Program: Communication Studies (M.A.) - University of South Dakota

Apr 04, 2025

2007-2009 Graduate Catalog

All graduate students are required to successfully complete the core courses and programs as listed below. In addition, students must take a minimum 15 hours of graduate level courses from the Communication Studies department in their program of study. For student’s pursuing a MA (Plan B), the student’s advisory committee will determine the content, form and length for the final comprehensive examinations. The advisory committee plays a similar role in evaluating a student’s thesis for those following Plan A.

Master of Arts, Plan A (thesis): Total 36 credit hours

Communication Studies core 9 credit hours
Communication Studies emphasis 9 credit hours
Communication Studies electives 6 credit hours
Thesis 6 credit hours
Supporting courses outside of area 6 credit hours

Master of Arts, Plan B (non–thesis): Total 36 credit hours

Communication Studies core 9 credit hours
Communication Studies emphasis 12 credit hours
Communication Studies electives 6 credit hours
Supporting courses outside of area 9 credit hours

Communication Studies core course work: 9 credit hours

The Communication Studies elective courses include three credit hours from both Public Communication/Rhetoric and Interpersonal/Intercultural areas.

Explanation of degree requirements for areas of emphasis:

Organizational Communication	Plan A	Plan B
Core courses Organizational Comm. Courses SPCM electives Thesis Research Supporting courses	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 12 Credit Hours: 6 N.A. Credit Hours: 9
Thesis & Comprehensive Oral Defense Portfolio and Oral Defense Comprehensive Written Exam	yes no no	N.A. yes yes

- Plan A students in the Organizational Communication emphasis must take a course that focuses on research similar to the research method they intend to use for the thesis (quantitative, interpretive, or critical).

Political Communication	Plan A	Plan B
Core courses Political Comm. Courses SPCM electives Thesis Research Supporting courses	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 N.A. Credit Hours: 9
Thesis & Comprehensive Oral Defense Portfolio and Oral Defense Comprehensive Written Exam	yes no no	N.A. yes yes

General Communication Studies	Plan A	Plan B
Core courses Organizational Comm. Courses Public Comm. /Rhetoric Courses Interpersonal/Intercultural Courses SPCM electives Thesis Research Supporting courses	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6	Credit Hours: 9 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 Credit Hours: 6 no N.A. Credit Hours: 9
Thesis & Comprehensive Oral Defense Portfolio and Oral Defense Comprehensive Written Exam	yes no no	N.A. yes yes

- Plan A students in the General Communication Studies program must take a second course in the content area that they are using for their thesis topic. They must also take a course that focuses on research similar to the research method they intend to use for the thesis (quantitative, interpretive, or critical).