Communication

Department of Communication Studies

Dr. Terry Robertson, Department Chair
Dr. Carolyn M. Prentice, Graduate Director
Beacom Hall, Room 304
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5476
http://www.usd.edu/spcm

Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism

Dr. Michelle Van Maanen, Department Chair/Graduate Director
Neuharth Media Center, Room 205
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5477
http://www.usd.edu/cmj

Departmental Faculty

Professor:

Charles Lubbers, Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Specialization: Public Relations, Advertising, Pedagogy, Travel and Tourism, Health Communication

Associate Professors:

Carolyn Prentice, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia. Specialization: Family Communication, Group Communication

Terry Robertson, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma–Norman. Specialization: Media Studies, Political Communication, and Gender Studies

Assistant Professors:

Teddi Joyce, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Specializations: public relations, crisis communication, and marketing

Brandon Nutting, Ph.D., Texas Tech University. Specializations: advertising, memory and cognition

Kelly McKay-Semmler, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, Specialization: Intercultural Communication

Shane Semmler, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, Specialization: Political Communication, Media Studies

Miglena Sternadori, Ph.D.; University of Missouri-Columbia. Specialization: Cognitive Processing of News, News Routines, Media Stereotypes

Jill Tyler, Ph.D., University of Iowa, Specialization: Interpersonal/Relational Communication, Health Communication

Michelle Van Maanen, Ed.D, University of South Dakota Specialization: Multiplatform Journalism; News Promotion; Media Management

Degrees:

Master of Arts in Communication, Plan A and B

Areas of Study:

Communication Studies
Mass Communication

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better based on 4.0 scale is required for full admission.
Scores from the GRE taken within the last 5 years must be submitted for full admission. Scores from other graduate level tests (within the last 5 years), such as the GMAT, LSAT, or Miller Analogies Test, may be substituted for the GRE.
Applicants must have completed a minimum of 15 credit hours of undergraduate work in Communication Studies, Mass Communication, or a related discipline, as approved by the department.
A 2-4 page statement of purpose that carefully outlines the student’s experience, preparation, interests and goals in pursuing a graduate degree in Communication.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Program Description

The Masters in Communication examines human symbolic activity in a variety of contexts and through a variety of channels – from interpersonal identities and relationships to political and economic organizations to dynamic cultures and to traditional and new media. After completing foundation courses in research and theory, students build on their own interests and goals by selecting courses from the Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism, as well as related departments throughout the University.

Sound, ethical practice, rigorous intellectual inquiry, and the free expression of ideas form the basis for studying communication practices, interactions, discourses, strategies, messages, and effects. Students come to the graduate program from undergraduate course work in a wide variety of disciplines, such as communication, mass communication, business, English, political science, counseling and education.

The curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in a variety of fields – business, education, politics, social and human services, health, human resource development, public relations, advertising, marketing, technology, public administration, and the arts and entertainment. The program also prepares students for doctoral study, and for teaching at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Principal Fields for Specialization and Research: Based on their own professional and academic goals, graduate students are encouraged to design individual programs of study in areas such as interpersonal and relational communication, organizational communication, health communication, political communication, intercultural and interethnic communication, media studies, mass communication, strategic communication (advertising, integrated marketing and public relations), journalism and media management.

A student pursuing a graduate degree in communication may select between two options: Plan A (Scholarly thesis and oral defense); Plan B (Course Work with comprehensive exam and oral defense).