Communication Studies AGRADE Program
The AGRADE program enables highly qualified Communication Studies seniors to enroll simultaneously in undergraduate and graduate programs and to apply a maximum of 12 credits toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The program encourages such students to continue to graduate school at Wayne State by reducing the time to the master's degree. Only AGRADE-approved courses in which the student has earned a B or higher will transfer to the graduate transcript. Once in the master's program, students may be required to repeat an AGRADE course in which they earn less than a B grade.
Eligibility: AGRADE applicants must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5. Applicants are also expected to have performed at a superior level in their major, as determined by the major department and reflected in a GPA in the major of at least 3.6 at the time of application.
Application: A student seeking AGRADE status should present to the Department of Communication Graduate Committee all of the materials which that department requires for normal admission to the M.A. program with a concentration in Communication Studies. Specific departmental admission requirements can be found in this bulletin or obtained from the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Communication (313-577-2959).
The earliest date by which a student may apply for the AGRADE program is during the semester in which he/she completes 90 credits toward the undergraduate degree.
AGRADE Credits: Students may elect a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve AGRADE credits. These credits will be used to complete the baccalaureate degree as well as to serve as the beginning of graduate study. Upon formal admission to a master’s program, AGRADE credits are transferred as if they were graduate credits transferred from a graduate program at another university. The remaining graduate credits required for the master's degree will be earned in the conventional manner following formal admission to the graduate program. Formal admission to the graduate program occurs as AGRADE students complete their baccalaureate degree.
Students admitted into an AGRADE program will develop a Plan of Work for the master's program, specifying the courses that will be taken in the AGRADE status as well as the courses required for the balance of the undergraduate degree. Note that COM 7000 must be taken in the first semester of AGRADE coursework. The remaining AGRADE courses must be approved by both the student's undergraduate program advisor and the graduate director of the master's program. In courses permitting both undergraduate and graduate students to enroll, AGRADE students will be held to the graduate standard.
For more details about the AGRADE program, contact the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Communication (313-577-2959)
In addition to the course work below, students must complete all of the department's general degree requirements.
Major in Communication Studies
Students majoring in Communication Studies must complete 36 credit hours, distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 18 | |
| Oral Communication: Basic Speech | ||
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Argumentation and Debate | ||
| Theories of Communication | ||
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
or COM 4210 | Research Methods in Communication | |
| Senior Project in Communication Studies | ||
| Select two of the following 2000/3000 level courses: | 6 | |
| Campaigns and Social Movements | ||
| Persuasive Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Relations | ||
| Introduction to Organizational Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Presentations | ||
| Select two of the following 4000 level courses: | 6 | |
| Rhetoric and the Body | ||
| Studies of Legal Argument | ||
| Communication Ethics | ||
| Popular and Celebrity Culture | ||
| Communication and Conflict | ||
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Group Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication | ||
| Select two of the following 5000 level courses: | 6 | |
| Public Address | ||
| Communication and Social Marketing | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Studies | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Rhetoric of Visual Culture | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
The Master of Arts in Communication with a Concentration in Communication Studies
The M.A. in Communication with a concentration in Communication Studies requires a minimum of 30 credits, distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 6 | |
| Introduction to MA Studies in Communication | ||
| Communication Theory | ||
| Research methods courses | 9 | |
| Quantitative Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods in Communication | ||
Select one additional methods course from the following: | ||
| Communication, Culture, and Conflict | ||
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
| Interviewing | ||
| Ethnographic Methods for Communication Research | ||
| Content Analysis | ||
| Select one of the following capstone plan options: | 15 | |
Plan A: Thesis | ||
| Master's Thesis Research and Direction (Thesis credits are distributed across two or three semesters. A total of 6 thesis credits is required.) | ||
Any three courses from the department as electives. (9 credits) | ||
Plan B: Essay | ||
| Master's Essay Direction (Thesis credits are distributed across two or three semesters. A total of 3 essay credits is required.) | ||
Any four courses from the department as electives. (12 credits) | ||
Plan C: Coursework | ||
Any five courses from the department as electives. (15 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |