Catalog Navigator : Dual-B.A./M.C.M. Program

Dual-B.A./M.C.M. Program

Undergraduate communication majors may apply for the master of communication and media (M.C.M.) program during the junior or senior year. Benefits of this five-year dual-degree program include:

If accepted, students can plan a course of study that allows taking up to four M.C.M. courses and count them toward the 300/400 communication major requirements. These courses must be taken in the fall or spring semesters only.
Students then pay undergraduate tuition rates for those four M.C.M. courses.
Once a student's undergraduate degree requirements are completed, students graduate with their bachelor's degree and will then be considered graduate students in the M.C.M. program.
The M.C.M. master's degree may be completed within a few semesters through full-time study or at a slower pace while working full time. The M.C.M. degree may also be completed in the evenings.

Preparing to Enter the Dual-Degree Program

Communication majors hoping to participate in the dual-degree B.A./M.C.M. program should plan to have completed the six required courses and one upper -level elective for the major by the end of the junior year:

04:189:101 Introduction to Communication and Information Processes
Either 04:189:102 Introduction to Media or 04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics
04:192:200 Communication Theory
04:192:201 Communication in Relationships
04:192:300 Communication Research
One of: 04:192:354 Communication and Technology or 04:192:355 Interpersonal Communication or 04:192:357 Organizational Communication or 04:192:359 Persuasive Communication
One elective course at the 04:192:300 or 04:192:400 level

Please note that a student may apply to the B.A./M.C.M. dual-degree program before completing these requirements.

Applying to the Program

During the junior year or early senior year, students apply to the M.C.M. program through Graduate Admissions.
Be sure to submit all the materials listed under "Admissions" below through the Graduate Admissions website, which includes a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Exam scores, and Rutgers transcripts. Learn more about the Graduate Record Exam at https://www.ets.org/gre.
Apply at any time during the year. Once all application materials are complete, an application will be reviewed for acceptance.
Remember that students do not have to complete the list of courses above to submit an application to the dual-degree program. That list includes the courses that must be completed before a student can enroll in M.C.M. courses.
The M.C.M. program is selective in accepting students. To enhance the chances of being accepted, ask for letters of recommendation from professors in the Department of Communication.

After Admission

Students will be advised by the M.C.M. director about their progress in the M.C.M. program.
Students cannot enroll in any M.C.M. courses until completing 04:192:300 Communication Research.
Once eligible to enroll in graduate classes, students may take up to two M.C.M. courses per semester. If a student has completed all undergraduate major requirements, one M.C.M. course per semester may be taken.
Up to four M.C.M. courses will double-count in satisfying upper-division (300/400 level) communication elective requirements and M.C.M. requirements
Fall semester courses available in the M.C.M. include:

17:194:510 Communication and Society
17:194:511 Organizational Communication
17:194:512 Mediated Communication
17:194:530 Independent Study

Spring semester courses available in the M.C.M. include:

17:194:511 Organizational Communication
17:194:517 Media Studies: Theory and Practice

Students can enroll in any M.C.M. elective that is not cross-listed with a Ph.D. course

It may be possible to enroll in a 400-level undergraduate course and earn master's credit for it. In such cases, the instructor will ask students to complete additional work beyond that required of the undergraduate students in the course.

Important Differences Between Graduate and Undergraduate Courses

Master's-level work is graduate work. This means that students will be learning in ways that are different from undergraduate work. Students will be asked to do more reading than in typical undergraduate courses; read faster; and come ready for thorough discussions of the readings in class. There will be advanced study of theory and reading of original research pieces.
Classes will include working professionals as well as master's-level students who are a year or two ahead. M.C.M. students come from around the region, the country, and outside the United States. An important benefit of the program is exposure to the real-life working examples and experiences of the other students.
Master's-level courses require students to apply learning and develop points of view above and beyond that of typical undergraduate coursework. There will be few, if any, exams; students will be assessed on participation in class discussions, short papers, presentations, and lengthier project papers.
Students will be invited to participate in academic events and presentations as part of the learning experience.
Students will be a part of the MCM Graduate Student Association and invited to social events, networking events, and presentations.
Graduate courses usually meet once per week. It is essential for students to attend every class meeting.
Participation in discussion is a very important part of learning and is usually assessed in graduate courses as a major portion of a grade.
Classes do meet during finals week for presentations and other activities.
Graduate courses can stretch students in new ways. Students should expect to be challenged.

Grading in the Dual-Degree Program

Grades that can be awarded for graduate courses are: A, B+, B, C+, C, F; or pass/no credit in some designated experiences. There is no D in the graduate grading rubric.
Grades in graduate school are very different than in undergraduate programs in the sense that most graduate students earn A's and B's in their coursework. A C+ or C grade is considered a "red flag" and can result in probation.
The standards for achieving an A or a B in a graduate course, even as a dual-degree student, are likely to be slightly more demanding than for an undergraduate course.
Grades earned in the dual-degree program are factored into a student's GPA the same as undergraduate grades.
Graduate students focus more on the learning than on the points and grades. A transition into graduate work means it is important to start thinking in these terms. How can the material be mastered? How can more useful insight into the topic/readings be gained? What can be done to enhance the ability to apply the theory and research being read? These are important questions and should dominate a student's thinking in terms of the evaluation of performance in the class.

Substituting Undergraduate Major Courses for M.C.M. Courses of the Same/Similar Topic

Up to four M.C.M. courses listed above can be taken, as well as any M.C.M. elective course not cross-listed with Ph.D. courses, once students are admitted to the M.C.M. However, the content of a master's-level course will be more advanced than the undergraduate course with the same name at the 300 or 400 level. It may be beneficial to have an introduction to course material at the 300 or 400 level and then take the M.C.M. course covering the same topic.
Once admitted to the M.C.M. program, students should visit with the M.C.M. director to seek advice about courses to take that may complement a student's background.
It is not wise to plan junior year courses around the assumption that admission to the M.C.M. program is imminent. Students should move through junior year completing all major requirements. Then, if admitted to the M.C.M. program, students can plan future coursework.

M.C.M. Contacts

M.C.M. program director Dr. Richard Doo l is the first point of contact for questions.
An undergraduate communication adviser can provide the best advice about completing undergraduate degree requirements.