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CMT Graduate College - Prospective Students
Application Process for the Graduate Program in CMT
Please be sure to read all information on the
Graduate College website, University Catalog and the Department of
Communication, Media and Theater website.
Students must fulfill the minimum requirements
for admission to the Graduate College (2.75 overall GPA, 3.00 in major)
before application materials will be forwarded to the CMT graduate
committee.
The following requirements are specific to the
Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, in addition to the
requirements of the Graduate College:
- Applicants to the CMT graduate program are required
to have completed 15 undergraduate credit hours (a minimum of 9 upper
division credit hours) in Communication, Media and Theater with a 3.0
GPA. Upper division credit hours are defined as 300-level or above.
- A sample of written work must be included in your
application file. For example, a research paper, Honors thesis,
creative essay, etc.
- Three letters of reference that address your
ability to excel in graduate school in general and more specifically
in the Department of Communication, Media and Theater.
- If you are an NEIU alum, you will need to include
at least one letter of reference from a CMT tenure track faculty
member and/or CMT advisor addressing your level of academic
achievement and ability to excel at the graduate level.
- Phone or face to face interview with the graduate
advisor or designee.
- Admission to the program will be deferred until all
requirements are satisfied.
- Students at large will only be authorized to enroll
in graduate-level courses (300 or 400) with approval of the CMT
graduate advisor.
- Final admission decisions rest solely with the CMT
graduate committee
Program Overview
Students are admitted each Fall and are required to
enroll in COMM 401:Introduction to Graduate Study and COMM 404:
Communication Theory during their first semester. To be awarded the M.A.
degree, you must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours. The CMT graduate
program is designed to acquaint you with further, in-depth study in the
areas of: communication, media and theater. If you wish to pursue the
program on a full-time basis (9 hours per semester), please be aware that
courses are offered on a rotational basis. Be prepared to adjust your
schedule to accommodate the overall pattern of classes.
Required Courses:
- Mandatory foundation course: 6 cr.
- CMT COMM - 401
Introduction to Graduate Study
- CMT COMM - 404
Communication Theory
- One of the following theory courses: 3 cr.
- CMT COMM - 414
Organizational Communication Theory
- CMT M D I A
- 465 Mass Communication Theory
- CMT TH E A - 430 Dramatic Theory
- Remaining (7) electives: 21 cr.
Can be selected from 400-level courses in
Communication, Media and Theatre or 300-level courses approved for
graduate credit.
Total: 30 cr.
Non-thesis / Thesis option: To meet the
goals of our program and needs of our students, we offer two options for
completing a Master's degree in CMT. These options should be discussed with
the graduate advisor after achieving Candidacy.
Non-thesis professional report: Candidates choosing
this option must place in the department library one exemplary professional
report (i.e. case study, research prospectus, critical essay, etc.). This
paper must be completed in a 400-level course and should exhibit your best
attempt at scholarly writing. For a paper to be considered as a non-thesis
professional report, the department requires a minimum
of: 25 double-spaced pages, along with a minimum of 15 sources. However,
most professors have their own requirements that exceed the department
minimum. Do not assume that you may complete a research report in any
graduate level course offered. Ask your professor, in the beginning of the
semester, if you may attempt to write a professional report for that
particular class. If you can, then find out if they have any additional
requirements that go above and beyond the department minimum. Revisions are
a standard part of the research and writing process.
Comprehensive Exams: After
completing a minimum of 27 semester hours toward the MA, degree candidates
must pass a written examination, offered twice a year. A student who fails
any part of the examination may take that part a second time. Students must
petition the Graduate Committee in writing for permission to take any
portion of the exam for a third and final time. Additional course work may
be required before such permission is granted.
Thesis: A scholarly
thesis is open to degree candidates, and may be written in place of two
400-level electives. This option is subject to departmental approval. The
student, in consultation with a thesis advisor and the Graduate
Coordinator, will submit a thesis proposal that must be approved before
they can register for the Thesis Seminar CMT 499. Students
completing the thesis option will give an oral defense of their thesis
before a departmental committee prior to filing the project with the
Graduate College.
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Important Deadlines
Note
- Applications for Fall 2009 admission must be received by the Graduate
College no later than February
29, 2009
Graduate College Open House
Spring, March 5, 2009
Information
Admission Requirements (Printable )
Merit Tuition Award Form
New Perspective Fellows SocietyPlease contact Alice Pennamon
for more information regarding this Society.
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