Communication (M.A.) 

Program Chair
Description
Degree Requirements
Program Policies
Course Descriptions

Program Chair

W. Bradford Mello, Associate Professor of Communication

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Description

Trinity's Master of Arts in Communication Program provides graduate education in communication leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree for working individuals who are seeking to advance their understanding of communication and enhance their career possibilities. The Program is committed to the scholarly and intellectual development of the diverse community in the Washington metro area through the process of life-long learning in the discipline of communication.

The Program provides students with a strong foundation in communication history, theory and research while offering areas of emphasis in the study of communication as it relates to media and politics and organizations in general. Underlying all aspects of the program is an appreciation of the current technological revolution and its profound influence on communication.

The Program requires 36 credits (twelve 3-credit classes). Courses are offered in an accelerated format in the evenings or on weekends. Significant individual study and guided independent learning throughout each course are required to meet the objectives of each course and the overall goals of the program. Students normally take three courses per semester and complete their degree in two academic calendar years (21 months), although students may elect to complete the degree in three academic calendar years by taking two courses per semester.

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Requirements

Required Courses (36 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

COM 600 Communication History
COM 601 Communication Theory
COM 602 Communication Research Methods
COM 603 New Communication Technology

SEVEN elective courses in the student's area of interest, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor. All courses must be at the 400-level or higher to count toward the degree.  Students must take two courses outside of the Communication Program.

ONE degree capstone course:

COM 699 Capstone Course in Communication

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Program Policies

Graduate students in communication should refer to the academic policies governing graduate students in the School of Professional Studies.

Comprehensive Assessment:
The Communication Program requires students to complete a comprehensive assessment in the Capstone Seminar.  The comprehensive assessment will include the preparation of a communication research project on a topic approved by the professor. Students must earn a grade of "B" or better on this project to complete the program.

Cross-tallied Courses:
Unless noted otherwise, courses that are cross-tallied represent identical courses offered with a different program prefix. Students may not enroll in or receive credit for more than one iteration of a cross-tallied course even in different semesters.

Grades in Graduate Courses:
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate and no more than one grade of "C" may appear on their transcript.

Elective Courses:
All courses must be at the 400-level or higher to count toward the degree.  Students must take two courses outside of the Communication Program.

Pass/No Pass:
Graduate students may not take courses on a Pass/No Pass basis; courses taken Pass/No Pass do not fulfill certificate requirements. 

TELL Policy:
TELL credits are not applicable toward the degree.  

Transfer Policy:
Students may transfer up to 6 graduate credits from other appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning toward the degree with approval from their faculty advisor.

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Course Descriptions

COM 420 Mass Media Law
Analyzes policies and regulations governing the mass media industry (FCC & FTC). The course also examines Ethics in mass media and various cases on such issues as privacy and copyright laws.
3 credits

COM 501 Rhetorical Criticism
Rhetorical Criticism is an advanced seminar in the history, theory, methods, and practice of rhetorical criticism.  The seminar introduces students to the art of critically analyzing public discourse.  The development of various critical strategies and specific methods of rhetorical criticism, such as cultural criticism and feminist criticism, are covered.
3 credits

COM 515 Management Communication
Introduces contemporary theories, approaches, and functions of communication in managing, including management of people, processes, technologies and structures, with emphasis in relationship maintenance, small group teams and oral presentation skills. The development of practical and critical thinking skills for decision making, organization design, motivation, leadership and cultural diversity in organizations. Particular attention is paid to how information technologies are changing the context and process of management.
3 credits

COM 525 Intercultural Communication
Applies basic principles of intercultural communication to the analysis of specific situations involving cultural differences. Emphasis is on the influence of culture on the communication process, including differences in values, assumptions and communication. Models of intercultural communication analysis are developed and applied to issues dealing with relations between a dominant society and subcultures, social change, and international relations.
3 credits

COM 535 International Communication
International Communication is the study of how information flows across the boundaries of nation-states and the impact of such flows on local governments, religions and cultures. 
3 credits
Prerequisites:  COM 600 and COM 601

COM 550 Women in Organizations
The course focuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives.  Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication.  Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts.  Topics include Women in leadership, Sexual harassment, Feminist organizational theory. 
3 credits

COM 570 Publicity and Media Relations
Examines the role of a publicist in various organizations and their relationship with the media. Also looks at the basics of media relations, testing and evaluating publicity and using publicity as a tool. Students are expected to produce publicity campaigns.
3 credits

COM 582 Leadership
Explores the dynamics of communication, leadership, power, and authority in organizations.  The course provides an overview of traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership.  Topics include:  cross-cultural communication and leadership, charismatic and transformational leadership, followership, power and organizational politics. 
3 credits

COM 585 Organizational Communication
Organizational Communication examines how organizations are created and maintained through communication and the influence of culture.  The course explores various types of organizational cultures, structures, and processes.  Topics include: organizational conflict, leadership and management, problem solving, decision making, organizational and corporate culture, organizational ethics, and diversity in organizations.
3 credits

COM 592 Speechwriting
Concentrates on the preparation of speeches for other people to deliver, emphasizing the need to adapt to another person's ideas and style.
3 credits

COM 600  Communication History
Provides an overview of the development of communication study from its origins in Greece to its contemporary social scientific and rhetorical orientations.
3 credits

COM 601  Communication Theory
Surveys the contemporary state of human communication theory. Theories of communication as they apply to interpersonal, organizational, and mass media are discussed. Rhetorical approaches to the theoretical study of communication are also covered.
3 credits

COM 602  Communication Research
Surveys basic quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication research. Students are introduced to basic communication research design.
3 credits

COM 603  New Communication Technology
Introduces students to critical concepts and hands-on skills related to new communication technologies, which mostly are a reconfiguration and recontextualization of older media such as film, television and graphic design for print publications. The course will focus on internet technologies such as the World Wide Web and computer-mediated communication (CMC) media such as e-mail, instant messenger, etc. and will allow students to engage in actual Web production and CMC exercises at the same time they read about critical essays about Internet culture.
3 credits

COM 610  Seminar in Political Communication
Surveys the contemporary state of research in the area of political communication. Topics covered may include campaigning, speech making, media coverage, political advertising or the influence of popular culture on politics and society. Topics vary each semester.
3 credits

COM 680 Topics in Mass Communication
This seminar course investigates various contemporary topics in regards mass communication. Recent topics include media regulation, war and the media and media ownership. May be taken for repeat credit upon topic change.
3 credits

COM 699  Graduate Capstone in Communication
Requires students to prepare and submit a paper for publication on a topic of their choosing. Students demonstrate their ability to complete an original research project in communication.
3 credits

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