Communication
Director of Graduate Studies: John Caughlin
1207 W. Oregon Street
(217) 333-2683
communication@illinois.edu
Major: Communication
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Medieval Studies (available to all degrees), Writing Studies (Ph.D. only)
Online Program: Communication
Degrees offered: M.A.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Communication offers a broad curriculum in communication research. In consultation with an advisor, students assemble individualized programs, concentrating in organizational and group communication, interpersonal and family communication, health communication, communication technology, political communication, rhetoric and public discourse, communication in cultural contexts, or mass communication. Interdisciplinary programs are also encouraged.
Admission
An application must include official transcripts from every post-secondary institution the applicant has attended; scores on the general aptitude parts of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); at least three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic recommenders; a major paper or essay as a sample of academic writing; and a statement of purpose. Students whose native language is not English must present their official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination as part of their applications. A minimum score of 611 on the paper-based test, 254 on the computer-based test, or 103 on the Internet-based test (iBT) is required. Detailed information about admissions and financial aid can be found on the department's Web site. Ordinarily, students are admitted to begin graduate study in the fall semester; admission to begin in the spring term is rarely permitted.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Elective hours | 24 min | 32 min |
| Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | max 4 | max 4 |
| Thesis Hours Required–CMN 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | max 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
24 | 24 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 in CMN) | 12 (8 in CMN) |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 | 2.75 |
The entering student should present the equivalent of 16 semester hours of undergraduate work in communication or a related area. In some cases an oral examination is also stipulated. A thesis is optional.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Minimum in appropriate research method; these are in addition to the 40 hours of additional coursework. | 8 min |
| Courses from outside the department | 12 |
| Elective hours (not in method or thesis hours) | 40 |
| Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | max 8 |
| Language Requirement: based on major | |
| Thesis Hours Required – CMN 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 0 min |
| Total Hours | 64 |
Minimum Non-Method/Thesis Hours Required Within the Unit: |
20 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
To be accepted as a candidate for the Ph.D. degree, a student must either present a well-rounded undergraduate education with an emphasis in communication and a master's in a cognate discipline, or hold a master's degree in communication from an accredited institution.
In addition to meeting general requirements of the Graduate College, the student must satisfactorily complete written and oral preliminary examinations, an oral defense of the thesis prospectus, and an oral defense of the thesis. Students must demonstrate competency in research procedures and tools that may include proficiency in one or more foreign languages, various research methods, or cognate academic work. Students must enroll in CMN
595 in the semester of the preliminary examination and in CMN 599 (thesis hours) in semesters spent working on the dissertation.
Online Program
The Department of Communication also offers an online Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in Communication with a specialization in Health Communication. The required hours are the same as the on-campus Master's degree shown above. More information about the online program is available through the Academic Outreach Website.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Communication. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is usually offered in the form of part-time teaching assistantships; some fellowships and research assistantships are available.