Media Studies Master's Program

Description

 Whereas our professional master’s programs aim primarily to teach advanced skills in preparation for employment and leadership in the media and communication industries, our Media Studies M.A./M.S. program is aligned with our doctoral program in exposing students to a wide range of ideas concerning the structure, function and role of communication in society.  Areas of overlapping faculty and program strength that students may study include:  media institutions; ethics, law and policy; international communication; and communication and diversity. Goals for individual students vary.  Some may seek to return to the professions as leaders and innovators who actively contribute to improving the quality of media and communications.  Others may seek preparation for doctoral work either in the SOJC Media Studies program or elsewhere. 

Course Requirements for the Media Studies Option

Candidates for the Media Studies Master’s degree must earn at least 46 graduate credits (24 of which must be graded) with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. The Graduate School requires that all master’s candidates complete a minimum of 30 credits (24 of which must be graded) taken at the Eugene campus and that all work for the master’s degree be completed within seven years.  Courses that do not carry graduate credit (400-level and lower) are not considered in determining the graduate GPA.  The program concludes with either a thesis or a professional project.  Students typically take five or six terms to complete the program.

Specific requirements follow:

• Three required graduate-level courses taken in the first year of graduate studies:  Mass Communication and Society (J611) Proseminar I (J640), and either Qualitative Research Methods (J641) or  Quantitative Research Methods (J642).
• Three additional 600-level conceptual courses in the School of Journalism and Communication. Graduate seminars (J610) count toward this requirement.  Courses numbered J601- J609 do not count toward this requirement, except by petition to the student’s adviser and chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee. 

--Certain 500-level courses may be considered for this requirement.
--J633 courses, including “Writing About...” courses do not fulfill this requirement.
--Media/Communications courses offered at the 600-level in other schools or departments may count toward this requirement and must be reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee.

• One additional methods course.  This course may be taken within or outside of the SOJC.  If taken within the School, it may count toward the three additional 600-level courses (see above).  If taken outside of the School, it may count toward the outside credit.
• At least eight, but no more than fifteen graduate credits (500- or 600- level) outside the SOJC.  The courses chosen must be part of a consistent, related, educationally enhancing plan that has been approved by the student’s adviser prior to enrollment.
• A graduate thesis (nine credits in J503) or professional project (six credits in J609) approved and supervised by a faculty committee.  Your adviser and two other committee members supervise the research and writing of the thesis or project.  A written proposal must be approved by the committee before work begins.  Proposal Approval Forms (see appendix) are available on-line.  A student should register for Thesis (J503) or Terminal Project (J609) during the terms in which they are researching and writing their thesis or project.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students pursuing an M.A. degree must demonstrate competence in one foreign language.  Language competence must be demonstrated within the overall seven-year limitation for completion of a master’s degree.  Foreign language proficiency can be demonstrated by:  1) completion of at least the third term, second year of a foreign language course taught in the language, with a grade of “C-” or “P” or better taken within seven years of the awarding of the master's degree, or 2) satisfactory completion of an examination administered by the University Testing Center, showing language proficiency equivalent to that attained at the end of two years of college study.  There is no language requirement for the M.S. degree.

Conditional Master’s Students
Students are evaluated at the end of their second term of coursework.  If they have maintained a 3.0 GPA or better for their first two terms of full time graduate coursework, they will be upgraded to full major status.  A change of graduate major/classification form must be filed with the Graduate School at least one term prior to graduation.

Project or Thesis Options (see also Project and Thesis information)
Master’s students may complete either a project or a thesis.  A thesis is a research effort; a project is a piece of professional work.

A project is an option if you plan to be a working journalist or media professional.  Remember, a project is much more than a class assignment and requires as much research as a thesis.  Final projects have included magazine or newspaper article series, video productions, practical guides for working journalists or media professionals and applied research projects.

You should choose a thesis if you plan to pursue doctoral study. This is a viable option if you plan to work as a media consultant or manager.

A written proposal is required for both a thesis and a project, and you must be approved in writing by your committee before beginning work/research. Proposal Approval forms are available on-line (also see appendix). Sample proposals are on file in 101 Allen.

Reclassification from Master's to Doctoral Program
On rare occasions, a master's student admitted to the SOJC Media Studies master's program may request a change of classification to the doctoral program in Media Studies.  Such a request should be made no sooner than spring term of the first year in the program and must have strong support of the student's adviser and other SOJC faculty.  See appendix for details on reclassification request requirements.

Communication & Society M.A./M.S. Checklist
At least 46 graduate (500 or 600 level) credits (at least 24 graded) with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Fall quarter
     --J611 Mass Communication & Society (4)
     --J640 Proseminar I (5)

Two methodology courses
   --J641 Qualitative Research Methods (4) or J642 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
   --One additional methods course, either inside or outside SOJC

Three additional 600-level, or approved 500 level, SOJC Courses (J601-609 do not fulfill this requirement)
   --J5/600
   --J5/600
   --J5/600

At least eight but no more than fifteen graduate level credits outside the SOJC
    --5/600               
    --5/600
    --5/600               
    --5/600

    --J503 Thesis (minimum total 9) OR J609 Terminal Project (minimum total 6)

Elective graduate level credits (if needed to reach the required 46 graduate credits for degree)
    --5/600
    --5/600
    --5/600

Thesis or Terminal Project Checklist – Should be completed in order

• Advisor selected           
• Committee and chair selected
• Thesis or project proposal approved and completed, and filed with SOJC
• Human Subjects Research Compliance Approval (if needed)
• Enrolled for at least 3 graduate credits during graduating term, (J503 or J609)
• Foreign language requirement completed (MA students only)
• Applied for graduation on Grad Web by second week of term in which you plan to graduate
• Oral defense completed
• One copy of terminal project submitted to SOJC OR copy of thesis to Grad School,
• Thesis abstract submitted to SOJC (if applicable)

Communication and Society Master’s Flow Chart

• Admission

• Coursework

The bulk of students’ coursework is ideally completed during their first year of graduate study and finished during the second year.  Students are required to complete some courses during their first year, and some courses are only offered during certain terms.

• Choose adviser/chair, thesis/project committee and write thesis/project Proposal

This step is ideally completed during fall quarter of students’ second year of graduate study.  Proposals for a thesis or project must be in writing and
approved by adviser and committee.

• Thesis/project research and writing

Students usually take 2-3 terms to complete this step, ideally during their second year of graduate study.  Students should register for J503 or J609 while working on their thesis or project.

• Thesis/project oral defense

Students complete this step during the term they graduate.  They must be registered for three graduate credits during this term, one of which should be J503 or J609.

• Diploma