Master of Arts Degree
The Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Long Beach offers a Master of Arts degree. The Option in Speech Communication involves advanced work in communication studies. A student may construct a personalized program that draws from the following areas: rhetorical, interpersonal, organizational, or intercultural communication, performance studies, forensics, or instructional communication.
Prerequisites and Requirements
General Considerations
1. Requirements
A. All requirements date from the time at which a student receives approval for Advancement to Candidacy, not from when a student begins graduate study.
B. The Department requires a minimum of thirty semester hours (including four thesis credits in the Thesis Option) for the Master’s Degree. The University requires a minimum of twenty-four graduate credits be completed in residence.
C. Students must either pass the Department’s comprehensive examination or write an acceptable thesis.
D. The Department expects its graduate students to possess the writing skills necessary for advanced study. The University mandates that students pass the Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination or its equivalent. Persons who have passed the CSULB University Writing Examination do not need to take the test again. If you believe you have taken an equivalent examination, consult the Graduate Advisor. Students should pass an acceptable writing examination no later than the end of the first semester of graduate study.
2. Prerequisites
A. Units obtained fulfilling prerequisites or deficiencies do not count toward the minimum of thirty semester hours needed to complete the Master's degree.
B. Students must meet all prerequisites before enrolling in graduate courses, except for COMM 541 or 546. Individuals may petition for waiver of this rule prior to registering for courses if compelling reasons warrant such a waiver.
3. Students must comply with all University regulations outlined in the CSULB Catalog.
