Elective requirements include multiple options: context and
processes area courses, internship, independent study, practicum,
Summer and Winter Session elective courses, and coursework in other
graduate programs at Rutgers.
Context and Processes Areas
Students are required to complete 15 credits of elective coursework.
Substantive courses that extend coverage within core courses are
offered through three context and processes areas of study:
- communication studies (17:194:540 through 17:194:579)
- knowledge management (17:194:580 through 17:194:589)
- media studies (17:194:590 through 17:194: 599)
Courses in the communication studies area are offered by faculty in
the communication department; courses in the knowledge management area
are offered by the library and information science department; and
courses in the media studies area are offered by the journalism and
media studies department. Courses across these three areas reflect
current scholarly interests of faculty within each area of study, with
most courses designated as special topics.
The communication studies area includes course offerings organized into four sub-areas:
- advanced organizational communication (17: 194:540 through 17:194:549)
- mediated communication (17:194:550 through 17:194:559)
- communication and health (17:194:560 through 17:194:569)
- social interaction (17:194:570 through 17: 194:579)
Internship
The program offers four internship opportunities. These include:
- M.C.I.S. Fellow Internship I, II, III (17: 194:520,521,522)
Required of students awarded M.C.I.S. Fellowships each term of their
fellowship for up to three terms or 9 credits.
- M.C.I.S. Teaching Internship I, II (17:194: 523,524) M.C.I.S.
students interested in careers in college teaching should consider
applying for the M.C.I.S. Teaching Internship. Two teaching internships
are available each term and include an award of $750 and may be renewed
once, for a total of 6 credits.
- Elective Internship I, II (17:194:525,526) and Intensive
Internship (17:194:527) Admitted students who lack relevant work
experience are strongly encouraged to take at least one 3-credit
Elective Internship or M.C.I.S. Teaching Internship or the 6-credit
Intensive Internship.
Students are restricted to 6 credits of internship in fulfilling
their elective course requirements, with the exception of M.C.I.S.
Fellows who may apply 9 credits of internship in fulfilling their
elective course requirements.
Independent Study
Independent Study (17:194:530,531,532,533,534)
Practicum
Practicum (17:194:535,536,537,538,539)
Summer and Winter Session Electives
The M.C.I.S. program offers Summer and Winter
Session elective courses. These include topics courses that focus on
relevant current issues or problems confronting organizations and
individuals such as identity, globalization, and risk, and also
occasional skills-based courses.
Coursework in Other Graduate Programs
Elective course requirements also may be satisfied
through graduate level coursework in other programs at Rutgers. Courses
must be relevant to a student`s career goals and have the approval of
the M.C.I.S. director.