Accelerated MA in Communication

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MA-ACEL-COM

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Bachelor's Degree (any)/Communication, Accelerated MA

Overview

Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MA in Communication in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 141 credits.

See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees for policies related to this program.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits.

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

Students already admitted to the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
  • Minimum grade of B in each advanced standing course
  • Completed at least one approved undergraduate Methods course COMM 400, COMM 490/COMM 491, or another methods course approved by the COMM BAM director.
  • Successfully meeting Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:

Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits with a minimum grade of B in each)

COMM 600 Introduction to Graduate Studies 3
COMM 602 Theories and Research of Mass Communication 3
COMM 605 Intercultural Communication 3
COMM 615 Political Communication 3
COMM 620 Health Communication 3
COMM 630 Theories of Public Relations 3
COMM 632 Persuasion Theory 3
COMM 634 Theories of Interpersonal Communication 3
COMM 635 Organizational Communication 3
COMM 636 Communication Consulting 3
COMM 637 Risk Communication 3
COMM 639 Science Communication 3
COMM 640 Controversies in Science Communication 3
COMM 641 Advanced Communication Skills for STEM 3
COMM 642 Science and the Public 3
COMM 644 Analysis and Criticism of Science Journalism 3
COMM 653 Graduate Seminar in Instructional Communication 3
COMM 660 Climate Change and Sustainability Communication Campaigns 3
COMM 670 Social Marketing 3
COMM 690 Special Topics in Communication 3

Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program

All courses listed above as advanced standing can be used for reserve graduate credit.

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees.