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Program of Study Worksheets
MA in Film & Media Production (Full-Time)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025.听Subject to change as warranted.
The 36 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required SOC Courses:
- COMM-610: Principles of Video Production (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-663: Techniques & Aesthetics of Editing (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-630: Principles of Photography (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-631: Film & Video Production & Direction (3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-682: Introduction to Screenwriting听(3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-651: The Story of Film (3 credits) 听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-524: Producing for Documentary (3 credits)听
-
OR
COMM-613: Producing for Film & Video (3 credits) -
Spring 2025
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective (3 credits)听
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- Non-thesis project must be completed with minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required.
- COMM-638: Production Practicum (3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
OR
- COMM-691: Film & Media Arts Internship (3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
OR
- COMM-702: Master's Portfolio Capstone (3 credits) 听
- Spring 2026
MA in Film & Media Production (Part-Time)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025.听Subject to change as warranted.
The 36 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required SOC Courses:
- COMM-610: Principles of Video Production (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-663: Techniques & Aesthetics of Editing (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-631: Film & Video Production & Direction (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-682: Introduction to Screenwriting听(3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-651: Colloquium: The Story of Film (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- COMM-524: Producing for Documentary (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
-
OR
- COMM-613: Producing for Film & Video (3 credits) 听
- Spring听2025
- COMM-630: Principles of Photography (3 credits)听
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)
- Fall 2026
- Non-thesis project must be completed with minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required.
- COMM-638: Production Practicum (3 credits)
- Fall 2026
OR
- COMM-691: Professional Internship (3 credits) 听
- Fall 2026
OR
- COMM-702: Master's Portfolio Capstone (3 credits)
- Fall 2026
MFA in Film and Media Arts
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025听Subject to change as warranted. 听
The 54 credit hours, of coursework must include:
Required Courses:
- COMM-610: Principles of Video Production (3 credits) 听(Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-663: 听Techniques and Aesthetics of Editing (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-630: Principles of Photography (3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-631: Film & Video Production & Direction (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-682: Introduction to Screenwriting听(3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-651: 听The Story of Film (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- Requirement from Concentration Area (3 credits)听
- Spring 2025
- Requirement from Concentration Area (3 credits)听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-701: Graduate Seminar in Film Theory & Practice (3 credits)听
- Fall 2025
- Requirement from Concentration Area (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- Requirement from Concentration Area (3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- COMM-711: 听Teaching Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective (3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
- COMM-702: Master鈥檚 Portfolio Capstone (3 credits) 听听
- Fall 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)听听
- Fall 2026
- COMM-702: Master鈥檚 Portfolio Capstone (3 credits)
- Spring 2027
- Approved Elective (3 credits)
- Spring 2027
MA in Game Design
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听鈥 2025. Subject to change as warranted.
听
The 36 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required Courses:
- GAME-601: Game Prototyping (3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- GAME-605: Games, History, and Society (3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- GAME-612 Digital Art Tools & Techniques (3 Credits)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-610: Game Research Methods (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- COMM-615: Game Development (3 credits) 听听
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective (3 credits)听
- Spring 2025
- GAME-620 Making Meaningful Games (3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- GAME-625 Game Development II (3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective (3 credits) 听
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective (3 credits)
- Spring 2026
- COMM-702: Master's Portfolio Capstone (6 credits)
- Spring 2026
- 9 credit hours in electives from varied programs. Students may design a focus with director and advisor approval.
MFA in Games and Interactive Media
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024 and later.听Subject to change as warranted. 听
The 54 credit hours, of coursework must include:
Required Courses:
- COMM-610: Principles of Film and Video Production (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- COMM-663: Techniques/Aesthetics of Editing (3 credits) (Minimum 鈥淏鈥 (3.00) required)
- Summer 2024
- GAME-601: Game Prototyping (3 credits)听
- Fall 2024
- GAME-605: Games, History, and Society (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- Approved Elective (3 credits) 听
- Fall 2024
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)听
- Spring 2025
- GAME-610: Game Research Methods (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- GAME-615: Game Development I (3 credits)
- Spring 2025
- COMM-620:听Making Meaningful Games (3 credits)
- Fall 2025
- GAME-625: Game Development II (3 credits)
- Fall 2024
- GAME-675: Writing for Interactivity (3 credits)听
- Fall 2025
- COMM-711: Teaching Seminar (3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective听(3 credits)听
- Spring 2026
- 听
-
Additional required Courses:
COMM-702: Masters Portfolio Capstone (6 credits )
GAME-691: Internship (6 credits)
MA in Journalism & Public Affairs
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025. Subject to change as warranted.
听
The 33 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required SOC Courses (12 credit hours):
- COMM-624: Boot Camp for Journalists (Required for all tracks. Must earn "B" (3.0) or better)听
- Summer 2024
- COMM-724: Reporting of Public Affairs (Required for all tracks)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-621: Community News Reporting 听(Required for all tracks)听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-601: Communication Law (Required for all tracks)
- Spring 2025
Specialties-Choose either Investigative, International, or Broadcast
Investigative Journalism Specialty (9 credit hours)
- COMM-700: Investigative Journalism Practicum
- Fall 2024听or Spring 2025
- COMM-618: Data Driven Journalism
- Fall 2024
- COMM-619: In-Depth Journalism
- Fall 2024
- COMM-588: Race, Ethnic & Community Reporting
- Spring 2025
- COMM-607: International Investigative Journalism听
- Spring 2025
International Journalism Specialty (9 credit hours)
- COMM-645:听Global Journalism in 21st Century
- Fall 2024
- COMM-544: Foreign Correspondence
- Spring 2025
- COMM-607: International Investigative Journalism
- Spring 2025
- COMM-643: Foreign Policy and the Press
- Spring 2025
- COMM-588: Race, Ethnic & Community Reporting
- Spring 2025
Broadcast Journalism Specialty (9 credit hours)
- COMM-721: Digital Audio Production听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-632: Backpack Video Journalism听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-687听Advanced Broadcast Production
- Spring 2025
Capstone (3 credit hours-Choose 1 of the following)
- COMM-720: Capstone Seminar in Journalism (Must earn 鈥淏鈥 (3.0) or better)
- Summer 2025
- COMM-725: In-Depth Broadcast Production Capstone (Must earn 鈥淏鈥 (3.0) or better)
- Summer 2025
Electives (9 credit hours-Choose 3 of the following)
- COMM-509: Politics and the Media
- Fall 2024
- COMM-521: Opinion Writing听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-544: Foreign Correspondence
- Spring 2025
- COMM-588: Race, Ethnic & Community Reporting听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-617: Fundamentals of News Design
- Spring 2025
- COMM-618: Data-Driven Journalism
- Spring 2025
- COMM-620: Topics in Mass Media:听Topics vary (approved topics only)
- Spring 2025
- COMM-691: Graduate Internship (One 3 credit internship is allowed in the MA program)
- Spring 2025听or Summer 2025
- COMM-717: Photography & Visual Storytelling 听听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-717: Longform Storytelling
- Spring 2025
MA in Media, Technology, and Democracy (Full-time)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听鈥 2025. Subject to change as warranted.
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
Core Courses (18听Credit Hours):
- COMM-750: Advanced Media Theory
- Fall 2024
- COMM-751: Advanced Media Research Methods
- Fall 2024
- COMM-704: Media, Technology, and Democracy
- Fall 2024
- COMM-754: Media, Law & Policy
- Spring 2025
- COMM-755: Research Design in Communication
- Summer 2025
- COMM-797: Master鈥檚 Thesis Research
- Summer 2025
Electives (12听Credit Hours)
- Approved Elective
- Fall 2024
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
MA in Media, Technology, and Democracy (Part-time)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听鈥 2025. Subject to change as warranted.
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
Core Courses (18听Credit Hours):
- COMM-750: Advanced Media Theory
- Fall 2024
- COMM-751: Advanced Media Research Methods
- Fall 2024
- COMM-754: Media, Law & Policy
- Spring 2025
- COMM-755: Research Design in Communication
- Summer 2025
- COMM-704: Media, Technology, and Democracy
- Fall 2025
- COMM-797: Master鈥檚 Thesis Research
- Summer 2026
Electives (12听Credit Hours)
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Fall 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2026
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2026
MA in Political Communication (Fall Admission)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025.听Subject to change as warranted.
听
The 36 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required Core Courses (19 credit hours):
- GOVT-620 Applied Politics and Public Policy
- Fall 2024 or Spring 2025
- GOVT-643 Applied Political Writing (offered fall & spring)听
- Fall听2025听or Spring 2026
- COMM-628 or GOVT-628 Proseminar in Political Communication (1 credit)听
- Fall 2025
- COMM-639 Political Communication
- Spring or Summer 2025
- COMM 640 Principles of Strategic Communication听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-735 Communication Theory
- Spring 2025
- COMM-738 Research for Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
Required Institutes (5 credits):
Select one of the 4 credit courses:
- GOVT-520: Advanced Studies in Campaign Management听
- Spring 2025听Intersession or Summer 2025
OR
- GOVT-523: The Art and Craft of Lobbying
- Spring 2025听Intersession or Summer 2025
Select one of the 1 credit courses:
- GOVT-521: Advanced Studies in Campaign Management听(rotating topics)
- Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
OR
- GOVT-524: Topics in Public Affairs/Advocacy (rotating topics)
- Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
Required Capstone (3 credits):
- COMM-629 or GOVT-629 Capstone in Political Communication听
- Spring 2026
Electives (9 credit hours-Choose 3 of the following)
Government:
-
GOVT-523: The Art and Craft of Lobbying: European Affairs & Advocacy Institute
- Offered summer only in Brussels
- GOVT-644: Political Speechwriting
- GOVT-651: The Legislative Process
- Offered spring only
- GOVT-652 The Presidency and the Executive Branch
- Offered fall only
- GOVT-656: Voting Behavior, Elections, and Campaigns
- Offered fall only
- GOVT-682: Women and Politics
- GOVT-683: Women, Politics and Public Policy
- COMM-684: Women and Political Leadership
- GOVT-685: Topics in Women and Politics听
- Offered fall or spring
Communication:
- COMM-509: Politics and the Media
- Offered fall only
- COMM-521: Opinion Writing
- Offered spring only
- COMM-533: Ethics in Strategic Communication
- Offered fall only
- COMM-539: International Strategic Communication
- Offered spring only
- COMM-540: Social Marketing for Social Impact
- Offered spring only
- COMM-542: Media Relations
- Offered fall only
- COMM-543: Speechwriting
- Offered spring only
- COMM-551: Grassroots Digital Advocacy
- Offered spring only
- COMM-567: Communication and Social Change
- Offered fall only
- COMM-608: Social Media Strategies and Tactics
- COMM-641: Crisis Communication
- Offered spring only
- COMM-642: Strategic Communication Management
- COMM-643: Foreign Policy and the Press
- Offered summer only
- COMM-644: Writing for Strategic Communication
- Offered fall only
- COMM-649: International Strategic Communication
- Offered spring only
MA in Political Communication (Spring Admission)
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025.听Subject to change as warranted.
听
The 36 credit hours of coursework must include:
Required Core Courses (19 credit hours):
- GOVT-620 Applied Politics and Public Policy
- Sping 2025
- GOVT-643 Applied Political Writing
- Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
- COMM-628 or GOVT-628 Proseminar in Political Communication (1 credit)听
- Spring 2026
- COMM-639 Political Communication听
-
Summer or Fall 2025
- COMM-640 Principles of Strategic Communication
-
Spring 2025
- COMM-735 Communication Theory
-
Fall 2025
- COMM-738 Research for Strategic Communication听
-
Spring 2025
Required Institutes (5 credits):
Select one of the 4 credit courses:
- GOVT-520: Advanced Studies in Campaign Management听
- Spring 2026听Intersession or Summer 2026
OR
- GOVT-523: The Art and Craft of Lobbying
- Spring 2026听Intersession or Summer 2026
Select one of the 1 credit courses:
- GOVT-521: Advanced Studies in Campaign Management (rotating topics)
-
Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
OR
- GOVT-524: Topics in Public Affairs/Advocacy听(rotating topics)
-
Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
Required Capstone (3 credits):
- COMM-629 or GOVT-629 Capstone in Political Communication (3 credits)
- Fall 2026
Electives (9 credit hours-Choose 3 of the following)
Government:
-
GOVT-523: The Art and Craft of Lobbying: European Affairs & Advocacy Institute
- Offered summer only in Brussels.
- GOVT-644: Political Speechwriting
- GOVT-651: The Legislative Process
- Offered spring only
- GOVT-652 The Presidency and the Executive Branch
- Offered fall only
- GOVT-656: Voting Behavior, Elections, and Campaigns
- Offered fall only
- GOVT-682: Women and Politics
- GOVT-683: Women, Politics and Public Policy
- COMM-684: Women and Political Leadership
- GOVT-685: Topics in Women and Politics听
- Offered fall or spring
Communication:
- COMM-509: Politics and the Media
- Offered fall only
- COMM-521: Opinion Writing
- Offered spring only
- COMM-533: Ethics in Strategic Communication
- Offered fall only
- COMM-539: International Strategic Communication
- Offered spring only
- COMM-540: Social Marketing for Social Impact
- Offered spring only
- COMM-542: Media Relations
- Offered fall only
- COMM-543: Speechwriting
- Offered spring only
- COMM-551: Grassroots Digital Advocacy
- Offered spring only
- COMM-567: Communication and Social Change
- Offered fall only
- COMM-608: Social Media Strategies and Tactics
- COMM-641: Crisis Communication
- Offered spring only
- COMM-642: Strategic Communication Management
- COMM-643: Foreign Policy and the Press
- Offered summer only
- COMM-644: Writing for Strategic Communication
- Offered fall only
- COMM-649: International Strategic Communication
- Offered spring only
MA in Strategic Communication (Full-time)
Students must achieve a minimum grade of 鈥淏鈥 (3.0) in at least two of these three courses: Principles of Strategic Communication (COMM-640), Communication Theory (COMM-735), and/or Research for Strategic Communication (COMM-738)
Degree requirements听effective as of Academic Year 2024- 2025.听Subject to change as warranted.
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
Core Courses (15听Credit Hours):
- COMM-640: Principles of Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
- COMM-644: Writing for Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
- COMM-735: Communication Theory
- Fall 2024
- COMM-738: Research for Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
- COMM-744: Strategic Communication Capstone
- Spring 2025
Electives: 15 Credit Hours:
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Summer 2025
- Approved Elective
- Summer 2025
MA in Strategic Communication (Part-time)
Students must achieve a minimum grade of 鈥淏鈥 (3.0) in at least two of these three courses: Principles of Strategic Communication (COMM-640), Communication Theory (COMM-735), and/or Research for Strategic Communication (COMM-738).
Degree requirements effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025. Subject to change as warranted.
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
Core Courses (15听Credit Hours):
- COMM-640: Principles of Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
- COMM-644: Writing for Strategic Communication
- Fall 2024
- COMM-735: Communication Theory
- Fall 2025
- COMM-738: Research for Strategic Communication
- Fall 2025
- COMM-744: Strategic Communication Capstone
- Spring 2026
Electives: 15 Credit Hours:
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2025
- Approved Elective
- Summer 2025
- Approved Elective
- Summer 2025
- Approved Elective
- Spring 2026
Weekend MA in Journalism and Digital Storytelling
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025. 听Subject to change as warranted.
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
- COMM-622: Writing/Editing for Convergent Media
- Fall 2024
- COMM-652: Web Studio
- Fall 2024
- COMM-717: Photography & Visual Storytelling
- Spring 2025
- COMM-632: Backpack Video Journalism
- Spring 2025
- COMM-601: Communication Law
- Summer 2025
- COMM-625: Innovation and the Media Industry
- Summer 2025
- COMM-719: The Past, Present, & Future of Longform Storytelling听
- Fall 2025
- COMM-620: Topics in Mass Media: Storytelling with Audio听
- Fall 2025
- COMM-618: Data-Driven Journalism
- Spring 2026
- COMM-720: Capstone Seminar in Journalism
- Spring 2026
Weekend MA in Producing Film, Television and Video
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听鈥 2024. Subject to change as warranted.
听
The 30 credit hours of coursework must include:
- COMM-682: Writing for Visual Media
- Fall 2024
- COMM-660 Developing Fiction Productions
- Fall 2024
- COMM-661 Developing Nonfiction Productions
- Spring 2025
- COMM-601: Communication Law
- Spring 2025
- COMM-662: Production Planning and Management
- Summer 2025
- COMM-665: Film & TV Marketing Concepts and Strategies听
- Summer 2025
- COMM-674: The Business of Television 听
- Fall 2025
- COMM-659: International Film and TV Markets
- Fall 2025
- COMM-671: Media Enterprise I: Establishing the Enterprise
- Spring 2026
- COMM-702: Masters Portfolio Capstone听
- Spring 2026
PhD in Communication
Degree requirements, effective as of Academic Year 2024听- 2025. Subject to change as warranted. 听
The 33 credit hours, of coursework, exclusive of COMM-898/COMM-899 must include:
- COMM-704 Media, Technology, and Democracy (3)听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-750 Advanced Media Theory (3) 听听
- Fall 2024
- COMM-751 Advanced Media Research Methods (3)
- Fall 2024
- COMM-754 Media Law and Policy (3) 听听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-711 Teaching Seminar (3)听
- Spring 2025
- Statistics or research methods course OR Elective听(3)听
- Spring 2025
- COMM-755 Research Design in Communication (3)听
- Summer 2025
- COMM-860 Seminar in Doctoral Research (3)
- Fall 2025
- Statistics or research methods course (3)听and Elective (3) OR Approved Electives听(6)
- Fall 2025
- COMM-861 Advanced Research and Project Development (3) 听听
- Spring 2026
- COMM-898 Doctoral Continuing Enrollment (6) 听
- Spring 2026
- Qualifying Exams
- Spring 2026
- COMM-899 Doctoral Dissertation (9)听听
- Fall 2026
- COMM-899 Doctoral Dissertation (9) 听听
- Spring 2027
Schedules for Weekend Students
Spring 2024: SOC Weekend Programs
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day 鈥斕齁anuary 15
Classes Begin 鈥斕齁anuary 16
Spring Break 鈥斕齅arch 10-17
Commencement 鈥斕齅ay 10-12
1st Session
- January 20
January 27
February 3
February 10 鈥斕齏ork Day*
February 17
February 24
March 2
2nd Session
- March 9
March 16 - OFF Spring Break
March 23
March 30听鈥斕齏ork Day*
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
*May be used as a makeup day in the event class missed due to weather or other reason.
Summer 2024: SOC Weekend Programs
- Commencement Weekend听鈥斕齅ay 10-12
Memorial Day 鈥斕齅ay 27
Juneteenth 鈥斕齁une 19
Independence Day 鈥斕齁uly 4
1st Session
- May 18
May 25听鈥斕齏ork Day*
June 1
June 8
June 15
June 22
June 29
2nd Session
- July 6 听鈥斕齏ork Day*
July 13
July 20
July 27
August 3
August 10
August 17
*May be used as a makeup day in the event class missed due to weather or other reason.
Fall 2024: SOC Weekend Programs
- Fall 2024 Classes Begin 鈥 August 26
Labor Day 鈥 September 2
Thanksgiving 鈥 November 28
1st Session
- September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28听
October听5
October听12
2nd Session
- October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30 鈥 OFF Thanksgiving weekend
December 7听鈥 Study Day
December 14 - *May be used as a makeup day in the event class missed due to weather or other reason.