The Media Studies concentration is geared toward students with an interest in the scholarly study of mass media – including news, entertainment, infotainment, social media, and other mass media. This concentration provides students with theoretical and research foundations and is particularly suited for students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, a career in higher education, or a career in consulting. Students will gain an advanced understanding of the role and impact of media through their study of areas such as Media Effects; Media Law and Ethics; Gender, Race, Class and the Media; Culture, Media and Technology; and Social Media.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Unconditional Admission

1. Graduate with a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (degrees from institutions outside the U.S. are evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees).
2. Possess a grade point average of at least 3.0 in undergraduate studies.
3. Complete satisfactory preparation in the specific discipline or field of study.
4. Attain a score of at least 213 on the TOEFL, if an international student.

Conditional Admission

Students who fail to satisfy the unconditional admission criteria may be admitted on a conditional basis. Under conditional admission, the student must have at least a 2.8 undergraduate grade point average or the undergraduate grade point average within the last thirty-hours (30) of course work must be at least 3.2. Students admitted in this category will be required to meet the unconditional admission criteria by maintaining at least a grade of "B" or better in each course in the first twelve hours of graduate work within the first year of enrollment. Failure to satisfy unconditional admission criteria within the stipulated time will result in the student being dropped from the program. Conditional admits are not eligible for financial aid.

Post- Baccalaureate and Non-Degree Seeking Applicant Policy

1. Applicants are not eligible for financial aid.
2. If admitted as a post- baccalaureate student, the student is required to earn a minimum of 3.5 in those hours they take while in the graduate program in order to be admitted into the program.
3. If admitted with non-degree-seeking status, a student is allowed to take up to six (6) hours only.

Summary

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Foundation Courses (9 hours)
COMM 533	Theory & Process Of Comm	3
COMM 534	Introduction Graduate Research Communication	3
or RTF 501	Master's Seminar in Mass Media Projects
RTF 510	Visual Storytelling	3
Prescribed Courses (9 hours)
COMM 526	Introduction : Graduate Studies in Communication	3
or RTF 501	Master's Seminar in Mass Media Projects
COMM 634	Adv Comm Res Meth	3
or JOUR 505	Art of Narrative
or COMM 546	Qualitative Methods in Comm
COMM 698	Research Project	3
or COMM 699	Master's Project Production
or COMM 665	Graduate Practicum
or COMM 658	Masters Comprehensive Exam
Concentration Courses (12 hours)
COMM 527	Mass Communication Effects	3
Select 9 hours from the following:		9
COMM 530	Media Law & Ethics	3
COMM 551	Social Media Culture and Communication
COMM 561	Internet and Society
COMM 564	E-Health Communication
COMM 565	Health and Mass Media
COMM 576	Race Gender Class and the Media
COMM 577	Race and News
RTF 539	International Media Systems
Elective Courses (3 hours)
Select any School of Communication graduate course		3
Total Hours		36