The Masters in Communication and Media Studies
All new admissions into this program are currently on hold. Please visit this site for program updates.
The M.A. in Communication and Media Studies offers an innovative curriculum for students and communication practitioners. The degree also offers excellent preparation for advanced study in doctoral and professional programs. Students receive a foundation in the theory and history of communication and media. The curriculum provides advanced study of international aspects of media, culture, and ethics, and examines the role of media in society, politics, economics, and human relations. As the communication professions become increasingly globalized, the M.A. in Communication and Media Studies is designed to give future leaders the background and analytical skills needed to excel as professionals. Because new media change the way we interact with the world, the study of communication and media has assumed a privileged role in preparing students to be active participants in a society shaped by these developments. The ability to realize one's potential depends even more than in the past on understanding not only how to communicate effectively, but how the process of communication functions in different contexts and what the stakes are in shaping public discourse about critical issues.
International Focus:
As technology in effect "shrinks" the world, it is important to study how human communication must adapt to the proximity of diverse cultures and groups. The communication process lies at the heart of person-to-person/ culture-to-culture interaction. An emphasis on internationalization is an integral part of the M.A. in Media Studies program. As part of this feature, the department sponsors overseas trips for academic credit.
Potential Students:
The program is of interest to anyone with an academic or professional interest in the role of communication/media in international, social, and individual contexts. For some, the program will have applicability to their working lives. For other students, the program is an end in itself, an opportunity to stretch the mind and enhance their careers, or serve as preparation for advanced study at the doctoral level.
Admission to the Program:
The minimum requirements for admission are:
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate Grad Point Average of 2.75 on a scale of 4.00
- A minimum combined score of 1,000 for the Verbal and Analytical component the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a minimum score of 42 on the Millers Analogies Test (MAT)
- For international student, a minimum score of 550 on TOEFL, with a minimum score of 4 on the test of written English, a score of 2.1 in pronunciation, a minimum score of 2.5 in grammar, and a minimum score of 2.1 in fluency.
- An essay articulating the prospective student's goals and expectations, and their relationship to the program.
- Two recent letters of recommendation
Value, Convenience, and Financial Support:
The M.A. in Communication and Media Studies is designed to accommodate full and part-time students. Classes are offered in late afternoons and evening during the week. As a state-supported institution, William Paterson University offers student the value of a first-rate education at a fraction of the cost of private universities and colleges. Some graduate assistantships are available. These include a stipend and a tuition fee waiver. Graduate assistants are required to work 20 hours per week on campus and must be matriculated full-time (at least 9 credits). Assistantships are awarded on the basis of the applicant's qualifications and recommendations. For more information assistantships or financial aid in general, call the Office of Graduate Studies at (973) 720-2237.
Facilities:
The M.A. in Communication and Media Studies program is housed in Hobart Hall, the University's state-of-the-art communication center. The building features television and radio stations, distance learning facilities teleconferencing/video conferencing center, a fully-equipped telemedia lab, a conference room, film screening and production rooms, and a large number of classrooms. Graduate students are encouraged to utilize the facilities and to participate in media-related activities.
Curriculum:
The curriculum of the M.A. in Communication and Media Studies supports a structured program of study designed to give graduates a well-rounded and comprehensive appreciation of the role of communication and media systems in national and international contexts. Offered are courses that describe, analyze, and critique the defining roles of communication and media systems in the creation and diffusion of culture in the global community.
Core Courses (6 credits)
- COMS 501 Communication Theory
- COMS 627 Communication Research Methods Electives
Electives (30 credits)
- COMS 503 Seminal Works in Communication and Media
- COMS 599 Selected Topics
- COMS 601 Telecommunication Systems
- COMS 602 European Theories of Communication and Media
- COMS 605 Language and Communication
- COMS 606 Ethical & Legal Issues in Communication and Media
- COMS 607 Aesthetics and Criticism of the Moving Image
- COMS 611 Intercultural Communication
- COMS 616 Gender & Communication
- COMS 618 Media History
- COMS 619 Communication Technology & Social Interaction
- COMS 621 Global Communication
- COMS 625 Cinema as Cross-cultural Communication
- COMS 626: Media Management
- COMS 628 The Press in a Global Society
- COMS 700 Independent Study
- COMS 701 Thesis Seminar
- COMS 702 Supervised Thesis Research
For additional information please contact:
Professor Casey Lum
Graduate Program Director
Department of Communication, William Paterson University
300 Pompton Road - Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (973) 720-2743 - Fax (973) 720 2483
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