Communication BA/MA Dual Degree Program

The 2+3 Combined BA/MA program in Communication provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to complete the requirements for both degrees in 5 years of full-time study.  When all the requirements of the B.A./M.A. program have been completed, students will be awarded both the B.A. and M.A. degrees.

The combined program requires a minimum of 135 credit hours of which at least 30 must be at the graduate level. In qualifying for the BA, students must meet all University and College requirements.

Student should apply to the Department for admission to the 2+3 combined degree program in Communication during the semester they will complete 60 undergraduate credit hours. A cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher. Students will be admitted to the 2+3 program under provisional status until they have completed 15 hours in that program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. After completion of the provisional period, with the recommendation of the Graduate Director, students can be granted full admission into the 2+3 program. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher throughout the combined program. Students who officially withdraw from the Combined Program who have successfully completed all the requirements for the B.A. degrees will be awarded the B.A. degree.

Core Requirements for the Communication BA Major  

COMM 1030Interpersonal Communication I (MOTR COMM 120)3
COMM 1050Introduction to Mass Communication3
COMM 2231Communication in the Organization3
COMM 2235Professional Communication 3
COMM 2332Intercultural Communication3
COMM 3330Research Methods in Communication I3
COMM 4950Internship in Applied Communication3
or COMM 4920 Practicum in Applied Communication

Core Requirements for the Communication MA

COMM 6500Seminar in Communication Theory3
COMM 6510Advanced Communication Research Methods I3
Choose 3 from the following:9
Seminar in Strategic Communication in Organizations
Seminar in Interpersonal Communication
Seminar in Mass Communication
Seminar in Health Communication

All of the Masters coursework must be taken under graduate status. However, with advance permission (Graduate Form C-1), students may take up to 6 credit hours of 5000/6000 level courses while still classified as an undergraduate. No 4000-level courses taken as an undergraduate may be applied to the Master’s degree. This means all combined section classes must be taken as graduate courses in order to count for the graduate degree. These 6 hours will be treated by the Graduate School as “undergraduate status” and they may be counted toward a master's degree.  Up to 15 credit hours of graduate courses can be applied to the undergraduate degree.