in graduate study may apply for full graduate standing after no more than 12 credits of work have been completed.

The department sets no application deadline, but usually several weeks are required to process applications. Transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and for international applicants, TOEFL test results are required. The department's TOEFL score minimum must total at least 600 paper-based, 250 computer-based, or 100 internet-based. To qualify for a teaching assistantship, TOEFL score must total 650 paper-based, 280 computer-based, or 114 internet-based.

For more information on communication graduate study write or call
Dr. Ross Collins
Director of Graduate Studies for the Master's Program,
Department of Communication,
North Dakota State University,
Box 5075,
Fargo, ND 58105-5075.
Tel: (701) 231-7295.

The department also offers a free booklet for students considering or beginning graduate study. If you would like a copy, please specify that in your inquiry. Alternatively, the text is available in an on-line version.

Applications must be made directly to the graduate school. Consult the graduate school web site, or write/call:
Office of Graduate Studies
North Dakota State University,
P.O. Box 5790,
Fargo, ND 58105-5790.
Tel. (701) 231-7033.

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Summer study
Communication professionals who can find time in the summer for graduate work may consider the department's summer courses in communication. In addition to courses offered over the web, the department tries to offer several summer courses and seminars. Some are open to Ph.D. students only; others are open to both master's and Ph.D. students. Goal of the department is to offer the possibility of completing the master's program based entirely on summer and on-line work.

Housing is available on campus for out-of-town students interested in summer courses.

Master's degree in communication degree requirements
The Master of Arts and Master of Science programs require completion of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. The student can elect to complete a research-based thesis, for which six credits are awarded, or a paper/experiential project, for which three credits are awarded. Oral defense of the thesis/paper is required.

Core

• COMM 700, Research Methods in Communication
• COMM 611, Communication Theory

Research tools

Two of the following, one of which must be SOC 700 or SPCOM 767:
• COMM 767, Rhetorical Criticism
• SOC 700, Qualitative Research Methods
• SOC 701 Quantitative Research Methods (Students must have completed an undergraduate statistics course at the 300 level or Statistics 725 before enrolling.)
• STAT 725, Applied Statistics

Note: Students pursuing the M.S. degree must complete either SOC 701 or STAT 725. M.A. degree students may choose any two from the above list.

Elective specialization
12-15 credits of additional coursework depending on whether the thesis or paper/project option is selected.

Thesis/paper
Six credits of thesis (798) or three credits of paper (797).

Areas of elective specialization
The following are some suggested areas of study in the mass communication and speech communication graduate program. For suggested courses under each option, call or write Dr. Mark Meister at the address above. Students may also choose graduate-level electives from other departments that may enhance specialized communication study goals.

• Organizational Communication/Public Relations
• Mass Communication (Generalist)
• Broadcast Management
• Journalism
• Rhetoric/Public Address
• Forensic Pedagogy
• Communication Theory

Course Descriptions.

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Assistants in speech communication are responsible for teaching two or three sections of the speech fundamentals course required for all university undergraduates.

Mass communication graduate students may be offered teaching assistantships, journalism laboratory assistantships or media production assistantships. Other assistantships in media-related areas may be available on campus, including sports information, university relations, and student union services.

Graduate assistants receive a stipend and tuition waiver. The number of assistantships and stipends offered changes from year to year depending on department resources, but generally yearly stipends to about a dozen graduate students are about $8,000. Screening of candidates begins in February so candidates need to write early to Paul Nelson, department chair, to indicate their interest.

• Download a graduate assistantship application. (pdf file)
  

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