Thank you for your interest in the M.A. Program in Communication at the
University of New Mexico.
I'd like to take a moment to describe why you should consider the University
of New Mexico's Master's program in Communication. First, the Department
of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico enjoys
a national reputation for providing a balanced, quality graduate program
leading to the M.A degree. We offer coursework in the following
areas: intercultural communication, health communication,
rhetorical communication, mass communication, interpersonal communication,
and organizational communication. A recent survey conducted by the National
Communication Association ranked our program in intercultural communication
as the best in the country. In the same survey, many of our other concentrations
were ranked in the upper tiers.
Second, we have a collegial department with an excellent faculty. The
faculty ranks among the top in communication in research and publication.
You would have ample opportunities to work with the faculty on projects
to gain valuable experience. Additionally, the faculty will work with
you to design a program of studies to meet your needs. We also have excellent
master's students from around the country and world who work together
and encourage each other.
Third, we are able to assist you with your financial needs. We have approximately
25 teaching assistantships for M.A. students and thus many of our full-time
MA students receive one of these positions. Each assistantship includes
a stipend, a waiver of out-of-state tuition fees, and health insurance.
The specific details are available in the assistantships
section on the web and in the packet. If you are not interested in an
assistantship, there are also scholarships and fellowships available from
the university. These too are described in the assistantships section.
Fourth, our graduates get jobs. Our MA graduates work in a variety of
industries including mass media, advertising, business, high-tech, education,
and research. Over the past five years, almost every one of our graduates
is employed in their chosen area. The M.A program prepares you for a career
in academia or in other professional fields. We help you to find the type
of institution that will best meet your career goals.
Fifth, we have a flexible program to meet your needs. If you are working
full-time, you'll be happy to hear that our classes are taught in the
late afternoons and evenings to accommodate your schedules. We also offer
you opportunities to work on projects that you can apply to your work
place. If you are a full-time student, you'll have ample opportunities
for exciting projects that can lead to a career (e.g., teaching, research
projects, internships). Regardless of whether you are a part-time or full-time
student, we'll help you design a program of studies to meet your needs.
Sixth, the length of the program is ideal. For a full-time student, the
program is 2 years -- one and a half years of coursework and a half year
for your final project (the program is 3 years for a part-time student
taking 2 courses per semester). The program is long enough to enable
you to gain a strong foundation in communication theory and research,
but also is short enough to finish quickly and "get on with your life."
Finally, the city of Albuquerque and state of New Mexico offer a number
of unique advantages. New Mexico is a multicultural state (one of only
two states in the U.S. with ethnic pluralities -- Hawaii is the other)
and the opportunity to study intercultural communication in the field
is limitless. Additionally, Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico
and thus there are a number of health organizations, television and radio
stations, and businesses to access. And, the locale is wonderful. We have
over 340 days of sunshine, mild winters, miles of recreational trails
in the city, mountains within 30 minutes, and beautiful sunsets.
Please call us at (505) 277-5305, or e-mail Dr. Patricia Covarrubias at
.
We can put you in contact with some of the current graduate students
if you'd like to ask them questions. Let us know if you prefer a hard
copy of the information and we can send that to you. Please be aware
that our application deadline is January 15 for fall admission.
Thank you again for your interest in our program.
Best regards,
Pamela Lutgen-Sandvik and Patricia Covarrubias
Co-Directors of Graduate Studies
Communication
P.S. If you are in the area, please come for a visit. We'd love to show
you around and have you meet the faculty and graduate students.
Program
Overview :
The Department of
Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico enjoys a
national reputation for providing a balanced, quality graduate program
leading to the Master of Arts degree in Communication. Typically 60 to
70 students are enrolled in the program at any one time (45 Masters and
25 Doctoral). This provides a program large enough to have a variety of
communication interests, but small enough to have individual attention
(a 3-to-1 ratio of faculty to graduate students with an average seminar
size of 10-15). Many M.A. graduates enter, or return to, professions in
business, the mass media, research, education, and other fields, while
some M.A. graduates enter doctoral programs. We offer flexibility in the
M.A. program so that you can design a program to best fit your needs.
Areas
of Study:
You can work closely with faculty advisors to design a program of study
suitable to your interests and goals. While completing core courses
in communication theory and research methodology, you may concentrate
your studies in one or two of the following areas:
Intercultural
Communication - Communication between persons who are culturally
unalike. Cultures can include national, ethnic, gender, and other distinctions.
Interpersonal Communication - The dynamics of interaction and
relationships between individuals and in small groups. Mass Communication - The structure, practice, social impact,
and criticism of the mass media. Organizational Communication - Communication in complex organizations
and how that communication affects organizational processes. Rhetorical Communication - Argumentation and persuasion, history and
criticism of public address, and rhetorical theory. Health Communication
- Communication focused on improving health outcomes.
Advisement
or Program Information:
Advisement:
Patricia Covarrubias,
Communication graduate adviser
(277-2166,
) Program
Information: Mary
Bibeau, C&J academic adviser
(277-1903,
)
Program Requirements:
A
total of 30 hours of coursework, and 6 hours of work on a thesis or
project are required for the program. Check the graduate course schedule for when courses are offered. The core courses listed below
are required:
C&J
500 Foundations of Communication Theory C&J 501 Foundations of Communication
Research C&J 507 Quantitative Data Analysis C&J 538 Seminar: Rhetorical Criticism* * C&J 608 Communication Research Methods:
Qualitative
Can be substituted for Seminar: Rhetorical Criticism
Seminar
Requirement (one of the following):
C&J
521 Seminar: Interpersonal Communication C&J 514 Seminar: Intercultural Communication C&J 531 Contemporary Rhetoric C&J 544 Seminar: Organizational Communication C&J 550 Seminar: Helath Communication C&J 561 Seminar: Mass Communication Processes
and Effects
The
remaining 15 hours of coursework are electives. You can take up to 9 hours
outside the Communication & Journalism Department and count them toward
your degree. Coursework taken outside the department generally should
add up to a minor concentration in an area that will complement Communication
studies.
Thesis
or Project:
You are required to complete a thesis or project as your final work for
your degree. The thesis is a theoretically based research investigation,
whereas the project is a research investigation with practical applications.
If you are interested in a doctoral program, you will likely complete
a thesis, while if you are interested in a position in another field,
you will likely complete a project. Information is available to help you
decide between these options. You must enroll for at least six hours of
thesis or project work. Once you begin enrolling in thesis or project
hours, you must remain continuously enrolled (except summers) until you
graduate. You must be enrolled for the term in which you are graduating.
You must choose a Thesis or Project Committee of three people. The chair
of the committee will be your primary advisor and must be a regular
faculty member in the Communication & Journalism Department. The
other two members must consist of at least one member of the Communication
Department plus either another Communication Department faculty member
or a person from outside the department.
Inter-Ethnic
and Cross-Cultural Emphasis
Concern with inter-ethnic and cross-cultural communication is emphasized
in each of these areas in the department. New Mexico provides a rich cultural
environment in which such diverse communities as Chicano/a, Hispanic,
Anglo, Native American, and others have interacted for centuries. One
of the strengths and missions of the University is to engage in teaching
and research within a multi-ethnic context.
Relationships
with Other Programs
Relationships
with Other Programs: The UNM Department of Communication and Journalism
maintains positive relationships with other departments in the University,
including anthropology, education, sociology, psychology, women's studies,
public health, and business. Graduate courses and seminars typically include
students from these allied disciplines. In addition, the department cooperates
with a variety of research institutes and centers located at the University.
Application
Deadline
Fall
Admission: January 15
Spring Admission: October 1
For a complete list of deadlines for enrolled graduate students from the
Office of Graduate Studies, a pdf file can be downloaded at www.unm.edu/~ogshmpg/ogs_deadlines.pdf.
You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file. If you do not already have
a copy, you can download the software for free at this
Adobe site.
Master's
Program Courses
Master's
Program Core Requirements:
500.Foundations of Communication Theory (3) Survey and
analysis of concepts, models and perspectives, in the development of
theories of communication; attention to philosophical, critical, historical
and scientific bases for the study of communicative processes.
501. Foundations of Communication
Research (3) Review and evaluation of various forms of research
and scholarly writing in the field of communication; identification
of conceptual and paradigmatic problems in interpretation of research
results; attention to skills in writing and reporting research.
506.
Communication Research Methods (3) .
507. Communication Research
Methods (3) Designing empirical research in communication,
with special reference to applications of experimental design to
communication research; methods of data analysis; developing
a research report.
538. Seminar: Rhetorical Criticism
(3) Analysis of criteria, methods, and procedures by which
dependable, trustworthy, and useful evaluations are made of rhetorical
discourse.
OR: 608. Communication Research
Methods: Qualitative. (3) Advanced study of methods, techniques,
and procedures useful in investigations that employ qualitative analysis
of human communication process.
Courses Accepted
for Seminar Requirement:
514.
Seminar: Intercultural Communication (3) Theories and evidence
on factors that facilitate and inhibit communication between representatives
of different cultural groups, across national boundaries, and among
people of different ethnic backgrounds.
521.
Seminar: Interpersonal Communication (3) Theories and research
on the components and dynamics of interpersonal interaction and comparative
analysis of approaches to study of interpersonal communication.
531. Contemporary Rhetoric (3)
Approaches of different rhetorical theorists to the analysis of rhetorical
discourse.
544. Seminar: Organizational Communication
(3) Intensive survey of classical and contemporary organizational
communication theory emphasizing current research trends. Advanced
readings in such topics as organizational innovation, intercultural
organizations, critical theory applications to organizations, computer
mediated communication, and employee participation.
550.
Seminar: Health Communication (3) Concepts and strategies
for preventative health communication, in such contexts as provider-patient
interaction, health campaigns, social marketing, health images in
the mass media ,and communication in health care organizations.
561. Seminar: Communication and
Media (3) Analysis of theories and methodological approaches
used to examine media impact on society. Current media topics may
be selected for class analysis.
Other Courses:
513. Seminar:
Culture and Discourse (3 per semester, to a maximum of 6).
This course studies the ways culture is created, maintained, and changed
through discursive practices. Content varies each semester -- e.g.,
gender, ethnicity, age, etc. and may be selected as the focus of study.
May be repeated with different content.
518. Seminar: Language Behavior (3) Theories and evidence on
relationships among speech, language, and behavior; specific focus on
the pragmatic dimension of semiotics, including general semantics, socio-
and psycholinguists, and communication systems.
527. Seminar:
Persuasion (3) Theories and research on the processes by which
behavioral and attitudinal change are produced primarily by messages.
542. Current
Developments in Organizational Communication (3 per semester to a maximum
of 6) Intensive study of one area of theory and research in
organizational communication chosen by the instructor, e.g., conflict
and negotiation, information technology, organizational cultures. Content
varies from semester to semester; may be repeated with different content.
543. Organizational
Analysis and Training (3) Identification and analysis of communication
problems in organizations. Attention to problems and requirements of
communication training and development in organizational settings.
554. Diffusion
of Innovations (3) The spread of new ideas, especially technological
innovations, among the members of a system. Sources of innovations,
importance of interpersonal networks in diffusion, and consequences
of technological innovations
563. Current
Developments in Mass Communication (3 per semester to a maximum
of 6) Intensive study of one area of theory and research in mass communication
chosen by the instructor. Content varies from semester to semester,
may be repeated with different content.
567. Mass
Communication: International Perspectives (3) The structure
and role of international and national media in molding public attitudes
and in policy making. Development of opinion on central issues in international
relations and in nation-states other than the U.S.
572. Multiculturalism,
Gender and Media (3) Students gain interdisciplinary study
in culture and communication by reading, discussing, and writing about
audiences, co-cultures (Chicana/os, Blacks, and others) and feminist
popular culture.
573. Teaching
the Basic Course. (TARC) (1) Current issues associated with
teaching introductory courses, focusing on the role of graduate teaching
assistants.
593. Graduate
Problems (1-3 hrs. per semester, to a max of 6) Independent
study on questions and issues beyond those covered by regularly approved
seminars Plan must be prepared and a faculty member must agree to direct
the study. Permission of Chair required.
598. Master's
Project. (1-6 hrs. per semester) [1-6, to a maximum of 6] Prerequisite:
permission of department chair. Offered on CR/NC basis only.
599. Master's Thesis. (1-6 hrs. per semester) [1-6,
to a maximum of 6] Prerequisite: permission of department chair. Offered
on CR/NC basis only.
600. History and Philosophy of Communication (3) Advanced
study of modern history and philosophical foundations of the study of
human communication, with attention to contributions of both humanistic
and social science traditions, and with consideration of contemporary
controversies concerning theory and research.
601. Theories of Communication (3) Advanced study of
concepts, models, and perspectives in the development of theories of
communication, with attention to reciprocal relationships between theory
building and theory testing in the study of human communication process.
607.Communication Research Methods: Quantitative. (3)
Advanced study of methods, techniques, and instruments useful in investigations
that employ quantitative analysis of human communication processes.
614. Advanced
Intercultural Communication (3) The relationships between culture
and communication, with implications for intercultural encounters, historical
roots of intercultural communication, and theories of intercultural
communication.
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Graduate Program
Q. How many applications do
we receive each year and how many people are admitted?
A. For the MA program, we receive about 40 to 60 applications per year
— 35 to 45 during spring (for fall admission) and 10 to 15 during
the fall (for spring admission). We typically admit between 33 and 50
percent of these applicants (20 students max/year).
For the PhD program, we receive
about 35 to 40 applications per year. We admit 6 to 9 applicants per year
depending on funding.
Q. What criteria do we use for
admission?
A. We utilize GPA, GRE, letters of recommendation, statement of intent,
writing sample (for PhD students), and other qualifications (e.g., conference
presentations, publications, work experience, lived experience, awards
and honors, etc.). We analyze these criteria holistically. That is, one
is not more important than the others. We utilize the whole package to
determine whether we will admit you.
Admission to the
MA and PhD program is competitive. We only admit 6-9 people per year in
the PhD program and only 20 maximum to the MA program per year (approximately
15 in Fall and 5 in Spring). We choose to limit the number of people into
the program in order to maintain our intimate and supportive climate.
We want to make sure that students have ample opportunities to interact
with faculty by maintaining a relatively small faculty to student ratio
(about 3 students for every faculty member).
Q.I didn't receive a 1000 on
my GRE test. Should I still apply?
A. Probably. While the GRE is an important part of our application process,
it isn't the only criterion. In particular, the GRE doesn't measure
a student's motivation and perseverance. We have admitted students with
scores below 1000 before and we will do so in the future. What we will
look at are the other pieces to your application. If they are strong,
you'll have a good chance to be admitted. By the same token, just because
you have a 1000 doesn't mean you'll be admitted. You do need to have
at least 800 on the GRE.
Q. What are the qualifications
for receiving an assistantship?
A. For a teaching assistantship, we utilize the following criteria: (a)
background in communication (i.e., we want you to have knowledge about
what you are teaching); (b) prior teaching experience (not required, but
certainly helps and can come in a variety of areas such as training);
(c) potential for being an effective teacher; and (d) academic credentials
(having a strong application).
Research assistantships are positions
on funded research projects conducted by professors in the department.
Therefore, these professors make decisions about the RAs. Generally, they
are looking for people who have good research skills in one or more of
the following: (a) library research, (b) internet research, (c) grant
writing, (d) statistics, (e) quantitative research methods, or (f) qualitative
research methods.
Q. How many assistantships does
the department have at any one time? A. At the Ph.D. level, we have 17 teaching assistantships (TA) at
any one time and usually assign 6-7 per year for new students. At the
MA level, we have approximately 25-30 teaching assistantships. We usually
have about 10 TA slots available in the fall semester and 2-4 available
in the spring semester for new students. Exact numbers will vary year
to year, but these numbers are a good guideline.
We also have research assistantships
(RA), but we don't have any set numbers. These positions depend on the
amount and nature of funded research being completed by the faculty.
Q. How long is the program and
how long does my funding (for a TA or RA) last?
A. The MA program is a 2-year program if you attend full-time. 1 1/2 years
are for coursework with 1/2-year for your thesis or project. The program
takes 3 years if you are able to take two courses a semester and 4 to
5 years if you can only take one course a semester. Funding is for 2 years.
The University requires the degree to be completed within 7 years
The PhD program is a 3-year program
if you attend full-time. 2 years are for coursework and 1 year is for
comprehensive exams and dissertation. Funding is for 3 years. The University
requires the degree to be completed within 5 years of passing your comprehensive
exams.
Q. Can I research what I like?
A. Yes, for the most part. Your assignments are limited only by the parameters
of the class (e.g., a theory class will require you to investigate a theory)
and you are free to choose the topics that you wish to work on. For your
thesis/dissertation research, you can select any communication topic you
wish so long as you can find a committee who will work with you.
Q. Will I have trouble getting
a committee together and graduating?
A. No. Our faculty members are committed to helping you finish your degree
in a timely manner. We readily serve on committees and we will make sure
that you have the support to complete your degree. All you have to do
is the work!
Q. How many students who enter
the program actually graduate?
A. For the PhD program, we have a graduation rate of 91% (within five
years of entering). For the MA program, we have about an 85% graduation
rate (within five years of entering).
Q.Do I need to have a degree
in communication to apply?
A. No. We do not require a communication degree to apply to the MA or
PhD program. A degree in a closely related field or work experience in
communication are beneficial for your application, but we accept and consider
applicants from all disciplines. If you do not have any (or limited) academic
communication experience, we may require you to take foundational courses
as a pre- or co-requisite. For MA students, these courses consist of three
upper-level division (junior/senior level) courses. For PhD students,
these courses are our MA level theory and research methods courses.
Q. What do people do with a
communication degree?
A. We have placed students from our PhD program in two positions: (a)
faculty member at a university or college (most go this route), or (b)
a researcher in some type of research center.
For our MA program, we focus on
an academic track and a professional track. The academic track is to continue
on with your education and receive a PhD (to be a professor) and 30-35%
of our MA students pursue this route. The remaining students have taken
jobs in a variety of fields including (but not limited to) public relations,
health communication research, advertising, human resources, organizational
development, training, organizational communication, and consulting. So,
our program will help you develop your career in either academia or the
"real working world" (as if academics don't do real work).
If you have further questions
or want clarification about these questions/answers, please contact
the graduate co-director:
.
An
on-line copy of the Graduate Student Handbook is available here.
developing
a research report. ![[UNM Logo]](../images/unmlogo.gif)