Master of Arts in Communication
Program of Study
After completion of nine hours of graduate course work, the student is required to meet with the graduate advisor and complete a preliminary program of study form that is obtained from the graduate school. With the graduate advisor's approval, course work toward the degree is identified and any deficiencies requiring course work will be identified.
A thesis or project director will be identified and selected from the graduate faculty to direct the student in the completion of course requirements for the degree.
The preliminary program of study will be submitted to the graduate faculty for periodic review. With the approval of the graduate faculty, the program will be filed with the graduate school.
Final Program of Study Form
After completion of eighteen hours of course work toward the degree, the student is required to meet with the graduate advisor and complete a final program of study form that is obtained from the graduate school. With the thesis director's approval, all remaining course work, selection of committee members for the thesis or project, will be identified and reported to the graduate school with the graduate advisor's approval and the final periodic review of the form by the graduate faculty.
Thesis Committee (or Project Committee)
A thesis or project committee is composed of at least three members of the graduate faculty. The committee is charged with conducting an oral defense of the student's thesis. The committee is composed of the thesis director, another member of the department's graduate faculty, and an outside graduate faculty member from another department other than communication graduate faculty. The student is responsible for selection of committee members and is required to consult with the thesis director for his/her approval. The members of the committee are reported on the final program of study form.
A proposal meeting should be held before the student enrolls in Comm 5399 (Final thesis hours) to determine the role each member will perform. The student is required to contact all members of the committee with the advice of the thesis director. The research project proposal will be submitted to members of the committee prior to the first committee meeting, and an oral presentation will be made by the student at the proposal meeting. The proposal shall include the research questions, relevant review of literature, methodology for answering research questions, plan for human subject review and any other relevant data the thesis director may require. Outlines of thesis proposal requirements can be secured from the graduate advisor.
Oral Defense of Thesis or Project
Through the coordination of the thesis director, the thesis committee will conduct an oral examination over the thesis developed by the student. The student is required to provide a copy of the final manuscript for all members of the committee, arrange for a defense date, and secure an appropriate location for the oral defense. The thesis and its successful defense constitute the final evaluation for the degree.
Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the student will supply an oral defense form to be signed by each member of the committee. The completed form is given to the thesis director who will submit it to the graduate school. The student is required to submit a bound thesis to the graduate school. The requirements for bound thesis can be obtained from the graduate school. Should the oral defense not be successful, the thesis director shall petition the graduate advisor identifying those deficiencies and a recommendation for re-mediation.
For more information
Contact Graduate Advisor, Dr. Yannick Atouba at (915) 747-8046, or yatouba@utep.edu
Office: Quinn Hall, 205