Research Proposal

All MA candidates must present a research proposal to their advisory committee prior to beginning a research project.

Project Timetable

After the proposal has been approved, you will submit a timetable for completing the project to your advisor. The timetable should reflect whatever milestones are deemed reasonable by the advisor (i.e. data collection, literature review, first draft, etc.). All Plan I or II projects may not be defended within four months of the proposal being approved by the student’s committee.

• All Plan I thesis projects must be submitted in their final form according to the timetables set forth by the UAB Graduate School. The Graduate School must approve your thesis before you can graduate.
• All Plan II projects must be submitted for final committee approval at least one month before the end of the semester in which you graduate.

Defense of Final Project

All Plan I thesis projects need to be approved by a majority on your Advisory Committee after an oral defense of the final project. A Defense of Thesis will be scheduled and advertised by your academic advisor. The defense will be open to departmental graduate students and interested UAB Faculty. After the defense, the committee may elect to:

• Accept the thesis as is, at which point you apply for your degree.
• Conditionally accept the thesis contingent upon certain changes being made to it. Once the changes have been approved you apply for your degree.
• Reject the thesis. You may resubmit a new proposal and begin a second project. If your second thesis is also rejected, your status as a graduate student in the department will be terminated.

Once the thesis is accepted you must prepare the final document according to the standards of the UAB Graduate School. You may then apply for your degree.

Note: Plan II (non-thesis) defenses do not require a formal oral defense of the project, but the advisor and committee members may accept your final work with the same options of the thesis defense.

The Master of Arts in Communication Management requires successful completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate work, with a grade of B or higher in all classes; completion of a comprehensive examination; and completion of a Plan I or II research project.

Specifically, the MA requires:

• Completion of 36 hours of graduate classes with the following restrictions:
  • Up to 6 hours may be taken outside of the department, with prior approval of your advisor and the Department’s Graduate Director.
  • 6 hours of Thesis Research (CM 699) if you choose the Plan I thesis option.
  • Up to 6 hours of Qualitative Communication Research (CM 696) if you choose the Plan II non-thesis option. (Please note that Plan II students are not required to take any project hours and may fulfill their hour requirement through coursework alone.)
  • Your committee and the Graduate Advisor must approve all programs of study.
  • All nontraditional classes, (i.e., Internships, Independent studies, Directed Studies) may only be taken if you have completed 24 graduate hours or more, are in good standing, and have prior written approval of your advisor, the faculty member directing the project, the Graduate Director, and the Department Chair.
• Successful completion of a comprehensive qualifying exam on your coursework and research interests.
• Successful completion of a Plan I or II proposal defense.
• Successful completion of a Plan I or II research project. You will receive 6 hours of credit for a Plan I Thesis (CM 699), or up to 6 hours of credit for a Plan II project (CM 698).
• Timely observance of all graduate school requirements, including application to candidacy, application for degree, and requirements for the final format of your Plan I thesis.

Application to Candidacy

Once you have decided upon an academic advisor, you will work together to identify members of your advisory committee. With their help, you will propose a program objective. The Advisory Committee then designs a written exam that reflects your coursework and research objectives. Departmental committee members will submit questions; outside members may (but are not required to) submit questions. Your advisor will then administer the written exam and the Advisory Committee will evaluate it.

The Advisory Committee may make one of the following evaluations:

• You pass and are admitted to MA candidacy.
• You do not successfully pass the examination but are given a conditional pass providing that you provide further work that demonstrates your abilities and knowledge. This may include taking further coursework. This option is used if the committee does not feel that your abilities were accurately demonstrated on the test.
• You do not successfully pass the examination and must retake all or part of the exam. This option is used when it is clear that you are ill prepared to be admitted to candidacy. If you do not pass a second attempt, your status as a graduate student in the department will be terminated.

Once a student has been admitted to Candidacy, then they may begin working on their final Plan I or II research project.

Research Project

Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

All applications for graduate study at UAB must be initiated with the UAB Graduate School, not the department.

Application Deadlines

Fall admission: August 1
Spring admission: December 1
Summer admission: May 1

Note: Your application is considered complete once you have completed your portion of the application and paid your application fee. You may have outstanding checklist items out of your control (transcripts and letter of recommendation) but those need to be received in a timely fashion.

Application Information

What Are We Looking For?

The department selects graduate students from among applicants who have:

• Sufficient breadth of undergraduate training within and outside the field of communication and an overall average of 3.0 GPA or better (on a 4.0 scale). Students with major areas other than communication are encouraged to apply but may be asked to take specific undergraduate or graduate courses to provide needed background. Applicants with an overall GPA lower than 3.0 may be accepted on probationary status with the approval of the Department’s Graduate Director and the UAB Graduate School.
• The Department welcomes applications from qualified foreign nations. International students wishing to enroll as graduate students should consult with the UAB Graduate School for a checklist of material and applications needed.

Non-Degree Students

Applicants may enroll as non-degree students with incomplete admissions materials. After completing no more than 12 hours of graduate study, you may be evaluated for admission to the degree program. No one may take more than 12 hours of graduate classes as a non-degree student. For more information contact the graduate program director.

Non-degree students must have the block on their files removed before they can register for any classes. To do this you must contact the instructor of the class you want to take with the following information:

• your Blazer ID
• your student number
• a return e-mail address
• the class you wish to register for

Your instructor will contact you as soon as the block has been removed.

Research Project

Graduate Resources

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One of the best things about UAB is its amazing diversity of its students — we are one of the topmost diverse campuses in the United States. We want you to have every opportunity to succeed in your coursework and college life. Here are some easy tips for you to follow:

• Visit the UAB International Student and Scholar Services website. They have all sorts of forms, guides, and helpful links to make your life easier.
• Don’t be shy. Let your instructors know that English is your second language.
• Meet regularly with your professors. They are experts and can help!
• Visit the UAB English Language Institute. They will give you assistance with both oral and written English.
• Visit the UAB Writing Center. They have tutors and instructional workshops.
• Consider Graduate School classes for professional development.
• Make friends with fellow graduate students and work in your campus office.
• Frustrated and out of options? UAB counselors are there for you.

We invite you to explore all of the programs and services offered to international students. International Student and Scholar Services will be able to advise you about how to apply and who to contact for information. Please visit their website, or send general questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

And remember — you are not alone! There are other international students/non-native English speakers in graduate programs across campus.

The Department of Communication Studies is one of the top programs in the country. Our graduate faculty have records that equal or far surpass those of faculty within most Ph.D. programs. When you become a Master’s student in our program at UAB, you have the chance to work directly with, and learn from, several of the top communication researchers in the world. And you'll be in an environment that encourages close collaboration, and in which you receive the focal attention of the faculty. Whether your goal advancing in your current career with an advanced degree or to continue on to a Ph.D. program; whether you are an international or domestic student; our graduate program will help optimize your future success.

Our Master of Arts (MA) degree in Communication Management is specifically targeted at professionals in communication-related fields and students seeking an advanced degree in communication. As a student in our program, you’ll explore practical and theoretical applications in a variety of challenging real-world communication contexts. Our classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends to make them easier to fit into your already-busy schedule.

We also offer coursework and a program of study specifically for students seeking a career as an academic communication scholar. We prepare students for success in top Ph.D. programs by providing top-notch instruction in theory and research by faculty who have taught in top Ph.D. programs, by getting students actively involved in research, and by providing supervised teaching experience. A limited number of graduate teaching assistantships are available.

Contact Us

Feel free to contact the Graduate Director with any question you may have regarding our program.

Research Project

Graduate Resources

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