Communication Arts—Bachelor of Arts to Master of Arts
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts
Website: Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's in Communication Arts
College/School: School of Media and Design
Apply to UIW: Application for the Accelerated Bachelor to Master's in Communication Arts
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM) Degree Programs provide opportunities for academically prepared and motivated undergraduate students to complete degree requirements for both the bachelor and master’s degrees simultaneously at an accelerated pace. Student knowledge and skill level is reinforced by linking the curricula of undergraduate and graduate programs, and students can complete both programs sooner and at less expense than if they enrolled in both programs separately. Students accepted into an ABM program are eligible to complete 9 designated graduate hours while enrolled as an undergraduate, which will then be utilized to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. After the completion of the designated hours, students are formally admitted to graduate study.
**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.**
Program Overview
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.
Students hoping to enroll in ABM programs must contact their advisor—prior to filling out an application—to identify the appropriate term of enrollment. This will be the first term the student is enrolled in exclusively graduate courses. For specific information regarding application materials, deadlines, and managing their formal admittance to graduate studies, contact the program director within the master’s program.
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.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to enter the Communication Arts graduate ABM program must meet all university graduate admissions requirements.
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Students may apply to the ABM program after completing 62 undergraduate credit hours.
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To apply, submit a completed Graduate application, which can be obtained from the Admissions Office website.
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Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will automatically be considered eligible for admission to the graduate program.
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Students with a GPA below 3.0 may be required to submit additional application materials upon the recommendation of the Admissions Office and/or the Communication Arts Department.
Communication Arts Core and Concentrations
All concentrations require a minimum of 30 hours of graduate study, including 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.
Concentrations in the ABM Communication Arts program:
Master of Arts in Communication Arts Core Coursework
Students in all concentrations take these five core courses.
| 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 this list of courses.
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ABM students must take at least 6 hours in their concentration and at least 3 hours outside their concentration.
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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 Selected Topics courses may be repeated for credit because course topics vary.
Mastery Coursework Requirements
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.
COMM 61TR is continuation of COMM 63TR, if needed. COMM 61CS is continuation of COMM 63CS1, if needed.