Like most graduate degrees, the MAPC degree includes coursework but also additional requirements that allow students to synthesize the course material and other knowledge. To earn the MAPC degree, you:
Take the core courses. All MAPC students take five core courses: English 850 (Research Methods), English 851 (Professional Writing), English 852 (Rhetorical Theory), English 853 (Visual Communication), and English 856 (Workplace Communication).
Take elective courses in a speciality area. You take three courses if you choose the thesis option or four courses if you choose the project option. (Thesis and project options are described below.) Your faculty advisor, assigned by the program director based on your interests, will help you select courses that meet your goals.
Pass the oral exam. The oral exam tests your understanding of the MAPC reading list. You take this exam after finishing your coursework.
Complete and defend a thesis or project. A thesis reports the results of original research. A project involves producing a communication deliverable for a client. Consult our list of past theses and projects for examples. Students who complete a thesis take six credit hours of English 891 (Masters Thesis Research). Those who complete a project take English 892 (Masters Project). Near the end of your first year, you will select three faculty to serve on your thesis or project committee. These faculty will guide you through the oral exam and thesis/project process.
Present the thesis or project to the faculty and students. MAPC theses and projects are archived in the MAPC Thesis/Project Library.
Demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign language. Most students take a foreign language reading exam in the summer between the first and second year. Preparation classes are available.
For more information about academic requirements, consult the MAPC handbook. You may also consult the typical timelines for completion of the degree.