Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I apply to the MA in Communication program?
Can the GRE application requirement be waived?
Who teaches graduate courses? Tell me about the faculty.
When and where are graduate courses offered?
Do I have to start the Graduate Program in the fall?
How quickly can I earn a graduate degree?
What methods of instruction are used in CofC's online courses?
How much math will I need for the Graduate Program?
I don't have a bachelor's degree in communication, but I am interested in the Graduate Program. Should I apply?
Will I need to write a master's thesis?
How do I apply to the MA in Communication program?
To complete your application, we will need:
1. Official undergraduate transcripts (minimum 3.0 GPA with coursework in Communication or relevant field)
2. Official GRE scores (the program director can waive the GRE requirement for students with exemplary academic records and/or those substantial professional experience)
3. One research-based writing sample
4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals (professors/advisers) who can speak to your prospects for academic success
5. A statement of goals explaining your interest in obtaining a Master’s degree in communication
Please submit materials by the published deadlines.
Can the GRE application requirement be waived?
Please contact the program director, Dr. Michael Lee (leem@cofc.edu), to inquire about a GRE waiver.
Who teaches graduate courses? Tell me about the faculty.
All courses are taught by full-time members of the CofC faculty. The Communication faculty at CofC is among the most acclaimed in the field. The roster of Communication faculty is thick with nationally and internationally recognized experts in many different sub-areas of the field. Our faculty members regularly publish books and articles in the most esteemed outlets in Communication; they regularly win major national awards for their expertise; they are regularly invited to give talks at other universities, and they are regularly interviewed in media outlets. A number of our faculty members also have local and national consulting experience. Several serve on national editorial boards for top journals, with several editing such publications.
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When and where are the graduate courses offered?
Beginning in Fall 2019, the CofC MCOM program is fully online and, as such, all courses are taught online. Courses are also taught in an express, 7-week format.
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Do I have to start the Graduate Program in the fall?
Yes.
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How quickly can I earn a graduate degree?
Students can complete an MA in Communication in 12 months with this full-time enrollment schedule: 2 courses in Fall Express 1, 2 courses in Fall Express 2, 2 courses in Spring Express 1, 2 courses in Spring Express 2, and two courses in the Summer.
Students can complete an MA in communication in 24 months with this part-time enrollment schedule:
Year 1: 1 course in Fall Express 1, 1 course in Fall Express 2, 1 course in Spring Express 1, 1 course in Spring Express 2, one Summer course
Year 2: 1 course in Fall Express 1, 1 course in Fall Express 2, 1 course in Spring Express 1, 1 course in Spring Express 2, one Summer course
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What methods of instruction are used in CofC's online courses?
All of our program’s courses are taught online. Our professors adopt a mix of strategies including asynchronous (in your time with a deadline) and synchronous (meetings in real time).
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How much math will I need for the Graduate Program?
Some basic knowledge of statistics will be helpful, but we will provide the instruction you need to succeed in courses with a quantitative component.
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I don't have a bachelor's degree in communication, but I am interested in the Graduate Program. Should I apply?
Yes. The Graduate Program is designed for students with a variety of different undergraduate backgrounds. We require that students have the equivalent of 12 undergraduate hours in Communication or a related discipline for regular admission. Please contact the Graduate Director (Dr. Michael Lee: leem@cofc.edu) if you have questions about this requirement. If you do not meet the undergraduate hours requirement, it may be possible for you to take undergraduate preparatory courses at the College of Charleston.
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Will I need to write a master's thesis?
No. The MA degree offers the choice of a field internship opportunity, a customized capstone course or a master's thesis.