Graduate Catalog

2012-2013

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Department website: http://web.nmsu.edu/~nmsucomm/

(575) 646-2801

ahubbell@ad.nmsu.edu;

Anne Hubbell, Department Head, Ph.D. (Michigan State) – organizational communication, health communication; G. Armfield, Ph.D. (University of Missouri-Columbia) – organizational communication, communication theory; I. Dylko, Ph.D. (Ohio State University) – communication theory, political communication, communication technology, research methods; J. Flora, Ph.D. (Kansas) – communication; K. L. Hacker, Ph.D. (Oregon) – computer mediated communication, political communication; E. Morgan, Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts-Amherst) – communication and culture, environmental communication

DEGREE: Master of Arts
MAJOR: Communication Studies

MINOR: Communication Studies

The Master of Arts in Communication Studies provides students with a social scientific approach to the study of human interaction, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Our curriculum is designed to explore how oral communication takes place interpersonally, within organizations, within our political system, and between and within cultures. Students take courses in interpersonal communication, organizational communication, political communication and/or cultural communication. All graduate students take courses in communication theory and research methods. In addition, students can take courses in topic areas such as conflict management, small group communication, persuasion, and nonverbal communication.

The program offers a wide variety of courses allowing students an opportunity to select topics pursuant to their special interests. In addition to courses, students have the opportunity to obtain practical experience by participating in professional activities offered by the department; for example, graduate teaching assistantships, research, and colloquia.

DEGREE: Master of Arts
MAJOR: Communication Studies

The department offers both thesis and non-thesis options in its Masters of Arts program. Both options require a minimum of 36 credits, which includes not only Communication courses but courses from outside the department. The thesis option requires at least 30 credits of coursework, 3-6 credits of thesis (COMM 599), and an oral defense of the thesis and coursework. The non-thesis option requires 36 credits of coursework, plus a comprehensive written examination, followed by an oral defense. Both options require a minimum of 30 credit hours of Communication courses.

Degree requirements

Both of the following courses are required:

COMM 505, Research Methods*	3
COMM 583, Seminar in Theories of Communication**	3
Total	6

Students must take three of the following four courses:

COMM 540, Seminar in Political Communication**	3
COMM 570, Seminar in Organizational Communication*	3
COMM 576, Seminar in Communication and Culture *	3
COMM 584, Seminar in Interpersonal Communication**	3
Total	9

COMM electives	9-15
Electives in Related Fields*** (graduate levels; numbered 450+	3-6
Thesis Option: COMM 599, Thesis	3-6
Non-thesis Option: Additional Graduate COMM Electives	3-6
Total in COMM	30
Grand Total	36(min)

*COMM 505, 570, & 576 are offered only once every year, usually in the Spring.

** COMM 583, 540, & 584 are offered only once every year, usually in the Fall.

*** Anthropology, Education, English, Government, Psychology, Journalism, Management, Marketing, Sociology, &/ or Women's Studies.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

SPCD 451. Intensive English as a Second Language I 3-18 cr.: Instruction in speaking, reading, and writing basic conversational English. Class meets 30 hours weekly. Enrollment limited to beginning level graduate students in the International Intensive English Program. Consent of instructor required.

SPCD 452. Intensive English as a Second Language II 3-18 cr.: Continuation of SPCD 401. Class meets 20 hours weekly. Enrollment limited to intermediate-level graduate students in the International Intensive English Program. . Consent of instructor required.

SPCD 453. Intensive English as a Second Language III 3-18 cr.: Writing and speaking scientific English. Class meets 10 hours weekly, with additional laboratory hours at the instructor's discretion. Enrollment limited to advanced-level graduate students in the International Intensive English Program. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): SPCD 402 or consent of instructor.

SPCD 458. Advanced Speaking and Listening for International Graduate Students 3 cr.: Advanced speaking and listening skills for active participation at the graduate level. Emphasis on pronunciation and individual goal setting. Includes a theoretical component involving library research or preparation and presentation of a teaching unit. Prerequisites: placement and 530 TOEFL or consent of instructor. Graded S/U, RR.

SPCD 470. Scholarly Writing for International Graduate Students 3 cr.: Instruction and practice in writing major academic genres, including experimental, descriptive, and problem-solution research reports, proposals, and library referenced papers. Prerequisites: placement based on English language screening test or successful completion of SPCD 110; a minimum TOEFL score of 500 or consent of instructor; and successful completion of SPCD 108/490 where indicated by placement. Main campus only. Graded S/U.

SPCD 490. Seminar Skills for Foreign Students 3 cr.: Advanced skills required for active participation in academic discussions and oral presentations. Includes extensive video-taping which is replayed for evaluation. Prerequisite: placement based on English language screening test, and a minimum TOEFL score of 500 or consent of instructor. Main campus only.