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Programs at these locations are no longer open for application and will change in format for those pursuing them on 31 July 2023. For now, to be sure you are making an informed enrollment decision, please contact the OU Site Director nearest you or email eceurope@ou.edu as soon as possible to receive administrative guidance before enrolling. As of 1 August 2023, please see information here Former AP Students for assistance.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The MA - Communication degree requires a minimum of 32 hours of graduate credit. Twenty-four of those hours must be Communication courses from OU. This non-thesis program also requires a written comprehensive examination to be successfully completed before the candidate is recommended for a master's degree.
Degree Tracks
Two different tracks are available to students seeking an MA with a major in Communication. The General track is recommended for those seeking a liberal arts approach to graduate study. The Organizational Communication track is recommended for those intending to pursue careers in profit/non-profit, entrepreneurial, and government organizations.
The MA in Communication degree requires a minimum of 32 hours of graduate credit. Courses offered through the OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies are three credit hour courses.
General Track
Required Courses
COMM 5013 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication and one research method course from the following:
- COMM 5003 Quantitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5023 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5053 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5313 Qualitative Research Methods: Participant Observation
Academic Counselor
Stephanie Terrazas, MEd
Academic Counselor
Department of Communication
(405) 325-7710
terrazas@ou.edu
Main Campus Department
Electives
Along with the above core courses, students must take COMM electives to meet the minimum requirement of 26 Communication credit hours, which must be approved by the director. Elective hours can be a combination of COMM electives, other OU graduate classes and transfer work. Students may only earn up to eight hours of credit from graduate courses taken in other OU programs or from transfer hours outside the University of Oklahoma from other universities. Transfer credits must be evaluated by the University and courses from other programs must be approved by the Department prior to enrollment.
NOTE: The combined total of transfer hours and graduate credit from other OU programs may not exceed eight credit hours.
Organizational Communication Track
Required Courses
- COMM 5013 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication
- COMM 5333 Organizational Communication
- COMM 5010 (three hours) Organizational Research Practicum
and one research method course from the following:
- COMM 5003 Quantitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5023 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5053 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods or
- COMM 5313 Qualitative Research Methods: Participant Observation
Electives
Elective guidelines outlined for the General Track apply to the Organizational Track as well, however only a total of 20 elective credit hours are needed.
Degree Completion
Grades Required for Degree Completetion
To qualify for a graduate degree, each student must have an overall grade point average of 3.00 ("B") in all graduate work taken at the University of Oklahoma. For those students enrolled in our MA program, the two "C" rule is applied. Any student who receives a second grade of "C" will be suspended from further enrollment until the student's graduate committee reviews and approves the student's appeal.
Standards of Performance
All Master’s degree students are required to maintain an overall 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses attempted. One grade of C will put the student on academic probation with the graduate college. The student will then have a 12-hour probationary period. The student must not make lower than a B or a grade of U during this time. At the end of the 12-hour probationary period, the student must have raised their overall GPA to 3.0. Failure of either of these two conditions will result in the student being unable to continue enrollment in graduate classes. Should a student receive two or more C’s, or give other indication to the professor of inability to pursue successfully the course of study towards the degree, the student will be required to petition to the graduate liaison to determine whether the student should be permitted to continue work in the Department of Communication.
Time Limitation for Degree Completetion
Five years, dated from the semester of initial enrollment, is the maximum time for degree completion. Extensions beyond this limit will result in disqualification of the over-aged credit. This time limit applies both to courses completed through University of Oklahoma and to courses approved for transfer credit.
Lapsed Enrollment
A graduate student who has a lapse of enrollment for one calendar year must reapply for admission following the same procedures as used for first time admission. The student will then be subject to the regulations applicable during the term of the first enrollment after readmission.
