Program Requirements | Research/Teaching | Funding | Alumni/Graduates

What is the average time to graduate?
Two years for Masters degrees and four years for Ph.D

Can I get an M.A. in one year?
No.

How do I complete my degree (i.e. comps, thesis/dissertation)?
Masters Program
A written comprehensive examination over communication theory, methodology, and the student's area of emphasis is required; and a thesis, which is an account of original research, and an oral examination in defense of the thesis.
Doctoral Program
Comprehensive Exams:Upon completion of course work and before the formal approval of the dissertation proposal, the student is examined in the relevant area of concentration and research methods.  The examination consists of both written and oral components designed to test the student's interdisciplinary in the field and chosen area of concentration and the student's readiness to undertake interdisciplinary dissertation research.  The examination is conducted by the student's supervisory committee.
Admission to Candidacy: After the student has passed both the written and oral portions of the comprehensive examination and the student's dissertation topic has been approved, the student may apply to the Graduate College for admission to candidacy.  No dissertation hours (COM 799) may be taken before admission to candidacy, but six hours of research (COM 792)may be taken before admission to candidacy.  Students must enroll for 12 hours of research (COM 792)/dissertation (COM 799) credit following the semester in which they are advanced to candidacy.
Dissertation Proposal: Before conducting research for the dissertation, each student must submit a dissertation proposal that is defended orally and approved by the student's dissertation committee.
Research and Dissertation: The dissertation consists of a fully documented written analysis of a problem that extends the knowledge and/or theoretical framework of the field and reflects the student's creativity and competence in independent, interdisciplinary research using an appropriate research methodology.
Final Examinations: An oral examination in defense of the dissertation, conducted by the dissertation committee, is required.

Can I take graduate courses online?
At this time, we have no graduate courses online.

What seminars are offered?
Graduate programs in the Hugh Downs School offer a wide variety of innovative special-topics seminars as well as basic seminars in each of our five emphasis areas. Recent special-topics seminars include:
A Discourse Perspective on Relational Communication
The Communicative Constitution of Organizations: Structuration and other Theories
Facilitating Group Problem Solving
Communication and Information Technology
Emotion in Organizations
Kenneth Burke and Dramatism
Critical Communication Studies
Performance Theory
Rhetoric and the Public Sphere
The Dark Side of Communication

When are classes offered?
Typically, graduate level seminars and courses are offered in the late afternoon after 3:00 pm and in the evening time slots.

Can students be in multiple specialty areas?
Yes, we encourage this.

What is the Ph.D. residency requirement (i.e. minimum semesters on campus)?
The minimum residence requirement for graduate degrees is two consecutive semesters with full-time status subsequent to admission to the program. It is expected that students will be available during the period of residency so that they can be present on campus and interact with faculty and fellow students during normal hours of instruction. 

How flexible are degree requirements regarding outside classes?
Since we are an interdisciplinary degree, we encourage students to take courses outside of the School.

Are statistics courses required for the Ph.D.?
All applicants should be knowledgeable in the basic principles of both qualitative and quantitative methods of research, social statistics, and communication theory.  If course work in these areas has not been completed, admitted students are required to successfully complete COM 501 Research Methods in Communication, COM 504 Theories and Models in Communication, and a relevant graduate-level statistics course (plus any other courses stipulated by the admissions committee) before enrolling in the required theory and methodology sequence. 

What are the rules and policies on transfer credit?
A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit taken at other institutions, or at ASU as a non-degree student, may be transferred to the master's or doctoral program in the Hugh Downs School, and may replace elective courses only.

How competitive are the classes regarding grades?
The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication encourages a cooperative environment.