BA/MA Program in Communication

Exceptional Communication majors interested in obtaining a Master of Arts in Communication in conjunction with their Bachelor of Arts can earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe through the five-year BA/MA program. This program allows qualified undergraduate majors to take graduate level courses during their senior year and complete remaining requirements for the Master’s degree during a fifth year of study. Graduate courses taken during the senior year count toward both undergraduate degree requirements as well the course requirements for the graduate program. With completion of all undergraduate requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree at the end of their fourth year of study and then continue in the graduate program.

Admission Criteria for BA/MA Program

Near the completion of their Junior year, qualified Communication majors will be informed of the BA/MA program in Communication and invited to apply to the accelerated dual degree program. To be eligible, these students must have:

• A Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• A GPA in the major of at least 3.2
• Completed at least 18 credits in Communication by the end of the junior year including:
• COM 1000 - Surv of Communication Studies
• COM 1100 - Public Speaking
• COM 1200 - Intro to COM Research
• Two (2) COM 2000 theory courses
• One (1) Advanced Research Course (COM 4001 or COM 4002)

Curriculum

Students who are admitted into the BA/MA program will be allowed to enroll in three (3) 3-credit graduate communication courses in their senior year and the 1-credit Orientation to Graduate Study in Communication. The required courses are as follows:

• COM 8008 - Orientation:Grad Study Comm
• COM 8100 - Strategic Communication Theory
• One (1) course in research methodology (COM 8001 or COM 8002)

Students may take one(1) additional elective communication course at the graduate level.

These graduate communication courses will count toward both their BA and their MA in Communication. No more than three graduate courses plus the Orientation may be treated in this fashion. This allows students the chance begin an earlier focus in their chosen track of either Media and Culture Communication or Strategic Communication. Students interested in obtaining an undergraduate specialization in the major must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Specialization Coordinator about counting graduate coursework toward specialization requirements.

The remaining required graduate courses (23 graduate credits minimum) can be taken in the summer after the Senior year and in the fifth year of the combined program. Finally, like students in the regular MA program, students in the BA/MA track must successfully complete either a written comprehensive examination or a 6-cr master’s thesis. This is usually scheduled after 21 credits of coursework are completed. Students in the BA/MA program will be advised by the Director of Graduate Studies in Communication throughout their senior year as well as in the fifth year of the program.

Typical Schedule

While BA/MA students have a range of course combinations they can pursue, the following is a typical scenario:

Program Requirements

Students in the BA/MA track must maintain strong academic performance in all their coursework. As seniors, students must earn a “B” or higher each graduate course. Once a student in the BA/MA program acquires formal graduate standing (after year four), his/her GPA in graduate courses must meet the specified minimum of 3.0.

Application Process

Interested students who meet the above criteria must submit the following to the Graduate Studies in Communication Office by May 1 of the Junior year:

• The first three pages of the graduate application found at:
  http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/assets/documents/graduate/artsappl.pdf
• Official transcripts documenting your courses.
• Writing sample that demonstrates a student’s potential for success in the program.
• A personal statement describing your career goals and reasons for pursuing a master's degree.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty assessing your potential for success in the BA/MA program. Letter forms may be obtained from the application to graduate studies.
• The GRE is waived for the BA/MA program.

The admission process will be competitive and acceptance into the program is not automatic. It is anticipated that a maximum of 5 - 6 students will be admitted to the BA/MA program each year.