Admission Requirements

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in communication (with at least a good second-class standing) or an equivalent degree in an interdisciplinary or humanities program, in one of the social sciences, or in socially oriented information systems, or biological sciences. However, qualified students will be accepted only if the communication graduate studies committee finds a suitable thesis supervisor. Besides applications from communication students, the school encourages applications from those with experience in humanities, social or biological sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.

All applications should be directed to the Graduate Program Coordinator and, in addition to meeting general university requirements, should include the following:

• An application form (available on line – http://www.sfu.ca/gradstudents/applicants/index.html) along with the $75 (Cdn) application fee.
• A 3-5 page succinct statement of interests and goals, together with an account of relevant academic and personal background.
• Two samples of scholarly and/or other written work (e.g. upper division term papers) relevant to the applicant’s objectives and any tapes or films, etc. which may be relevant.
• All official post secondary transcripts in sealed envelopes.
• Three References, at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

The application deadline is December 15. This means that all documentation for the application must be received by this deadline. Students will normally be expected to enter the program in the fall semester of the year they apply. When you apply on-line, you will receive an application no. which you can use to log on and review your status. Please note, all submissions become the property of the School of Communication. If you wish to have research papers, videos, etc. returned to you, please include a self addressed envelope. Successful applicants will be contacted before the last week of April.

The School recognizes the special needs of working individuals who wish to upgrade their qualifications. The graduate program in communication has been approved for part time students; however, University regulations require all MA students to complete their studies with 12 full time equivalent semesters or six years, whichever is shorter.

As a condition of entry into the program, students with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than communication may be required to take up to two additional courses to complete their MA. These conditions, if applicable, will be specified in the letter of offer as determined by the admissions committee on an individual basis.

Advising and Supervision

Each new student is assigned an interim advisor upon program admission. The student selects a senior supervisor and in consultation with this faculty member selects one or two other faculty to serve on a supervisory committee by the beginning of the student’s third semester. Although the graduate studies committee (GSC) will endeavor to provide interim advisors with expertise in the student’s stated area of research interest, there is no obligation to select the interim advisor as senior supervisor.

Degree Requirements

The program may be completed through extended essay, or project or thesis. Each is equivalent. Each requires the completion of the same number of courses, is research based and is subject to external examination. Students determine which option is suitable for their research in consultation with their senior supervisor and supervisory committee.

The thesis represents a longer form of research and is normally between 80 to 100 pages, inclusive of all bibliographies and appendices.

The extended essays requires completion of two essays of not more than 40 pages, which may be on related fields, but which may not substantively duplicate papers presented in course work.

The project does not involve a printed work but the student may present an alternative format such as a CD-ROM, website, video or audio documentary, on-line software development, or other technologically based formats.

All thesis and essay options will be bound and deposited in the University library. Procedures for the supervision and examination of extended essays and projects are the same as those for theses:

All master’s students present, discuss and defend their MA thesis, project and essay options in an exam before their supervisory committee and external examiner as required by graduate regulation 1.9.

Extensive guidelines for each option are found on the School of Communication’s graduate website: http://www.cmns.sfu.ca/ma-guidelines/

Supervision

Graduate degree candidates will have an annual formal review of their academic progress by the graduate studies committee.

Formal review

Graduate degree candidates will have an annual formal review of their academic progress by the graduate studies committee.

Graduate courses are organized into six groups. Group 1 contains survey courses that define and map the field in addition to exposing students to faculty interests and research programs. Group 2 contains courses in research methods and methodology that help students with research projects in the field. Group 3 contains courses in various research areas that are available in the school. In Group 4 courses, students do field work or work and study in a professional setting. In Group 5 courses students carry out research and/or reading under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Group 6 refers to the course designations for work on theses, projects, extended essays, or dissertations in process, for colloquia where students present such work, and for comprehensive examinations.

Course Work

At least four courses at the graduate level (normally completed before beginning a thesis, a project, or two extended essays) which must include the following, unless otherwise stipulated as a condition for admission.

• One course from Group 1
• One course from Group 2
• Two additional courses at least one of which is to be selected from within the School. No more than one may be taken with the same instructor, except by permission of the graduate studies committee
• An original thesis or
• An original project which, because of content or method, does not conform to the usual definition of a thesis;

or

• Extended essays: at least two extended essays in the form of research papers to be submitted and defended orally. These papers will be bound and deposited in the University Library. Procedures used in the supervision and examination of extended essays are the same as those used for theses.

Group 1 Courses: Surveys of History and Theory

CMNS 800-5, 802-5, 804-5

Group 2 Courses: Research Design and Methods

CMNS 801-5, 805-5

Group 3 Courses: Research Area Courses

CMNS 815-5, 830-5, 840-5, 845-5, 855-5, 856-5, 859-5

Group 4 Courses: Research Internship and Fieldwork

CMNS 881-5, 882-5

Group 5 Courses: Directed Readings and Studies

CMNS 850-5, 851-5, 880-5

Group 6 Courses: Colloquia, Theses and Comprehensives

CMNS 860-2, 895, 898, 899

Co-operative Master’s Option

In the fall of 1998, the School of Communication introduced a cooperative education option on a trial basis for master’s students. This program combines professional work experience with academic studies. After the first two semesters of the program, students may alternate work and academic terms. All work positions are in paid study related jobs and may lead to the communications project or extended essay in lieu of a master’s thesis. Application for the coop program is made through the school’s coop coordinator and the Cooperative Education office.