Communication Studies

Opportunities for graduate studies

Theory and research in communication studies examine human communicative behavior and the symbolic processes through which humans interact. The graduate curriculum is designed to facilitate your mastery of theory and research, to develop your research capabilities and to enhance your preparation for a variety of careers or for further graduate study.

The Department of Communication Studies offers course work in rhetorical, performance and social science traditions. You will have opportunities to explore communication from applied and theoretical perspectives using analytical, critical, qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Course work features the investigation of communication in aesthetic, cultural, health, international, interpersonal, legal, organizational and political contexts.

Among the topics you will encounter in your graduate program are gender and diversity issues, narrative and social change, politics and social influence. You may have opportunities to conduct research with faculty members and participate in regional and national festivals, professional conferences, and internships with corporations, social service organizations, arts organizations and government agencies.

Admission requirements

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the work in communication studies, admission is open to you even if you did not major in communication as an undergraduate. You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the department's specific requirements. For graduate school requirements, access the Graduate Catalog at www.unt.edu/catalog or contact the graduate school.

The department uses holistic criteria for admission into the program. The materials required for consideration are outlined in the Graduate Student Handbook at www.comm.unt.edu/gradhandbook/index.htm. Undergraduate students anticipating graduate work in the department should take the GRE no later than the fall semester of their senior year. You may pursue a master's degree with a major in communication studies on a full-time or part-time basis.

Degree requirements

The department offers master of arts and master of science degrees with a major in communication studies. You may choose from the following options. The thesis option requires 30 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis and an oral defense. The project in lieu of thesis option requires 33 hours of course work plus 3 hours of COMM 5930 and written and oral comprehensive exams. The internship option requires 33 hours of course work plus 3 hours of COMM 5481 and written and oral comprehensive exams.

Financial assistance

The Department of Communication Studies offers teaching assistantships that provide valuable experience as a classroom teacher, debate assistant or performance assistant. Stipends for teaching assistants are competitive and include medical insurance benefits. In addition, out-of-state and international students who receive assistantships are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates. Summer teaching assistantships also are available.

Library system

The UNT libraries contain printed books, periodicals, electronic databases, maps, documents, microforms and audiovisual materials, as well as a large and growing number of electronic journals and books.

Catalogs for major research libraries throughout the world can be searched electronically and documents ordered through UNT's interlibrary loan department.

Through the Tex-Share program, administered by the Texas State Library, UNT has borrowing privileges with academic and public libraries throughout the state. UNT libraries also hold membership in the Center for Research Libraries, giving patrons access to unique materials no longer available in other libraries around the country.

Computer technology

UNT has computer resources for a wide range of instruction and research. Computer networks are installed in all academic departments, providing connections to a variety of general-purpose and specialized computing equipment.

The university offers you the ability to schedule classes, check accounts and pay tuition via the Internet. With the use of WebCT software, UNT electronically enhances curriculum in more than 500 classes and offers graduate programs and certifications through videoconference and the web.

The central resources for academic computing consist of several UNIX multiuser computers, including a cluster of systems that support high-performance computing. You can use UNT's considerable computing resources through an extensive wireless network on campus. Fourteen general-access student microcomputer laboratories provide PC and Macintosh formats as well as laser printing, and one lab is open 24 hours a day. Some labs are reserved for use exclusively by graduate students.