The MA Program

The Department of Communication provides opportunities for advanced study in both theoretical and applied communication. The Department emphasizes the analysis and design of messages and symbol systems and the consequences of particular message strategies in face-to-face interaction, mediated interaction, organizations, and political life. Areas of study include interpersonal and intercultural communication, organizational communication, and political communication. The Department also focuses on information technology and health communication within the aforementioned contexts.

The MA program is designed to meet the educational needs of two sets of students: those who wish to advance to a Ph.D. program and those who intend to apply the MA degree in non-academic or two-year college settings. Students with applied career interests are encouraged to use theories and research learned in the classroom within practical settings. Students may fulfill the requirements for the Masters degree either by completing an internship practicum or by working closely with a faculty member in conducting research for a thesis.

Students work closely with faculty members in three communication subfields:

Interpersonal and intercutural communication
Involves the process and effects of communication in personal relationships, groups and organizations, and underst the influence of different cultural and social backgrounds, including health care contexts.
Organizational communication
Considers the role of messages in achieving coordination and cooperation within organizations and their social and economic environments, though both personal channels and new technologies.
Political communication
Involves methods of stating and defending policy, assessing and responding to public opinion, and exchanging information and decision-making between political figures and their publics. The uses of new technologies in political contexts are featured.

For more information about the program and faculty contact the Director of Graduate Studies.

Director of Graduate Studies
Professor Anita Pomerantz
apom@albany.edu
518 442-4874

The Faculty

The faculty consists of well-established scholars and professional disciplinary leaders capable of providing education steeped in experience. Several members are involved in funded research projects in the areas of information technology in community networking, doctor-patient interaction, health information campaigns, and information integration for government performance.

Financial Aid

Each year approximately 10-12 graduate students receive graduate assistantships. Most funded students assist in teaching courses; occasionally they assist on research projects. International applicants must receive a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based total) or 250 (computer-based total) to be considered for funding. The deadline for applying for graduate assistantships is February 20th. For more information on student financial aid, see the university's Student Financial Aid website.