Masters of Arts

Applied Communication Studies

The Master of Arts in Applied Communication Studies provides graduate students with a solid theoretical and practical understanding of how communication practices operate in everyday life. Through this study, students learn to develop communicative skills that are necessary to function effectively in all areas of today's business and professional world. The primay objective of the program is to guide students in the application of communication theory to a variety of interpersonal, institutional, public and organizational contexts. Our curriculum fosters a strong knowledge base grounded in communication theory and its various applications, such as management, consulting, human resources, training, organization development, relational communication, health care, education, and public relations. An undergraduate background in speech is helpful, but not required.

Tracks

The program is divided into two tracks, which are designed to provide options for students with differing goals. Each track maintains an applied focus and students are expected to complete their course work, comprehensive exams, and final project in two years. Opportunites for students interested in preparation for a doctoriate after completing their master’s are available as well.

The Professional Communication track is geared toward students seeking to enhance their communication skills and improve their ability to positively influence internal and external communication in organizations. First year core course in theory and research lay a foundation for understanding and improving communication processes in a variety of settings.

The Health Communication track includes the same first year core courses as the Professional Communication track, but in the second year, students venture into electives offered jointly by UALR and UAMS to prepare health professionals to meet the needs of current jobs in health related fields.

Students interested in pursuing doctorial work may complete either of the above tracks. We encourage to revise and submit major course papers to professional conferences and journals. Students with an interest in doctoriate work thus gain a solid foundation in applied communciation research and theorymay conduct research in that area and benefit from the personal attention of faculty devoted to preparing them for the next step in their education.

Admission Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 (4.0 scale) or 3.0 in the last 60 hours Score of at least 1,000 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination's or 400 on the Miller Analogies Test
• Two letters of recommendation (send to program coordinator)
• 18 speech communication hours or Speech 7390 (a preparatory three-hour summer course)
• Admission materials for the Fall of each year are due in the Graduate School by April 1, but applications are accepted until all slots are filled.
• Contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Gerald Driskill, 569-3158 if you want to be considered for early or late admission.

Admission materials are due in the Graduate School by April 1

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. Contact the program coordinator for information. Application forms are available through the graduate school. Deadline for application is March 15 or until qualified students are found for available positions.

Graduation Requirements (for both tracks)

• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on an approved program of study
• Successful completion and defense of master’s paper, internship paper, or thesis
• Successful completion of the comprehensive exam

Program Requirements

Professional Communication Track: The program is offered in the evening and course work can be completed in two calendar years. In this track, students are required to take 33 credit hours which includes twenty-four core hours (8 courses) plus six electives (2 courses) and a final project (3 hours). The twenty-four hour core (8 courses) begins at the start of the fall semester and must be completed in sequence. Two courses (6 hours) of electives are offered during summer semesters, but students seeking to take additional hours during the Fall or Spring may elect to take electives offered during the day or during special weekend (5 week) courses. The final project (Speech 8301 Master's Research Paper) grows from first year course work and students are guided to complete this project during their second year. Students may also elect to complete a project growing from an internship within a professional setting (Speech 8300 Internship or SPCH 8304/8604 Cooperative Education).

Professional Track: Example Two Year Plan

• Fall - First Year
  • SPCH 7301 Human Communication Theory
  • SPCH 7321 Organizational Communication Theory
• Spring - First Year
  • SPCH 7322 Communication Cultures and Context
  • SPCH 7332 Communication Assessment and Consulting
• Summer - First Year 3 Hour Elective: e.g, 5311; 5312; 5313; 5324; 5350; 7311; 7312, 7324
• Fall - Second Year
• SPCH 7341 Organizational Communication Applications
• SPCH 7302 Interpersonal Communication: Theory and Context
• Spring - Second Year
  • SPCH 7351 Managerial Communication
  • SPCH 7323 Conflict
• Summer - Second Year
  • 3 Hour Elective:: e.g, 5311; 5312; 5313; 5324; 5350; 7311; 7312, 7324

Total credit hours for MA in Applied Communication 33

Health Communication Track

Health communication is a field of study that uses communication theory to prepare health professionals to meet the needs of current jobs in health related fields. This track will be offered jointly by UALR and UAMS. The health communication track requires students to complete 15 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of electives plus a three hour master’s project.

• SPCH 7301 Communication Theory
• SPCH 7321 Organizational Communication
• SPCH 7302 Health Communications/Interpersonal Communication
• SPCH 7311 Communication Assessment
• SPCH 5550 Risk and Crisis Communication

• PBHL 5653 Theories of Health Behavior and Health Education
• PBHL 5783 Health and Mass Communication
• PBHL 7023 Health Administration
• Health/PR Campaigns
• Health Communication and Technology

• SPCH 7301 Human Communication Theory
• SPCH 7321 Organizational Communication Theory

• SPCH 7311 Communication Assessment
• SPCH 7302 Health Communication/Interpersonal Communication or SPCH 5550 Risk and Crises Communication

• SPCH 5550 Risk and Crisis Communication

• Health/PR Campaigns
• PBHL 5653 Theories of Health Behavior and Health Education

• PBHL 5783 Health Communication and Mass Communication
• PBHL 7023 Health Administration

• Health Communication and Technology
• A final project is also required. The term during which this requirement is fulfilled should be determined by the student and his/her advisor.

• Cumulative gpa of at least 3.0 on an approved program of study as outlined above
• Successful completion and defense of internship, master's paper, or thesis
• Successful completion of the comprehensive exam

Courses in Applied Communication

Prerequisite: SPCH 1300, 4300. This course addresses the applied role of communication research methods in a variety of contemporary organizations. Topics include the research process, both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, as well as questions of research ethics. The focus is on identifying the practical applications of research methods for organizational members.

Prerequisite: SPCH 1300, or consent of the instructor. This course examines organizational communication theories, communicative implications of historical and modern management theories, as well as special interest topics. Major topics include cultural and critical approaches to organizational communication, classical management and human relations theory, and communication effectiveness. Special topics may include teams in organizations, diversity, organizational politics, leadership, and change. The focus is on applying organizational communication theories and concepts to understand others better and to control one's own communication in organizations.

Prerequisite: SPCH 1300. This course examines culture as it influences human interaction in a wide range of contexts, including work, medical, interpersonal, and political. Topics include culture shock, language, nonverbal, intercultural conflict, and culture and the media. The focus is on using communication theories and concepts, as well as in-class activities to develop a heightened awareness of intercultural issues, as well as intercultural communication competence.

Prerequisite: SPCH 1300. This course investigates timely communication theories, skills, and practices. Topics may be selected from a variety of theoretical or practical perspectives. The focus is on an in-depth treatment of a content area not typically represented in other courses in the major. This course may be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: SPCH 5311. This seminar addresses special topics in organizational communication such as organizational identification, risk and issue management, organizational change, or critical approaches to organizational communication. The focus is giving students an in-depth understanding of a specialized aspect of organizational communication. Three credit hours.

This course investigates and analyzes instances of effective and ineffective crisis communication. Students will examine the internal organizational processes and the larger environment within which various organizations exist focusing on issues such as stakeholders, legal environments, and the larger social and cultural contexts. Three credit hours.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing, consent of instructor. (For non-Applied Communication graduate students.) Concepts of human interaction as a basis for developing interpersonal communication skills; framework for personal growth in one-to-one interaction, small group dynamics, or leadership roles.

Basic theoretical approaches to human communication; includes symbolic interactionism, systems, rules, linguistics, relational, rhetorical theories.

Topics vary; chosen for interest, needs of current class; may include in-depth study of topics from earlier courses. Offered on demand.

Systems study of small group formation, maintenance, performance; special attention to problem solving in groups.

Intercultural factors influencing human interaction; how cultures, subcultures interact verbally, nonverbally; how communication patterns are inherently culturally determined.

Topics vary; chosen for interest, needs of current class; may include in-depth study of topics from earlier courses. Offered on demand.

Theoretic overview of organizational communication; includes communication flow, networks, organizational relationships, groups, conflict, language.

How communication contributes to overall organizational culture, productivity, and satisfaction.

An introduction to conflict dynamics with an emphasis on communication intervention skills; covers different frames for analyzing conflict analysis tools, opportunities for conflict self-assessment, and skill-building in difficult conversations.

Examination of the nature of conflict and presentation of theories and techniques of negotiation as a method of resolving or managing conflict. Students will analyze cases of negotiation at many levels, such as buying and selling, contracts, group decision making, plea bargaining, international treaties, and organizational creation. Emphasis is on solving problems through negotiation. Consideration of the role of third parties.

Methods used to assess communication behavior in organizations, prepare intervention techniques, evaluate communication effectiveness.

Prerequisite: 15 program hours Role of applied behavioral research methods in developing effective communication in organizations; focus on use of organization development theories to change the way people in organizations communicate.

Communication skills needed by supervisors, managers; focus on conflict management, interview skills (selection, performance appraisal, discipline, information gathering); includes theory, research, applied projects.

Development, delivery of a training project; student prepares and presents an intervention for a specific organizational communication problem.

Prerequisite: Program admission or consent of instructor. (Prerequisite course for entering students with fewer than 18 undergraduate speech hours; does not count toward degree requirements.) Speech communication theories, terminology; program writing, speaking responsibilities; emphasis on research skills necessary for the field.

Urban-related practical job experience; students apply theoretical knowledge, develop interpersonal and organizational communication skills, meet regularly to share experiences, write a paper related to experiences.

Students apply theoretical knowledge to an action research project, dealing with the identification of a need in an interpersonal, institutional, public, or organizational context and the implementation and evaluation of an intervention to meet that need.

Job experience through application of theories, develop interpersonal and organizational communication skills, meet with faculty advisor and complete a major paper reflecting on experiences in light of communication theory. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent and by advisor.

Prerequisite: successful completion of written comprehensive examinations. Preparation of an appropriate original investigation demonstrating knowledge and methods of scholarship.

The department is eager to answer questions and/or to provide more information upon request. Please call Dr. Gerald Driskill, the graduate program coordinator, at (501) 569-8385 or e-mail at gwdriskill@ualr.edu with any questions or to request additional information.

Graduate Alumni

Follow this link to see comments from some graduates of the program.