Communication

Department of Communication Studies

Dr. Jill Tyler, Department Chair
Dr. Carolyn M. Prentice, Graduate Director
Beacom Hall, Room 211
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5476
commstudies@usd.edu
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
cmj@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/cmj

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
Jill Tyler, Ph.D., University of Iowa. Specialization: interpersonal/relational communication, health communication

Assistant Professors:

Teddi Joyce, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Specializations: public relations, crisis communication, and marketing, and higher education
Kelly McKay-Semmler, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma. Specialization: intercultural/intergroup communication and cross-cultural communication
Brandon Nutting, Ph.D., Texas Tech University. Specializations: advertising, memory and cognition
Shane Semmler, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma. Specializations: persuasion, entertainment education, and political communication
Miglena Sternadori, Ph.D.; University of Missouri-Columbia. Specialization: cognitive processing of news, news routines, media stereotypes
Michelle Van Maanen, Ed.D, University of South Dakota. Specialization: multiplatform journalism; news promotion; media management , and higher education

Other Faculty:

Janet Davison, Lecturer, Ph.D., University of South Dakota. Specializations: newswriting (print and broadcast), radio production, media history and literary journalism
Chuck Baldwin, Journalist in Residence: M.S., South Dakota State University. Specializations: journalism, diversity and first amendment issues

DEGREE:

Master of Arts in Communication, Plan A and B

AREAS OF STUDY:

Communication Studies
Mass Communication

Program Description

The Masters in Communication examines human symbolic activity in a variety of contexts and through a variety of channels. We explore interpersonal identities and relationships, culture and organizational life, as well as traditional and new forms of media. After completing foundational 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 a variety of undergraduate programs, such as communication, mass communication, psychology, sociology, business, English, political science, counseling and education.

The curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in a variety of fields – business, education, law, politics, social and human services, health care management, 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).

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

An undergraduate degree (with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited institution is required for full admission.
Scores from the GRE taken within the previous 5 years must be submitted for full admission. Scores from other graduate level tests (within the previous 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.
Applicants must submit an original 2-4 page statement of purpose carefully outlining their 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.