Course Requirements

CURRICULUM

The core curriculum offers grounding in science, theory, and policy of communications. Elective courses address all forms of media, from print to television and the Internet. Subject areas range from political and health communication to business and non-profit communication. Within this varied curriculum, students work with an advisor to design a course of study that best suits their needs.

Students must take a total of 10 courses
- Research and writing methods
- At least two core courses
- Six elective courses
- Thesis course
All students must complete a thesis. Graduation is subject to completion of the thesis course and approval of the thesis by the thesis committee. Students who do not finish their thesis in one semester must register for Thesis Continuation for every subsequent semester (including summer) until they complete their degree. Students may not take a leave of absence while on thesis continuation.

Course Requirements

Core Courses (select a minimum of two)*

*Students may not earn a C in a core course or required course. If you earn a C in a core or required course you must either repeat the course or take another core course to count toward your degree.

*Students who have taken The Social Psychology of Persuasion have the option of treating this course as either a core or a course that counts toward the political communication concentration. It can not be counted toward both. Persuasion Theory and Research does not count toward any concentration. Students can not take both Persuasion Theory and Research and The Social Psychology of Persuasion.

Electives (select six)

Students may take electives in any area regardless of concentration. Students may take up to two communication courses in other Johns Hopkins University departments subject to the approval of the associate program chair.

CONCENTRATIONS

Four Concentrations are Currently Offered.

All students earn an MA in Communication in Contemporary Society. In addition, they may identify a concentration in one or occasionally two of the below fields. A concentration requires at least four of the courses in an area. Students may take electives in any area regardless of concentration. Students do not need to specify a concentration.

Note: The concentrations listed below are available to all new students. Students enrolled prior to the spring 2005 semester may refer to previous concentration offerings.

Note: Current students can check which archived courses count for which concentration.

Concentration in Public and Media Relations

Concentration in Political Communication

Concentration in Health Communication

Concentration in Digital Technologies

Concentration in Corporate and Non-Profit Communication

For a complete listing of courses see the Course Descriptions page.
For a current list of course offered this semester see the Current Schedule.
For a list of our faculty see the Highlight on Faculty page.