http://www.uh.edu/class/communication/graduate/app-process/index.php

http://www.uh.edu/class/communication/graduate/admission-info/index.php

Successful applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in communication will be required to complete up to 12 hours of undergraduate leveling courses that do NOT count toward their graduate degree. The selection of these courses is somewhat flexible and dictated by the area in which the student intends to concentrate at the graduate level. See “What courses do I take for leveling?”

Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in communication are required to take up to 12 hours of undergraduate courses:

Public Relations: COMM 3368 Principles of Public Relations, COMM 3369 Public Relations Writing (which has a pre-requisite of COMM 2310), and 4368 Public Relations Campaigns.

Mass Communication: COMM 1301 Media and Society, and courses in media studies at the 3000 and 4000-level such as COMM 3372 Gender and Media, COMM 3376 Media Effects, COMM 4372 Media, Power, and Society, COMM 4375 Propaganda, and 4370 Social Aspects of Film.

Speech Communication: COMM 1333 Interpersonal Communication, and courses at the 3000 and 4000-level such as COMM 4337 TV and the Family, COMM 4338 Family in Popular Culture, COMM 4331 Persuasion, COMM 4335 Crisis Communication, COMM 4357 Intercultural Communication and Organizations, COMM 4355 Organizational Communication.

Health Communication: (optional) COMM 3300 Health Communication, COMM 3303 Health Literacy, COMM 3340 Health Campaign Principles & Tailored Messages, COMM 3341 Health Communication.

Concurrent enrollment may be permitted; please be aware that undergraduate courses are very popular and therefore typically close early in the registration process.

Post-baccalaureate status is reserved for those students who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to: a) enroll in their leveling courses while they are awaiting the completion of their application materials or b) enroll in undergraduate courses to raise their GPA. Graduate status is required to enroll in graduate-level courses. If post-baccalaureate students complete graduate courses, there is no guarantee that those courses will eventually be counted as graduate classes. Post-baccalaureate application forms are available in the admissions office at the Welcome Center.

Test administration information is available at www.las.uh.edu/uts or from GRE Student Services (204 SSC, 713 743-5386). There are numerous GRE preparation resources (including sample tests) available in book stores and libraries. The School of Communication requires a competitive score in both verbal and math/quantitative sections of the GRE. The analytical score is not considered.

Graduate students do not have a degree plan. It is expected that the individual student, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and their professors, will select the courses that best suit the completion of their degree objectives. All students must complete the two required courses: COMM 6300 Research Methods and COMM 6302 Communication Theory. See “Degree Requirements” http://www.uh.edu/class/communication/graduate/degree-requirements/index.php

All students must complete the two required courses: COMM 6300 Research Methods and COMM 6302 Communication Theory. COMM 6300 Research Methods is only offered in the spring semester; COMM 6302 Communication Theory is only offered in the fall semester. Concurrent enrollment is permitted in other course work. COMM 6305 Qualitative Research Methods is strongly recommended for all graduate students. It is taught in the fall semester only.

Upon acceptance into the graduate program, the Graduate Director will serve as the student’s advisor. The Graduate Director will suggest courses to take in the first semester based upon the student’s stated interests, as well as provide a list of faculty who study areas related to the student’s interest. It is a good idea to discuss as soon as you can your research, career goals, and concerns about the program with professors whose interests are similar to your interests.

Students will then need to decide whether they want to choose thesis or comprehensive exam option. It is the student’s responsibility to find an advisor for either option.

Students choosing the thesis option should begin as early as possible in their academic program to identify a research topic and a professor to serve as chair in directing their thesis. The students need to file a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies after the completion of 12 hours indicating their intention to choose the option.

For student pursuing the comprehensive exam option, they need to turn in to the Graduate Direct the “Advisor Selection” form by the end of first semester. That form will formally state who the student wishes to serve as his or her advisor.

It is expected that in each course you will select a topic of interest for the research paper produced in that course. For example, if you are interested in the effect of media violence on children, you could research relevant theories and research on that topic in COMM 6300 Research Methods, COMM 6302 Communication Theory, or in any of the media studies courses.

SStudents may enroll in one special problem courses with an individual professor. A special problems course is 3 credit hours. The appropriate section number is available each semester from the professor who will direct the study or from the graduate assistant. The student must complete a general petition form outlining the nature of the independent study, the product to be produced and evaluated, and how often student and professor will meet throughout the semester. After the professor signs the general petition form, the student needs to submit it to the Director of Graduate Studies. General petition forms are available in 101 Comm. Bldg. or from Erika in Theatre - 133.

We do not offer graduate courses in the summer. You may however choose to work on special problems courses with a faculty member or taking classes outside the dept (both with prior approval) and/or getting approval for a 4000-level course. Special problems courses are for unique areas of study (not part of regular curriculum) identified by the student and agreed to by the professor and are not automatically available based on request. Check with your cooperating instructor about the Special Problems course criteria and well before the start of a semester.

You may take up to 6 hours of graduate courses outside of the Valenti School of Communication. It is anticipated that the student will make a choice that best fits with their academic goals; for example, a public relations student may find courses in business management beneficial to them. Students must submit a general petition form requesting that the course be counted toward their graduate degree, prior to enrolling in the course. General petition forms are available in 101 Comm. Bldg. or from Erika in Theatre - 133.

Graduate students may take one 3 credit hour, 4000-level undergraduate course that is not one of their leveling courses, that may count toward their graduate degree. Students in these courses are expected to work out an arrangement with the professor to include a research component for the course. Students should complete a general petition form requesting that the 4000-level course be counted toward their graduate degree, and submit the petition prior to enrolling in the course. The completion of a petition does not guarantee acceptance. General petition forms are available in 101 Comm. Bldg. or Erika - 133 Theatre and are submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Thesis students must complete 24 course hours (8 courses) in addition to the 6 hours of thesis credits (total 30 hours). Students may enroll for thesis credit for more than one semester; however, students must be enrolled for 6 hours of thesis credit during the semester in which they intend to graduate. A thesis grade is conferred only upon the completion of the thesis. Theses “in progress” are given the grade of in progress [IP] for each semester until it is completed; grades of incomplete are not available for theses in progress.

Comprehensive exam students must complete 33 course hours (11 courses) in addition to the 3 hours comprehensive exam credits (total 36 hours). Students must have completed, or be very near to completing 33 of their course hours before becoming eligible to enroll in comprehensive exams. The student is limited to one course in addition to registering for comprehensive exams (total six hours).

Students should begin as early as possible in their academic program to identify a research topic and a professor to serve as chair in directing their thesis. The student then discuss with the chair and select committee members. The Thesis Committee must contain at least three members--the chair, one member representing an outside field (outside the School of Communication), and another member selected from the student's area of concentration (inside the School of Communication). The student must consult with each member to determine that she/he will serve on the committee.

The student then works on the thesis prospectus (typically the first three chapters of the thesis). The content of the prospectus should ordinarily include the title page, chapter one (Introduction) that details the context and significance of the study, chapter two (Literature Review or Conceptualization) that reviews and integrates relevant literature as well as proposes research questions and/or hypotheses, chapter three (Methodology) that details the research methods to be used, references, and appendices (interview protocol, survey questionnaire, solicitation letter, informed consent form etc.). The student then defends the prospectus before their committee.

Once the prospectus has been successfully defended and the signed copy is in the student’s file, the student may complete the remainder of the thesis, i.e., data collection, data analysis, thesis write-up, and schedule a final thesis defense. If a thesis involves the collection of data, the study must be approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects before any data collection can occur. The title page of the final thesis is a formal document that must be signed by each member of the committee and a copy placed in the student's file. (Guidelines for completing the thesis can be obtained from the graduate administrative assistant or the office of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, 402 Agnes Hall, http://www.uh.edu/class/students/graduate/thesis-dissertation-info/index.php

Students should note the deadline for submission of completed theses to the dean’s office (http://www.uh.edu/class/students/graduate/thesis-dissertation-info/index.php) and schedule their defense date accordingly. As a professional courtesy, the thesis prospectus and the completed thesis are required to be delivered to committee members at least one week prior to defense dates (two weeks prior is preferred). Thesis students are encouraged to examine bound theses completed by former SOC graduate students located on the 3rd floor of the M.D. Anderson Library. A form with instructions on how to prepare the thesis (margins, paper type, fonts, etc.) is available in 101 COMM or from the CLASS dean’s office (402 AH).

The meetings dealing with the Thesis Prospectus and Thesis Defense should be open, and the time, date and venue may be advertised beforehand to encourage graduate faculty and especially graduate students to attend.

The responsibility for selecting the thesis topic and completing the thesis in a timely manner rests solely with the student.

There are two course numbers for thesis hours: COMM 6399 and COMM 7399. Section numbers for each are available each semester from the professor chairing the thesis committee. Each professor is given individual section numbers each semester that are not published due to space restrictions. Students must register in BOTH courses the semester in which they intend to graduate.

Advisory Committee

Upon acceptance into the graduate program, the Graduate Director will serve as the student’s advisor. The Graduate Director will suggest courses to take in the first semester based upon the student’s stated interests, as well as provide a list of faculty who study areas related to the student’s interest.

By the end of the first semester, the student is to turn in to the Graduate Direct the “Advisor Selection” form. That form will formally state who the student wishes to serve as his or her advisor. That advisor will be responsible for suggesting courses to be taken from that point forward. The student has the option to change advisors at any point up until the final semester when he or she registers for the comprehensive exams.

Before the student registers for comprehensive exams, he or she must select a three-member Advisory Committee that will be responsible for administering the final exam and granting approval for the degree. It is expected that the student have some sort of relationship established with the faculty committee members, such as having completed coursework with each. Of the three committee members, two have to be from the primary area of specialization and one has to be from the secondary area. Also, at least two of the members of the committee must be from the Valenti School of Communication and it is acceptable for all three members to come from within the School of Communication. It is also permitted for the graduate director to serve on the committee, although this is not required. The graduate director may also serve on the committee if the student is unable to find a third member of the committee. Once the committee is determined, the student completes the “Comprehensive Exam Committee” form and gives it to the Graduate Director.

Comprehensive Examination

Students must pass a comprehensive written examination, administered by the Advisory Committee. The exam consists of written questions related to core coursework as well as written questions related to major and minor areas of specialization.

General Procedures

Comprehensive exams are taken after the completion of all coursework, including completion of all incompletes. Exams cannot be scheduled until grades of incomplete are removed from the student’s transcript. Students should coordinate written exam dates with their Committee members first. The students should then contact the Graduate Director to let him or her know of the exam schedule. Faculty committee members must submit exam questions to the student’s advisor electronically at least two weeks prior to the exam.

Primary responsibility for formulating the content boundaries and procedures for the examination resides with the committee members. However, it expected that each student will be asked a total of six questions, two of which come from each committee member. It is also expected that there should be one question that directly addresses communication theory as well as a question that addresses research methods. Additionally, two questions should be directed toward the primary area of study (one general and one specific) and two questions should be directed toward the secondary area of study (one general and one specific). It is ultimately up to the committee members to decide who should ask what questions.

Students and committee members should also discuss expectations prior to the exam. Specifically, they should discuss the procedures to be followed before, during, and after the examination as well as preparation strategies for each question.

Exam procedures are established by the committee in consultation with the student. Exams will usually be take-home, open-book exams. Responses to open-book and take-home exams are expected to be detailed, substantial, and comprehensive in scope. Although the ultimate decision rests with the committee, it is expected that under normal circumstances, the procedure for the comprehensive exams will be:

• By the beginning of the exam semester, the student will have met with each member of the committee to discuss the parameters of the comprehensive exam questions.
• The student will determine what is to be studied based upon the meetings with the committee members.
• It is up to individual committee members how specific his or her guidance will be, but it is expected that the faculty will provide general questions that will help the student organize his or her knowledge and studying around specific content areas.
• Each committee member will submit two questions to be asked. The questions should be coordinated among the committee members so that there is not excessive overlap.
• The timing of the exam is to be worked out between the student and his or her advisor. It is expected that the exam typically fall in the second half of the semester, either in October or early November for the fall, or in March or early April in the spring.
• The student will have one week from the designated start time to complete all responses.
• The student’s responses will be emailed back to his or her advisor. Following the completion of the comprehensive exam:
• Within one business day from the completion of the exam, the student’s advisor forwards the student’s exam responses to all members of the committee.
• Within one week of receiving the student’s responses, each committee member submits a grade (pass/fail) to the advisor.
• All committee members must agree that the student passes in order for the student to graduate.
• The advisor then notifies the student as to whether he or she passed.

If the student fails one or more of the written exams, he or she must retake that portion (i.e., the failed portion(s)) of the exam the following semester.

Should the student fail any sections of the exam, the student has the option to change committee members for the failed section(s) at the discretion of the thesis advisor.

Students must obtain the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies before proceeding to take the comprehensive exam. The Director must be informed of the student's intention to take the exam in the semester prior to taking the exam. The student must list all courses taken and indicate whether all prerequisites, if any, have been fulfilled. Approval will be based on the prospect that the student has already completed at least 33 of the 36 hours of coursework required for completion of the degree and that the student has taken five courses in the area of concentration and three courses in the auxiliary field. The area of concentration must be selected from one of the following: Speech Communication (i.e., Interpersonal Communication/Organizational Communication), Health Communication Studies, Mass Communication Studies, or Public Relations Studies. The auxiliary field must be selected from one of the remaining options.

Students must register for COMM 6398: Comprehensive Examination during the semester they take the comprehensive exam. The course will be graded Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U), and will comprise the last 3 required hours of coursework.