The department offers both Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis: comprehensive exams or applied project) programs. Candidates must choose between Plan A and Plan B by the end of their second semester of study.

Plan A Procedures

Plan A requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work, at least 27 of which must be in Speech courses numbered 600 and above, including 6 credit hours of SP 700 Thesis Research. Additionally, SP 601 and SP 602 are required. Speech courses numbered 400 to 499 and courses from allied disciplines may be counted toward the degree only with prior consent of the graduate chair. Successful completion of Plan A requires each candidate to present an acceptable thesis and pass a final oral examination based on the thesis.

Plan B Procedures

Plan B requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work in Speech courses numbered 600 and above. Additionally, SP 601 and SP 602 are required. Speech courses numbered 400 to 499 and courses from allied disciplines may be counted toward the degree only with prior consent of the graduate chair. Plan B requires each student either complete an applied research project or pass written comprehensive exams. Plan B candidates must also pass a final oral examination based on either the research project or the comprehensive exams. In either case candidates must select, with the help of the candidate's advisor, two faculty members to serve along with the candidate's advisor as the advisory committee for the student.

Applied Study Option

The applied study option requires the candidate to conduct a study designed to assess the state of affairs or test a problem-solving solution in a local organization. The study is expected to result in a written report which shall be submitted to and reviewed by the candidate's advisory committee. Finally, the candidate will conduct a presentation of research results to the advisory committee and address questions regarding the study.

Comprehensives Option

Candidates who elect to complete comprehensive exams will provide written responses to questions developed by the candidate's advisory committee. All candidates will respond to questions assessing their understanding of communication theory and research. In addition, candidates will respond to questions addressing their particular course of study. Each member of the advisory committee will read and assess the candidate's responses. At least two of the three committee members must accept the candidate's responses in each topic area for the candidate to pass the topic area. Candidates must pass all three topic areas to successfully complete the written comprehensive exams. The entire comprehensive exams may be retaken only once. Individual items may be rewritten no more than two times. Upon passing the written comprehensive exams, the candidate must also pass a final oral exam of the comprehensive exams.

For complete Speech course listings, refer to the General Catalog.

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