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II.5 Sample Progress & Progress Benchmarks

The plan below shows one way to complete the MA portion of the program on time. It is illustrative, not prescriptive — the order of electives and the survey course is flexible, and students should build an actual plan with their MA advisor and confirm it with the Student Affairs Manager.

II.5.1 Sample Course Plan — MA/PhD Track

Year 1

Quarter Courses Units
Fall
  • COMM 202 Introduction to Communication Graduate Studies
  • COMM 204A Research Methods in Communication
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 13 units
Winter
  • COMM 204B Introduction to Applied Statistics
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Content elective (out-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 13 units
Spring
  • COMM 200 Communication Theory Construction
  • Survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 9 units

Year 2

Quarter Courses Units
Fall
  • Survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (4 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 8 units
Winter
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (7 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 8 units
Spring
  • COMM 598 Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation (7 units)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 8 units

This plan achieves the total required 44 units. Students enroll in COMM 505 every quarter they are in the program. Students are advised to enroll in 12 units most quarters; 8 units is the minimum for full-time status.

II.5.2 Degree Milestones & Deadlines

Milestone Recommended by Required by Notes
Nominate MA Advisor — Year 1, end of Winter Must inform Student Affairs Manager.
Nominate MA Committee — Year 1, end of Spring Nominated through GradPoint Students.
Defend thesis proposal Year 1, end of Spring Year 2, January 15 Committee needs a minimum of 14 days to review before the meeting.
Coursework requirements Year 2, end of Fall No official deadline Coursework beyond Year 3 Fall cannot transfer to PhD requirements.
Thesis defense Year 2, end of Spring Year 3, November 1 Must inform Student Affairs Manager when scheduled.

II.5.3 Progress Benchmarks

Two deadlines determine academic good standing during the MA:

  • Students are expected to have their thesis proposal approved by their committee by the end of Spring in year 1. A student whose proposal has not been approved by January 15 of year 2 falls out of academic good standing
  • Students are expected to successfully defend the MA thesis by the end of Spring quarter in year 2. A student who has not successfully defended by November 1 of year 3 falls out of academic good standing

Thesis defenses should take place during the academic year; faculty are not expected to be available over the summer. See V.3 Standards of Scholarship for what falling out of good standing entails.

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