MA
Mass Communications
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
Required Tests
GRE
Additional Requirements
Deadline Notes
Priority deadline: March 31
Final deadline: April 30
GRE
Additional Requirements
- Exposure to research and statistics
- Professional competence in written and spoken English
- Resume
Deadline Notes
Priority deadline: March 31
Final deadline: April 30
Program Requirements
The master’s program is intended to serve as preparation for:
Beyond the courses required by the department, students select—in consultation with advisors—the specific courses that best meet their goals and interests. Generally, students with non-communications undergraduate majors will be expected to concentrate on communications electives. Those with a communications baccalaureate are encouraged to seek broadening electives outside the department.
Requirements for Degree.
- Doctoral studies where theory, teaching, research, and publication are emphasized.
- Advancement in communications professions.
Beyond the courses required by the department, students select—in consultation with advisors—the specific courses that best meet their goals and interests. Generally, students with non-communications undergraduate majors will be expected to concentrate on communications electives. Those with a communications baccalaureate are encouraged to seek broadening electives outside the department.
Requirements for Degree.
- Credit Hours (34): minimum 28 hours of course work.
- Required courses: Comms 600, 602, 610, 611, 616 (13 hours).
- Electives: 14 credit hours from Comms 604, 607, 612R, 619, 621, 622R, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 640, 691R, 692R, 695R, and/or interdisciplinary substitute courses (with prior approval). Electives determined in consultation with advisor and committee.
- Thesis (Comms 699R, 6 hours minimum) or project (Comms 698R, 6 hours minimum).
- Examination: defense of thesis or project.
Program Outcomes
Understanding The Role of Media in Society
Students will be able to correctly explicate theories from the fields of communication, sociology, psychology, and cultural anthropology and correctly apply them to significant media questions and issues facing individuals, families, and broader social institutions.
Conducting Scientific Research
Students will be able to produce valid and reliable research in the form of theses, projects, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Students will be able to use appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods to answer significant and relevant questions. Students will be able to formulate testable research questions and hypotheses and select the appropriate methodological design to answer their research questions and test their hypotheses. Students will be able to analyze their data using approporiate multivariate statistical tests and arrive at the appropriate conclusions based on those tests. Students will be able to explain the basic ontologoical and epistemological differences that undergird the quanitative and qualitative research paradigms. Students will be able to develop and execute rigorous qualitative research strategies leading to the application and development of grounded theory.
Communicating Effectively
Students will learn to plan communication that serves audience needs and advances the goals of the organizations served by our graduates. Students will be able to apply theory and research to the needs of their employers. Students will increase their capacity to be competent professional communicators.
Developing Scholar-Disciples
Students will understand the nexus between faith. scholarship and character. This program follows the AIMS of a BYU Education, to offer an educational experience that is spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building, and that leads to lifelong learning and service.
Students will be able to correctly explicate theories from the fields of communication, sociology, psychology, and cultural anthropology and correctly apply them to significant media questions and issues facing individuals, families, and broader social institutions.
Conducting Scientific Research
Students will be able to produce valid and reliable research in the form of theses, projects, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Students will be able to use appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods to answer significant and relevant questions. Students will be able to formulate testable research questions and hypotheses and select the appropriate methodological design to answer their research questions and test their hypotheses. Students will be able to analyze their data using approporiate multivariate statistical tests and arrive at the appropriate conclusions based on those tests. Students will be able to explain the basic ontologoical and epistemological differences that undergird the quanitative and qualitative research paradigms. Students will be able to develop and execute rigorous qualitative research strategies leading to the application and development of grounded theory.
Communicating Effectively
Students will learn to plan communication that serves audience needs and advances the goals of the organizations served by our graduates. Students will be able to apply theory and research to the needs of their employers. Students will increase their capacity to be competent professional communicators.
Developing Scholar-Disciples
Students will understand the nexus between faith. scholarship and character. This program follows the AIMS of a BYU Education, to offer an educational experience that is spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building, and that leads to lifelong learning and service.
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
64.0
International
10.0
Male
20.0
Female
44.0
LDS
61.0
BYU Undergraduate
20.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.2
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
22.4
Admitted Per Year
16.4
Percent Admitted
73.21
Average GPA
3.49
Courses and Faculty