Program
Goal
The Department
of Communication seeks to provide a solid grounding in the communication
discipline to a select group of students. The two-year course of
study establishes a core of knowledge and enables students to explore
topic areas of special interest. Our goal is to give students an
advanced understanding of the discipline and of the critical thinking
and writing that characterize scholarly activity. Our primary goal
is to prepare our students for future excellence at the Ph.D. level.
Should some students elect not to continue on for the Ph.D., their
degree will equip them to enter their chosen profession.
Departmental
Requirements
The M.A. degree
is awarded to candidates who complete:
·
A minimum of 33 semester hours of work, including 27 semester
hours of faculty-approved course work with an average grade of
B (3.0) or above on all courses attempted
· Meet the research method/foreign language requirement.
· Write an acceptable thesis or pass comprehensive exams (see handbook for details)
· The program requires a core of courses in general theory
and research methodology.
· All students must demonstrate competence in a research
skill relevant to their thesis and/or professional goals.
· The university's minimum residence requirement is one
academic year or three summer sessions.
Admission
to the Program
Undergraduates
in their senior year and graduates of accredited colleges or universities
may apply for admission to the program. Undergraduates must complete
their degree requirements prior to entering the program.
· All applicants are required to submit scores on the General Test
of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) administered by the
Educational Testing Service. Graduate Record Exam Scores of 575
for each of the three general exam areas (or a cumulative score
for all three areas approximating 1750),
· Applicants from non-English speaking countries must have
a minimum total score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign
Language administered by the TOEFL Program of the Educational
Testing Service.
· Generally, an undergraduate grade point average (GPA)
of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
· Three letters of recommendation.
Admission decisions,
however, are based on a holistic review of all credentials presented
on behalf of the student, including previous academic performance,
letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and a statement of purpose.
Ideally, we admit students who have solid credentials in all of
these areas. A deficiency in one area, however, does not preclude
a positive review of the student's application.
Admission
Process
Students applying
for full-time admission generally submit their application package
by January 15, 2004 for fall matriculation in the same year. The
Graduate Committee will review all applications, make decisions
on admissions, and advance recommendations for financial awards
to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate School will notify
students of the status of their application, and any accompanying
financial award, during the spring of that year.
Financial
Assistance
Tuition scholarships,
fellowships, teaching assistantships, debate coaching assistantships,
and research assistantships are available to qualified students.
The department attempts to provide all students who are admitted
to the program with some level of financial assistance. Assistantships
and fellowships include full tuition scholarships as part of the
award. Acceptance of a fellowship, teaching assistantship, debate
coaching assistantship, or research assistantship carries with it
the obligation to perform duties assigned by the department. Assistants
work from 12 to 15 hours per week and carry a normal load of courses.
Unsatisfactory performance or failure to complete these assigned
duties may result in the withdrawal of all financial aid.
All financial
awards are made for one academic year, but may be renewed by the
department for a maximum of two years. Continued financial assistance
is dependent upon the student's making satisfactory progress toward
the degree and satisfactory fulfillment of duties associated with
the award. Evaluations of student performance will occur at the
end of each semester in order that students will be informed about
their standing.
For More
Information About the Program Contact:
Dr. Allan Louden
Department of Communication
Wake Forest University
Box 7347 Reynolda Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
(336) 758-5408
Cell: 336 406-8451
louden@wfu.edu
To Receive
A Graduate Catalog and Application Contact:
Lorna G. Moore, Ph.D. — Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate School
Wake Forest University
Box 7487 Reynolda Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
(800) 257-3166
gradschl@wfu.edu