Graduate Communications Studies Courses

For the most up-to-date information on our graduate program, visit our Web Site at: https://www.coms.ohiou.edu/ .

The School of Communication Studies expects its graduates to develop a specialist's depth in the study of human communication, as well as a generalist's perspective. Individualized programs of study are emphasized, but all students are required to complete five core courses listed under each degree program.

The school offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Primary areas of study include rhetoric and pubic culture, health communication, and relating and organizing. Students may select their primary and related areas of study in consultation with their advisory committee and with permission of the School's graduate committee.

Admission to graduate study is granted on the basis of a match between the student's academic goals and the school's primary areas of study, recommendations of those familiar with the student's academic and other work, undergraduate and graduate grade-point average and class standing, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, submitted writing sample, and experiential and other nonformal learning. International students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a TOEFL-score. International students applying for assistantships also should submit a TSE score.

Students with a strong background in communication studies are eligible to be selected as graduate teaching assistants. Applicants at both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels are considered for assistantships. Graduate teaching assistants serve as instructors in basic courses, assist in teaching advanced courses, help with the forensic program, or join faculty in research projects.

Applications for admission typically are reviewed during January, February, and March. In order for an application to receive priority treatment (i.e., to be among the batch of files receiving initial consideration with respect to both entry and financial assistance), the file should be complete no later than February 1. International applicants are strongly urged to send all their materials in by December 15, as their applications take longer to process. The majority of the decisions are made by April 15. Files received after March 15 are at a significant disadvantage.

Admission is typically granted for the fall quarter. Students wishing to begin studies at a different point during the academic year must petition the Graduate Committee for permission.

Master's Program

M.A. candidates must maintain at least a 3.0 g.p.a. in all University work, a g.p.a. of at least 3.0 in all school courses, and no grade below a B- in any course in the program of study.

A maximum of 12 quarter hours of graduate credit with grades of B or better may be accepted by transfer from approved institutions that offer the master's degree, provided the transferred coursework is acceptable to your advisory committee and is not more than five years old. At least 33 hours of graduate credit must be earned on the Athens campus.

All M.A. students are required to take INCO 600 Introduction to Graduate Study, INCO 610 Theories of Communication, INCO 640 History of Rhetorical Theory, one five-credit research methods course approved by their program advisor and committee, and eitherINCO 618 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication orINCO 630 Organizational Communication.

Doctoral Program

The Doctor of Philosophy requires 72 quarter hours of nondissertation credit beyond the master's degree (or its equivalent), demonstration of research competency, and completion of a satisfactory dissertation. A maximum of 16 quarter hours of post-master's degree graduate credit with B or better grades may be accepted by transfer from approved institutions that offer post-master's (doctoral-level) work. Transfer work may not be more than five years old and must be acceptable to the student's advisor and advisory committee, the school's graduate committee, and the associate provost for graduate studies. All 16 hours may be applied to the student's primary area; a maximum of eight transfer hours may be applied to the student's related area. At least 48 quarter hours of doctoral credit must be earned on the Ohio University campus. At least three consecutive quarters must be spent in full-time status on the Athens campus.

All Ph.D. students are required to take INCO 600 Introduction to Graduate Study, INCO 610 Theories of Communication, INCO 618 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication, INCO 630 Organizational Communication, and INCO 640 History of Rhetorical Theory.