Graduate Program
The School of Mass Communications offers cutting edge opportunities for students
to meet the challenges of contemporary mass communication theory and practice through
advanced study leading to the master of arts in mass communications degree. These
applications can be critical in nature, as in the media studies track, or professional,
as in the strategic communication management and multimedia journalism tracks. This
approach is exemplified in the graduate program’s slogan: "Where theory meets
practice." Located in Florida’s largest media market--the Tampa Bay metropolitan
area--the school maintains solid relationships with area professionals in advertising,
journalism, public relations and telecommunications. Students can work and study
in an environment closely aligned with their ultimate career choice, and can tailor
their programs to meet specific academic needs. The master of arts in mass communications
degree requires 39 credit hours, including at least 30 hours of class work, and
successful completion of an integrated comprehensive examination as a prerequisite
to the final academic project. The master’s degree can be earned through one
of three tracks of study.
Media Studies
The media studies track uses a broad approach to study mass media, and classes are
as diverse as mass communication theory, public opinion, research methods, sports
and media, women and media and visual communication. This track provides students
with the widest range of course selections. Students write a thesis as their final
academic requirement. An outside cognate allows students to incorporate topics from
an area of interest in another discipline to their media studies track. This is
the ideal track for students who already have an undergraduate degree in an area
of mass communications and wish to explore how media shape the world and, in turn,
the way the world shapes the media.
Multimedia Journalism
The multimedia journalism track prepares students to take leadership positions in
journalism through their knowledge of the field of mass communications, management
in the media environment and the ability to combine storytelling skills in the areas
of print, broadcast and electronic communication. This track makes use of the media
rich environment of the Tampa Bay area, where media institutions are national leaders
in multimedia journalism. Students have a choice to complete a thesis or an applied
research project as their final academic requirement.
Strategic Communication Management
The strategic communication management track focuses on communication as a management
function in an organization. This perspective integrates public relations, advertising
and marketing communication into a single focus. To ensure that students have a
basic understanding of the field, all students in this track are required to take
an introductory course before moving on to the more advanced courses. Students have
a choice to complete a thesis or an applied research project as their final academic
requirement. Although theoretical in nature the focus is on theory application to
real-world situations. Students have several opportunities to do case study research
in real organizations and work with a real-life client in their campaigns course.
The University and its Students: Founded in 1956, the University
of South Florida is one of the largest metropolitan universities in the United States,
serving more than 44,000 students in 13 colleges and schools on four campuses. USF
offers degree programs in 87 undergraduate disciplines, more than 90 master’s
and specialist’s programs, and 36 doctoral programs, plus the M.D. The faculty
numbers more than 2,000 members.
USF's 1,800-acre main campus is located in Tampa, eight miles northeast of downtown.
Numerous lakes and bays are interspersed throughout the Tampa Bay area, which has
nearly three million residents. The climate is excellent, and recreational and cultural
activities abound.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the School of Mass Communications
graduate program includes:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a grade point
average of 3.0 or better in the last two years (60 hours) or undergraduate work.
Two official transcripts from every institution of higher learning attended must
be included with the application.
- A combined verbal plus quantitative score of 1,000 or above on the Graduate Record
Examination. Scoring well on the verbal portion of the exam is most important because
of the nature of the mass communications program of study. The GRE can be taken
on campus.
- A detailed statement of intent for seeking a master’s degree in mass communications,
including the applicant’s background; the specific track of study in which
the applicant wishes to enroll; the specific mass communications issues in which
the student has an interest; how the applicant’s background prepared him or
her for a particular graduate studies track; and how the applicant will apply the
skills learned in the program upon completion of his or her studies.
- Three supportive letters of recommendation from people familiar with the nature
of the work required of graduate students in the social sciences.
All graduate applicants should be aware that fluency in the English language is
essential for success in the program. International students are required to submit
scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of
550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) is required.
Graduate Assistantships: Graduate assistantship opportunities in
mass communications are highly competitive. Graduate teaching positions are awarded
to applicants who have significant mass media experience (for example, in journalism
writing, broadcast technology, public relations writing and graphics), and graduate
research positions are awarded to students who have high academic potential. To
hold a graduate assistantship, students must be fully admitted to the mass communications
master’s degree program, and must be full-time (nine credits per semester)
to qualify for the tuition waiver that accompanies the assistantship stipend. International
applicants for teaching positions must achieve a minimum score of 50 on the Test
of Spoken English (TSE) to qualify for consideration.
Applicants should submit the following information to the School of Mass Communications
director of graduate studies by March 1 for assistantships in the subsequent Fall
and Spring semesters.
- A resume detailing the applicant’s education and professional work experience.
- A cover letter describing the types of undergraduate classes the applicant is able
to teach, and/or the specific research skills the applicant has mastered.
Correspondence and Information: For more information on the University of South
Florida, visit its Web site: www.usf.edu. Follow the links to the Graduate School
home page for detailed information on graduate study at USF.
To file an application for the master of arts in mass communications graduate program,
use this Web site:
http://facts23.facts.org/admissions/jsp/dageneralinfosfg.jsp.
Return all application materials, including transcripts and application fee, to:
Graduate Program
School of Mass Communications
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, CIS 1040
Tampa, Florida 33620-7800
United States of America
Direct specific questions about the program to:
Kenneth C. Killebrew, director of graduate studies
Telephone: (813) 974-6795
E-mail: kkillebr@cas.usf.edu
Direct specific questions about the status of applications to:
Angela Mason, graduate program assistant
Telephone: (813) 974-9348
E-mail: amason2@cas.usf.edu
|
Deadlines |
Domestic |
International |
|
Fall Admission |
March 15 |
March 1 |
|
Spring Admission |
October 15 |
August 1 |
|
Assistantships |
March 1 |
March 1 |
Mass Communications Course Requirements
Required courses: 39 credit hours
Media Studies Track
- Thesis (six hours arranged with thesis committee chair)
- Mass Communications Electives (12 hours)
- Other Electives (nine hours)
(see Graduate Catalog listings)
Multimedia Journalism Track
- Thesis (six hours arranged with thesis committee chair)
OR
- Applied research project (six hours arranged with project committee chair)
- Mass Communications or other electives (six hours)
Strategic Communication Management Track
- Outside requirement (three hours)
A course in organizational communication, management or leadership
- Thesis (six hours arranged with thesis committee chair)
OR
- Applied research project (six hours arranged with project committee chair)
- Mass Communications or other electives (three hours)