Communication Arts Bachelor's to Master's (BA & MA)
See: Communication Arts
College/School: School of Media and Design
**This section describes the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts to Master of Arts Program in Communication Arts. Current baccalaureate degree holders should view the Communication Arts Master of Arts Program.**
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs in Communication Arts
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs (ABM) are available to undergraduate students who have met the necessary prerequisites as students in the Communication Arts undergraduate program. The three ABM programs, Media and Culture, Multimedia, and Strategic and Corporate Communication, are open only to UIW students who have been admitted to and who have matriculated through the required undergraduate degree plan for the ABM.
ABM students will be awarded both the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Communication Arts upon completion of all coursework hours required in both.
ABM Admissions
Students wishing to enter the Communication Arts graduate ABM program must meet all university graduate admissions requirements.
- Students may apply to the ABM program after completing 62 undergraduate credit hours.
- To do so, submit a completed Graduate application, which can be obtained from the Admissions Office website.
- Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will automatically be considered eligible for admission to the graduate program.
- Students with a GPA below 3.0 may be required to submit additional application materials upon the recommendation of the Admissions Department and/or the Communication Arts Department.
Concentrations
Media and Culture
The ABM with a Media and Culture concentration requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate study, which includes 15 hours of Communication Arts core courses, 12 hours of elective coursework and 3 hours of mastery coursework. The load for a full-time student is no less than six (6) credit hours per semester; anything less than six (6) hours is considered part time. See course load policy in the current bulletin. Full-time students complete the ABM in one and a half years. Consult with your advisor concerning your individual degree plan.
Core Coursework Requirements
| COMM 6301 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 6307 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication Arts | 3 |
| COMM 6308 | Writing and Research Techniques | 3 |
| COMM 6309 | Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| COMM 6345 | Practicum in Specialized Area of Study | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Elective Coursework Requirements
Choose 12 hours of electives from the following courses. ABM students must take at least 6 hours in their concentration and at least 3 hours outside their concentration. Classes related to Communication Arts concentrations in other programs may be taken as electives with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Seminar, Directed Studies, and Special Topics courses may be repeated for credit because course topics vary.
Mastery Coursework Requirements
COMM 61TR is continuation of COMM 63TR, if needed.
COMM 61CS is continuation of COMM 63CS1, if needed.
61TR and 63TR, and 63CS1 and 61CS1, are not to be taken concurrently; students will be registered in a course that is supervised by the Graduate Program Director. All work will be done with students’ individual committee chairperson. Fulfillment of requirements will be verified by the thesis/capstone chair and signed off by the Graduate Program Director.
Multimedia
The ABM with a Multimedia concentration requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate study, which includes 15 hours of Communication Arts core courses, 12 hours of elective coursework and 3 hours of mastery coursework. The load for a full-time student is no less than six (6) credit hours per semester; anything less than six (6) hours is considered part-time. See course load policy in the current bulletin. Full-time students complete the ABM in one and a half years. Consult with your advisor concerning your individual degree plan.
Core Coursework Requirements
| COMM 6301 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 6307 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication Arts | 3 |
| COMM 6308 | Writing and Research Techniques | 3 |
| COMM 6309 | Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| COMM 6345 | Practicum in Specialized Area of Study | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Elective Coursework Requirements
Choose 12 hours of electives from the following courses. ABM students must take at least 6 hours in their concentration and at least 3 hours outside their concentration. Classes related to Communication Arts concentrations in other programs may be taken as electives with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Seminar, Directed Studies, and Special Topics courses may be repeated for credit because course topics vary.
Mastery Coursework Requirements
COMM 61TR is continuation of COMM 63TR, if needed.
COMM 61CS is continuation of COMM 63CS1, if needed.
61TR and 63TR, and 63CS1 and 61CS1, are not to be taken concurrently; students will be registered in a course that is supervised by the Graduate Program Director. All work will be done with students’ individual committee chairperson. Fulfillment of requirements will be verified by the thesis/capstone chair and signed off by the Graduate Program Director.
Strategic and Corporate Communication
The ABM with a Strategic and Corporate Communication concentration requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate study, which includes 15 hours of Communication Arts core courses, 12 hours of elective coursework and 3 hours of mastery coursework. The load for a full-time student is no less than six (6) credit hours per semester; anything less than six (6) hours is considered part-time. See course load policy in the current bulletin. Full-time students complete the ABM in one and a half years. Consult with your advisor concerning your individual degree plan.
Core Coursework Requirements
| COMM 6301 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 6307 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication Arts | 3 |
| COMM 6308 | Writing and Research Techniques | 3 |
| COMM 6309 | Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| COMM 6345 | Practicum in Specialized Area of Study | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Elective Coursework Requirements
Choose 12 hours of electives from the following courses. ABM students must take at least 6 hours in their concentration and at least 3 hours outside their concentration. Classes related to Communication Arts concentrations in other programs may be taken as electives with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Seminar, Directed Studies, and Special Topics courses may be repeated for credit because course topics vary.
Mastery Coursework Requirements
COMM 61TR is continuation of COMM 63TR, if needed.
COMM 61CS is continuation of COMM 63CS1, if needed.
61TR and 63TR, and 63CS1 and 61CS1, are not to be taken concurrently; students will be registered in a course that is supervised by the Graduate Program Director. All work will be done with students’ individual committee chairperson. Fulfillment of requirements will be verified by the thesis/capstone chair and signed off by the Graduate Program Director.