Graduate
Programs
USF Graduate Students at the 2023 Org Com Mini-Conference
M.A. Requirements
Find detailed M.A. Requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
M.A. Overview
36 total credit hours required.
Core Requirements (6 credit hours):
COM 6001 Histories and Theories of Communication (3 credit hours) - This course must be taken the first time it is offered after the student is admitted to the graduate program (Fall semester).
COM 7325, Qualitative Methods or COM 7325, Critical Methods or COM 7325, Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)
Electives (24 credit hours):
24* credit hours of elective coursework, 6 hours of which may consist of a course or courses from other departments within this or other universities (pending advisor approval).
Select: Thesis or Non-Thesis
Thesis:
Students who choose the Thesis option will enroll in SPC 6971, Thesis Hours (6 credit hours minimum), as well as write and successfully defend a thesis.
Non-Thesis:
Non-Thesis students must pass both written and oral comprehensive examinations.
*Students who choose the Non-Thesis option will take another 6 hours of graduate level electives, which may consist of graduate courses from other departments. Advisor approval is required.
Ph.D. Requirements
Find detailed Doctoral Requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
PH.D. OVERVIEW
51 total credit hours (45 course credit hours plus 6 credit hours minimum of doctoral dissertation work) required beyond the M.A. degree.
Core Requirements (6 credit hours):
COM 6001, Histories and Theories of Communication (3 credit hours)
COM 7325, Qualitative Methods or COM 7325, Critical Methods or COM 7325, Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)
Additional Requirements (45 credit hours):
6 credit hours of research tools related to area of dissertation (advisor approval required)
6 credit hours in courses from other departments within this or other universities (advisor approval required)
27 credit hours of elective coursework in Communication.
6 credit hours of Dissertation hours