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*Who would benefit from earning a Master of Arts in Communication?
*How do I apply to the Graduate Program? (And where do I send all the materials?)
*Do I need to take the GRE to be admitted to the Graduate Program?
*What type of material should I include in my writing sample, my personal statement, and my letters of recommendation?
*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?
*Are any graduate courses taught on-line?
*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 master's program. Should I apply?
*Will I need to write a master's thesis?
*How much does the Graduate Program cost? Is financial aid available?
*When compared to my undergraduate courses, how difficult are graduate classes in communication?
*How can I take a course or two before I apply, in the event I am not ready to complete the GRE?
*Who would benefit from earning a Master of Arts in Communication?
Anyone who needs or wants to learn more about ethical and effective communication. Following completion of a core of courses in communication theory and research, our graduate students will select from an array of elective courses. Our program emphasizes organizational and corporate communication.
*How do I apply to the MA in Communication program? (And where do I send all the application materials?)
To complete your application, we will need official undergraduate transcripts sent to the Graduate School, along with the completed application form, at least one writing sample, and two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your prospects for success as a graduate student. (The address is The Graduate School, Randolph Hall, Charleston, SC 29424.) Please submit materials by the published deadlines. Click here for more information.
*Do I need to take the GRE to be admitted to the Graduate Program?
That depends. Yes, if you want the MA degree. No, if you want the Certificate in Organizational and Corporate Communication. Students with strong records in other respects who do not meet our minimum GRE standards are welcome to seek admission to the MA program as provisional students, though admission is never guaranteed. Further information about the test location near Charleston is available at this link. The test may be taken in any city or state that the test is offered.
*What type of material should I include in my writing sample, my personal statement, and my letters of recommendation?
For your writing sample, provide any writing that showcases your ability to write clearly and concisely for diverse audiences. You might consider sending a newspaper or magazine article, an essay written for an employee magazine or other organizational publication, a news release, brochure or pamphlet, a speech or any other sample that accurately reflects your writing ability. Although you can also provide academic writing, such as a term paper completed for an undergraduate course, please make sure you submit a relatively brief sample (ten pages or fewer).
For guidance on your personal statement, see http://www.cofc.edu/gradschool/future/personalstate.pdf
For guidance on your letters of recommendation, please note that former mentors or employers can substitute for former professors, although the latter are preferred for applicants who recently received their undergraduate degrees. The letters should identify how well the writers know you and how they evaluate your potential for graduate study. For hints on how to secure a recommendation from a professor, see http://www.cofc.edu/gradschool/future/lettersofrec.pdf
*Who teaches graduate courses? Tell me about the faculty.
All courses are taught by full-time members of the CofC faculty. Our faculty members from the Department of Communication have extensive experience in undergraduate and graduate education, and several have won teaching awards during their careers. The faculty have advanced degrees from such universities as the Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Louisiana State University, the University of Georgia, and Purdue University. Our faculty have published numerous articles in research journals, and several are sole book authors. A number of our faculty members also have local and national consulting experience. Several serve on national editorial boards for top journals, with several being editors of such publications.
*When and where are the graduate courses offered?
All graduate courses are taught in evening sessions, with each class meeting at the Lowcountry Graduate Center, a modern classroom building with ample technological resources, located adjacent to the Charleston airport. During the fall and spring semesters, a typical graduate course will meet one night a week for 15 weeks, followed by a final examination. Summer course opportunities also exist.
*Do I have to start the Graduate Program in the fall?
No. While many students are used to the idea of starting a degree in August or September, you can start the degree at three different times each year. In a typical school year, classes would start in August, January, and May. We admit students throughout the year. See the admissions page of this site for more information.
*How quickly can I earn a graduate degree?
Most students take between 21-24 months to earn a master's degree of this sort. If you plan carefully, have no need for undergraduate preparatory classes, take a full-time student load, and complete all your courses on time, you should be able to complete your master's degree in about 18 months. Throughout your program, you will work closely with your faculty advisor to make sure that you make steady progress toward the completion of your degree.
*Are any graduate courses taught on-line?
Not at the moment. While many professors make extensive use of the Internet in classroom instruction, the faculty believe that the best learning environment for a typical graduate class in communication includes face-to-face interpersonal interaction between students and faculty.
*How much math will I need for the Graduate Program?
While some basic knowledge of statistics will be helpful, we will provide the instruction you need to succeed in courses with a quantitative component.
*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, though we do require that students have the equivalent of 15 undergraduate hours in communication or a related discipline for regular admission. Please contact the Graduate Director 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.
*Will I need to write a master's thesis?
No. The MA degree offers the choice of a comprehensive examination or a master's thesis. The student consults with her or his graduate advisor before making the choice between the thesis and non-thesis options.
*How much does the Graduate Program cost? Is financial aid available?
Check with the Graduate School for current tuition rates, applicable fees, and federal financial aid opportunities. The master's tuition rate at the College of Charleston for this academic year is available here. The Graduate School's Web site also has information about graduate scholarships and assistantships. The Office of Financial Aid can answer questions about financial aid, not surprisingly.
As at every other university in the country, tuition and fee rates are adjusted periodically when our expenses increase. In addition to tuition and fees, you should expect the textbooks and other reading materials in each class to cost about $120; some course books will cost more, while others will cost less.
*When compared to my undergraduate courses, how difficult are graduate classes in Communication?
A preeminent graduate program demands a great deal of hard work and class preparation. Your reading load will increase by a third or more when compared to your more demanding undergraduate courses. The assignments also will ask you to complete more difficult tasks than would a typical undergraduate course. However, if you're considering a College of Charleston graduate education, you must be interested in a challenge!
*How can I take a course or two before I apply, in the event I am not ready to complete the GRE?
Check with the Graduate School about taking courses as a Non-Degree Seeking Student. The requirements are less demanding than for formal admission, and you can transfer the credits to a degree program at a future date, after you apply and are accepted.
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