Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Bulletin 
    
2021-2022 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication MA


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The Master of Arts program is designed for students who wish to develop advanced-level skills and an expanded knowledge base in Communication. Additionally, it also gives them the option of selecting a specific concentration area in which to focus their studies and connect a specific area of interest to the broader field of Communication.

Dual Degree Option

This program is available as a dual degree with the Divinity MDiv:

Total Credits - 33


Electives


Select any 6 masters-level credits from COMM courses. (MDiv/MA Dual Degree students must take 2 credits of PATH 543 - Christian Leadership in a Changing World  and choose 4 credits from ART 530 - Graphic Design Concepts  and/or masters-level COMM courses.)

Culminating Experience - 3


Concentration - 12


Students may select one of the following concentrations or complete 12 further elective credits in consultation with academic advisor.

NOTE: Master of Divinity/Master of Arts, Communication Dual Degree MDiv/MA students must complete the Interdisciplinary concentration.

Communication Management - 12


Concentration Electives

Humanitarian and Development Communication - 12


Interdisciplinary - 12


Master of Divinity/Master of Arts, Communication Dual Degree MDiv/MA students must complete this concentration.

Course options are selected with the approval of the other department(s) and the advisor or coordinator of graduate program; however, the student must establish competency in two of the following three areas:

  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Visual communication

Media Studies - 12


Concentration Electives

Maintaining Academic Standing


All graduate students need to understand that

  • The GRE must be completed in order to register for the second semester courses.
  • Must enroll in COMM 500 - Graduate Colloquium   Credits: 0 every Fall and Spring semester.
  • A student on regular status must, in consultation with the graduate advisor, identify members to serve on a supervisory committee, prior to application to Candidacy. It determines individual requirements for completion with reference to a student’s Plan of Study.
  • A 3.00 GPA per semester must be maintained.
  • The Advancement to Candidacy deadline is the semester prior to the student applying for graduation.
  • Students are responsible for completing all the required forms.

All required forms are submitted to the coordinator of the Department Graduate Program. On approval, recommendations are made to the Records Office and to the Dean of Graduate Studies. See General Academic Policies for further details on graduation procedures and degree conferral.

Departmental Admission Requirements


This is a summary of the procedures that a student planning to enroll in the MA should note:

  • At the time of application for admission, students must:
    • have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
    • present a resume of current experience.
    • submit a Statement of Purpose which explains how the relevant disciplines will be integrated to meet his/her career and academic goals.
  • Upon acceptance and registration, the student in conjunction with the graduate advisor will develop a Plan of Study which is based on the student’s Statement of Purpose.
  • Must have minimum GPA for entrance into Andrews University School of Graduate Studies.

  • No GRE is required if your undergraduate GPA is above 3.0.

  • In addition to the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies & Research, the student applying to the Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design must meed the following requirements:
    • Language Requirements

      English Proficiency Requirements. All students whose first language is not English must demonstrate adequate proficiency in English to succeed in the academic setting.

      Language proficiency must be met before enrolling full-time in regular course work.

      Test

      Score

      TOEFL

      Paper-based

      565

      TOEFL iBT

      Internet-based

       

      85-Minimum 20 in each section (reading, listening, speaking, writing).

      MELAB

      81

      IELTS

      Academic Version

      6.5

      PTE

      Academic Version

      58

 

Resources


For information about requirements for admission, progression through the program, and completion, please see Department’s Graduate Student Manual at www.andrews.edu/communication and under the “Graduate” tab.

Student Learning Outcomes


1: Specialized Knowledge: Skills and Competencies

Students learn specialized skills and competencies necessary to develop a visual vocabulary across core curriculum in preparation for the student’s area of emphasis.

  • Develop a strong foundation in communication that spans across disciplines.
  • Define a personal language that allows for how those views fit in relation to others and the world around them.
  • Convey ideas with clarity and confidence in their speech and writing.
  • Convey ideas with clarity and confidence in their work.

2: Critical Thinking and Creative Process

Students gain a vocabulary of creative strategies including research, conceptualization, and problem solving strategies which can be applied to any visual or communicative problem.

  • Evaluate and synthesize different points of view and determine solutions to serve specific outcomes.
  • Apply a flexible and analytical approach to finding creative, practical, and actionable solutions to a variety of visual communication problems.
  • Incorporate an adaptable approach to a rapidly changing media landscape.

3: Cultural Literacy and Contextual Adaptability

Students take advantage of the unique learning environment of Andrews University by developing a curiosity, respect, and recognition of diversity in cultural, economic and social entities.

  • Gain an understanding of current social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues and how these issues can inform and shape their creative production and its reception.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of historical, current, and innovative events across disciplines.
  • Develop familiarity of discipline ideologies across a range of media and various applications.

4: Intentional Exploration with Interdisciplinary Connections

Students pursue the various creative processes with intentionality to explore interdisciplinary connections and their potential.

  • Gain knowledge and appreciation for the potential in interdisciplinary pursuits and collaborations.
  • Students use specialized knowledge to navigate between academic disciplines to create cross-disciplinary content.
  • Network across disciplines to pursue opportunities for collaborative projects and community-based initiatives.

5: Quality of Execution + Professional Practices

Students develop a highly resolved and excellent portfolio in conjunction with professional development.

  • Students develop insight into business practices and principles that are specific to their chosen field.
  • Reflect on process to understand its usefulness in establishing individual perspective, intentionality of craft, and personal methodologies.
  • Students learn effective research and conceptualization approaches to assignments and presentations.
  • Students pursue information in support of their research, progressing to a level of evaluating, sourcing, and conducting self-directed research and assuming autonomy of their direction.

6: Development and Integration of Faith and Ethics

The integration of faith and ethics within the context of professional creative careers is explored in terms of affecting personal, community, and environmental self-awareness and integrity. Placed within the diverse setting of Andrews University, students explore ways in which their faith informs their creative practices.

  • Students contemplate the role of a scholar-citizen, who navigates potential ethical challenges in creative practice and cultural production with self and social awareness.
  • Students learn the ethical, legal and socio-economic considerations surrounding the production and applications of content.

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