MA in Communication and Public Relations
Master of Arts in Communication and Public Relations
The aim of the Masters of Communication and Public Relations Program is to produce effective communication leaders and professionals who are skilled in the application of their expertise, abreast of current trends in communication practice and technology, and mindful of the ethical and cultural sensitivities of communication in a global environment.
The Masters degree in Communication and Public Relations is a 15 month graduate program for communication-related undergraduates and/or current professionals. All courses are taught in English. Each course equals a total of 40 hours spread over two consecutive weekends per month, including Friday evenings. Courses are usually followed by student projects based on/consisting of the application of concepts developed in the course.
Prerequisites
Other than a command of English, there are no specific prerequisites for entry into the program. Students should have an academic or professional background suitable to study advanced communication and public relations.
Division of individual courses
First Section
Consists of 10 in-classroom meetings with a dynamic focus on two levels of interactivity
- Delivery – presentations, case studies, lectures, videotapes, group activities
- Response – short papers, individual/group presentations, and projects
Second Section
Consists of Practicum I
- The practicum is designed to allow students to apply what they have learned to their own jobs or outside organizations. Students are expected to create and complete a project that provides some benefit to the organization. The project is supervised by someone in the organization who reports to the practicum coordinator on the students’ progress.
- Practicum I involves creating a proposal for the project and meeting with the practicum coordinator. The proposal will include a literature review, objectives for the project, indication of research methods, strategies to be used in completing the project, and a timetable. Students will submit proposals in early December. Once the project is approved they will then have the next three months (December, January, and February) in which to complete it. Periodically, students will submit reports about their progress with the project and consult with the practicum coordinator.
Third Section
Consists of Practicum II
- At the completion of the practicum project, students will submit a dossier containing all appropriate materials related to the project. They will also submit a written report, which will serve as the basis for their formal oral presentation of the project to the program coordinator, practicum students, and other students in the graduate program.
Application Procedure
Candidates must complete and return the application form together with the TOEFL for non-native English speakers. Applications should also include: a resume, transcript of bachelor’s degree credits, diploma, and two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a former instructor. Once the admission file is completed, the candidate’s request is sent to the program director. Completed files are examined by the director and admission is on a rolling basis. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a major appropriate for the study of communication. The director also takes into account work experience, either part-time or full-time, to determine the candidate’s eligibility.
Admissions Tests: TOEFL
For non-English speakers, a TOEFL score of 213 or more is required. However, an inferior score is not necessarily eliminatory. The administration reserves the right to use other measures of language efficiency such as individual/group interviews to determine admissibility.
