Catalog Home > Graduate Catalog > The College of Arts and Sciences > Culture and Communication

Culture and Communication

About the Program

Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits
Doctor of Philosophy: 90.0 (Post-Bachelor's) or 45.0 (Post-Master's) quarter credits

Drexel offers two graduate programs:

The MS in Communication, with a hands-on approach, prepares students for careers in technical communication, science communication, and public communication.

The PhD in Communication, Culture and Media, having a more scholarly orientation, is designed to develop innovative scholar-teachers who know how to impart theories and studies on the interaction of social forces and communication. The program is designed to train socially committed researchers in quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication study.

Additional Information

Visit the Department of Culture and Communication website for more information.

Admission Requirements

MS in Communication

Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate studies. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 must provide scores from the Graduate Record Examination. Prospective students must also submit with their applications a 1,500-word statement explaining why they want to enter the program. The program's screening committee carefully reads the essays to evaluate each applicant’s writing skills and sense of purpose.

The program accommodates students from various backgrounds. For students without appropriate prior work experience, the program features a 6-month internship. For students applying with appropriate work experience, the internship requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Department's Graduate Committee.

PhD in Culture, Communication and Media

Applicants will be evaluated by the Department's Graduate Committee for admission to the program. Prospective students must submit with their application:

a 1,500 word statement of purpose
three letters of recommendation
transcripts of all college-level coursework
GRE scores
for international students where English is not the official language, TOEFL or other English language proficiency scores are also required. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, view the International Students Admissions Information page.

Minimum criteria include:

Completion of a BA or BS degree in an appropriate field
GPA of 3.0 or higher (preferred GPA 3.5 for courses in the major)
For international students, a TOEFL score of 700 (100 iBT) or equivalent.

Students entering the program with a Master’s degree or with some graduate credit will be evaluated by the Graduate Committee as to how many of their courses could possibly be counted toward the PhD.

Students entering with an MS in an appropriate field are required by the university to take a minimum of 15 credit hours in the PhD program before being eligible to take qualifying exams.

For additional information on how to apply to either of these programs, visit the Drexel University Requirements for Admissions page.

Master of Science in Communication

Drexel’s Master of Science in Communication prepares students for careers in a wide range of professional activities. The program specializes in three areas: technical communication, science communication, and public communication. Technical communication is for those seeking employment as technical writers, computer documentation specialists, and training specialists. Science communication has much to offer those who aspire to medical, science, and pharmaceutical writing. A concentration in public communication leads to careers in journalism and public relations. In addition, the program provides a strong foundation in theoretical approaches to communication. This theoretical basis is designed to ensure that, as the field changes, students will continue to have an intellectual framework for evaluating and implementing new technology and changing media.

Students can attend full time or part time, they can begin the program in any academic quarter, and they can complete all coursework in the evening. The program emphasizes flexibility, encouraging each student, in consultation with a faculty advisor to fashion a particular course of study.

The program accommodates students from widely varying educational backgrounds: Many have backgrounds in science and mathematics; an equal number come from humanities-related areas. Some students pursue their degrees while already at work at demanding jobs.

Requirements

The MS degree requires 45.0 credits of coursework, a professional portfolio of three to five items developed by the student, and six months of internship for those who lack significant experience in communication related fields.

Portfolio

As a final graduation requirement, each student must submit a professional exit portfolio. Based on coursework and professional assignments, the portfolio undergoes a rigorous process of review by faculty members and by a professional outside the university.

Internship

An internship is required and may be completed at any time during the student's tenure at Drexel. Students who need professional experience consult with their advisors and the program director to develop a suitable internship. Normally, this placement begins after the student has completed at least half the required coursework. Students who already have the equivalent of six months of professional experience or who gain the equivalent by working part time during their course of study can request exemption from this requirement.

Curriculum

Students may use electives to increase communication skills, to broaden theoretical backgrounds, or to develop areas of specialization. Any appropriate graduate course offered in the University can serve as an elective if the student has sufficient background to take the course. In addition, the program offers its own elective courses including special topics (COM 690). Qualified students may also pursue independent study for elective credit in special cases.

Core Courses
COM 500	Reading & Res Communication	3.0
COM 610	Theories of Communication and Persuasion	3.0
Concentrations		39.0
Technical Communication
COM 510	Technical Writing
COM 570	Technical and Science Editing
COM 612	Ethics for Science and Technical Communication
COM 620	Message Design and Evaluation
COM 630	Software Documentation
Electives
Science Communication
COM 520	Science Writing
COM 570	Technical and Science Editing
COM 612	Ethics for Science and Technical Communication
COM 620	Message Design and Evaluation
COM 670	Medical Writing
Electives
Public Communication
COM 613	Ethics for Public Communication
COM 635	Electronic Publishing
COM 650	Telecommunications Policy in the Information Age
COM 660	Investigative Journalism
COM 680	Public Relations Writing and Strategies
Electives
Total Credits		45.0

PhD in Communication, Culture and Media

The PhD requires a minimum of 90.0 credits beyond a Bachelor’s degree, including 45.0 credit hours of coursework prior to taking qualifying exams, 15.0 credit hours of coursework after exams, and 30.0 hours of research credits.

The PhD coursework is structured around a set of required core courses, a set of required seminars with rotating topics, and electives in graduate communication lecture courses, independent study work, and dissertation credit.

All students in the program take five common core courses. They then take no less than five courses chosen from the Culture and Communications (COM) seminar offerings. Students are encouraged to take additional seminars after meeting that requirement, since seminar courses enable collaborative relationships with professors and introduce students to the scholarly community.

After completing the core requirements and a sequence of seminars, students are expected to take a minimum of 10 additional courses from existing graduate level lecture courses (depending on their interests and research needs). Students may take up to two graduate courses (six credits) outside the department. Additional credits to meet the 90.0 credit requirements will come from independent study and dissertation credits.

Student advising will include appointments with both graduate director and an assigned mentor during the first two weeks of fall courses, where an individualized plan of study (University form D1) will be completed and approved by the program director.

Core Courses
COM 701	Contemporary Social Theory	3.0
COM 702	Communication Theory I	3.0
COM 703	Communication Theory II	3.0
COM 704	Research Methods in Communication	3.0
COM 705	Data Analysis in Communication	3.0
Seminars
Students select 15 credits from the five categories of seminars ^*
COM 801	Seminar in Contemporary Theory	3.0
COM 802	Seminar in Discourse and Semiotics	3.0
COM 803	Seminar in Structural and Cultural Dynamics	3.0
COM 804	Seminar in Research Methodology	3.0
COM 805	Seminar in Communication Ethics	3.0
Communication Lecture Electives		30.0
Ten courses are required, for a total of 30.0 credit hours of electives. These may be chosen from COM 500 to 800 level courses, including 800 level seminars that are a different topic from earlier courses taken.
Dissertation Credits/Additional Electives ^**		30.0
COM 799	Independent Project in Technical and Science Communications
For the dissertation, students work with a principal advisor, one of the Culture and Communication Department faculty, and no less than two additional faculty from within the department. Students must find one additional outside reader, and students may bring in up to two outside readers.
Total Credits		90.0

There are five categories of seminar: one in which students learn advanced work and influences on a specific theorist or theoretical school; one in which students learn about theories of language, discourse and the sign; one that teaches the paradigm of structural dynamics central to social sciences theory and research; one in which students study a research methods approach; and one that deals with approaches to research ethics. Students must take a seminar in each area (COM 801, COM 802, COM 803, COM 804, COM 805). Seminars can be repeated, with a maximum of three courses taken in each area, as long as the subject covered is different each time.

Students may take up to two graduate-level courses outside of the Department of Culture and Communication.

Qualifying Examinations

After students have completed 45.0 credits, which will usually be at the end of their 6th term, they will be required to take a qualifying examination. The qualifying exam will be offered at the end of June will be composed of three parts, theory, methods and a content area. Students will be given the grade of fail, pass or high pass on the exam. A grade of pass in all three sections of the exam will be required to qualify for the PhD Students who do not pass one out of three sections of the exam on the first attempt may retake the section that they failed one time to qualify for the PhD If they do not pass the second time they take the failed section of the exam they will be dismissed from the program. When a student passes all three sections of the exam, the proper paperwork will be filed with the university graduate office and they will be advanced to candidacy.

Dissertation Defense

Students should defend the dissertation and graduate towards the end of their fifth or sixth year, during either the spring or summer quarters.

Visit the Department of Culture and Communication website for more information.

Courses

COM 500 Reading & Res Communication 3.0 Credits

Introduces graduate study in the communication program. Presents issues and concepts for this course and other graduate courses. Focuses on issues such as reading complex texts, both theoretical and research-oriented. Also introduces the range of fields in professional communication.