The Master of Science with a major in communication and information is intended for students who desire careers related to a variety of communication, information, or media fields, and those who seek a deeper understanding of the role of communication and information in organizations, media, and society. Both thesis and project options are available. See catalog listings for the School of Advertising and Public Relations, School of Communication Studies, and the School of Journalism and Electronic Media for information about concentrations and the courses offered.
Concentrations (Required) and Options Available
Advertising — Thesis Option, Project Option
Advertising and Public Relations — Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
Communication Studies — Thesis Option, Project Option
Journalism and Electronic Media — Project Option
Journalism And Electronic Media Four Plus One — Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
Public Relations — Thesis Option, Project Option
Strategic and Digital Communication (see Distance Education Programs)
Campus Code
Knoxville Campus
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into the master’s program. Students lacking academic or professional experience may be required to take prerequisite courses. The following are normally minimal requirements for admission to full potential candidate status.
- A 3.00 (4.00 system) grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate studies.
- The submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is optional for MS applicants.
- Recommendation letters from at least three former teachers or professional colleagues.
- A statement of the applicant’s goals and reasons for pursuing the degree. Professional experience in some field of communication and/or information is a highly desirable criterion for admission.
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, requires all who teach to be competent in spoken English. The specific policy, as it relates to graduate students who teach, is as follows: Since a certain level of competency with English as a spoken language is necessary for effective communication and teaching, all Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Associates whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of comprehensibility for classroom teaching by taking the Oral Proficiency Interview by computer (OPIc) administered through the Graduate School. Students need to consult the ITA-OPIc website for more specific details on the ITA-OPIc, including test dates.
- New students normally begin classes in the fall semester. Applications for both admission and financial aid are due on January 10.
- Journalism and Electronic Media Four Plus One concentration: For admission into the accelerated Journalism and Electronic Media concentration, students must have majored in journalism and electronic media and have graduated from the University of Tennessee within the past 3 academic years. The requirements for admission to full potential candidate status.
Academic Standards
A student in the College of Communication and Information whose graduate grade point average (GPA) is below 3.00 after the end of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework will be placed on academic probation. A student will be allowed to continue graduate study in subsequent semesters if each semester’s graduate grade point average is 3.00 or greater. Upon achieving a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00, the student will be removed from probationary status. A student must achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 in order to graduate. A student who earns less than a grade of C in a required course will have their program terminated. A graduate student cannot repeat a course.
Required Hours
The MS program combines a cross-disciplinary core in theory and methods with a concentrated set of graduate courses in a concentration area and elective courses. Both the thesis and project options require a minimum of 33 credit hours of approved graduate coursework. A minimum of 23 credit hours must be at the 500-level or above. Up to nine credit hours of graduate credit may be accepted for transfer into the program, but these graduate credit hours are subject to approval by the program adviser and the associate dean. Students may be required to take up to 18 credit hours of pre-requisite courses. Full-time students with minimal pre-requisite or transfer credits are typically able to finish the degree in three to four semesters. See the Appendix in the CCI Graduate Handbook for Program Planning Guides for the Master of Science in Communication and Information.
Advertising, Thesis Option / Project Option
Credit Hours Required
Minimum of 33 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Core (6 credit hours) to be taken during the first two semesters of the student’s program, except with the written approval of the associate dean of the college. All students take the following:
- Concentration Electives (15 graduate credit hours)
- At least 6 credit hours of the concentration must be at the 500-level or above
- Selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Approved Electives (6 or 9 graduate credit hours)
- Take 6 credit hours (Thesis option) to 9 credit hours (Project option) graduate courses from at least two of the schools in the College of Communication and Information and are selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Capstone Experience
- Thesis Option: ADVT 500 (6 credit hours)
- Project Option: ADVT 590 (3 credit hours)
Non-Course Requirements
- Thesis Option
- After completion of the formal program of coursework and research for the thesis option, the student must pass an oral examination conducted by his/her graduate committee.
- Students interested in subsequent entry into a doctoral program are advised to pursue the thesis option and to take additional courses in communication theory and research, subject to advisor’s approval.
- Project Option
- The final comprehensive exam will include a written project and an oral defense of it.
- Students interested in pursuing careers as communication and information practitioners are advised to complete a project.
Advertising and Public Relations - Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
The Advertising and Public Relations (4+1) concentration in the Master’s Communication & Information major allows students who graduated with an advertising or public relations major (within the last 3 years) the ability to earn a Master’s degree with a fifth year of graduate coursework (30 additional graduate credit hours). The concentration is designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of the major in which they graduated; and also gain knowledge related to the other major within ADPR. Students will take graduate courses from each of five blocks. There is no capstone requirement, but block 4 requires at least six graduate credit hours from a list of courses that focus on application of concepts. Students can also take school and college electives.
Campus Code
Knoxville
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into the master’s program. For admission into the Advertising and Public Relations concentration, students must have majored in either advertising or public relations and have graduated from the University of Tennessee within the past 3 academic years. The following are normally minimal requirements for admission to full potential candidate status.
- A 3.00 (4.00 system) grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate studies.
- The submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is optional for MS applicants.
- Recommendation letters from at least three former teachers or professional colleagues.
- A statement of the applicant’s goals and reasons for pursuing the degree.
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, requires all who teach to be competent in spoken English. The specific policy, as it relates to graduate students who teach, is as follows: Since a certain level of competency with English as a spoken language is necessary for effective communication and teaching, all Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Teaching Associates whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of comprehensibility for classroom teaching by taking the Oral Proficiency Interview by computer (OPIc) administered through the Graduate School. Students need to consult the ITA-OPIc website for more specific details on the ITA-OPIc, including test dates.
- New students normally begin classes in the fall semester. Applications for both admission and financial aid are due on January 15.
Academic Standards
A student in the College of Communication and Information whose graduate grade point average (GPA) is below 3.00 after the end of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework will be placed on academic probation. A student will be allowed to continue graduate study in subsequent semesters if each semester’s graduate grade point average is 3.00 or greater. Upon achieving a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00, the student will be removed from probationary status. A student must achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 in order to graduate. A student who earns less than a grade of C in a required course will have their program terminated. A graduate student cannot repeat a course.
Concentration option: Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
The advertising and public relations concentration requires that students select from the list of graduate courses that are specific to this concentration. The concentration requires a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours of approved coursework.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses:
- Block 1: Core Advertising Classes (Minimum 6 credit hours)
- ADVT 510 Advertising and Society
- ADVT 520 Advertising and Communication Theory
- ADVT 540 Advertising Decision Making
- ADVT 560 Account Planning (cannot take if already had ADVT 460)
- Block 2: Core Public Relations Classes (Minimum 6 credit hours)
- Block 3: Additional Strategic Communication Courses (Minimum 3 credit hours)
- ADPR 530 Advertising and Public Relations Research
- ADPR 542 Strategic Communication Management
- ADPR 562 Social Media Strategy and Tactics
- CCI 540 Communication Theory
- Block 4: Concept Application Courses (Minimum 3 credit hours)
- ADVT 470 Advertising Campaigns (only if not taken as undergrad)
- PBRL 470S Public Relations Campaigns (only if not taken as undergrad)
- ADPR 590 Advertising and Public Relations Project
- ADPR 592 Advertising and Public Relations Internship
- Block 5: ADPR Electives (3 graduate credit hours)
- ADPR Electives – Additional six graduate credit hours from courses in blocks 1-4 may be used; ADPR/ADVT/PBRL 516 courses may also be used.
- Block 6: General (9 graduate credit hours)
- General Electives – Additional six graduate credit hours from courses in blocks 1-5 or any CCI graduate courses. ADPR 516 / ADVT 516 / PBRL 516 courses may also be used.
Communication Studies, Thesis Option / Project Option
Credit Hours Required
Minimum of 33 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Core (16 graduate credit hours) to be taken during the first two semesters
- Concentration Electives (9 graduate credit hours)
- Take three graduate-level Communication Studies (CMST) courses to make a cohesive substantive concentration
- Selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Approved Electives (3-6 graduate credit hours)
- Take 3 credit hours (Thesis option) to 6 credit hours (Project option) graduate courses from a unit other than Communication Studies (CMST) that enrich the substantive concentration. Courses are selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Capstone Experience
- Thesis Option: CMST 500 (6 credit hours)
- Project Option: CMST 590 (3 credit hours)
Non-Course Requirements
- Thesis Option
- After completion of the formal program of coursework and research for the thesis option, the student must pass an oral examination conducted by his/her graduate committee.
- Students interested in subsequent entry into a doctoral program are advised to pursue the thesis option and to take additional courses in communication theory and research, subject to advisor’s approval.
- Project Option
- The final comprehensive exam will include a written project and an oral defense of it.
- Students interested in pursuing careers as communication and information practitioners are advised to complete a project.
Journalism and Electronic Media, Project Option
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Block 1: Journalism Core (12 credit hours required)
- Block 2: Journalism Professional Core (6 hours required)
- Block 3: Elective Theory Course (Minimum 3 hours)
- Block 4: Journalism Electives: Minimum 9 hours; (6 credit hours of which can be 400-level courses listed in the Graduate Catalog)
Non-Course Requirements
None
Journalism and Electronic Media Four Plus One concentration
The Journalism and Electronic Media Four Plus One concentration is a 4+1 program that allows students who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication majoring in journalism and electronic media from the University of Tennessee (within the last 3 years) to earn a Master’s degree with a fifth year of graduate coursework (30 additional graduate credit hours). The concentration is designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of the skills they focused on during their undergraduate studies while gaining knowledge in other areas of the JEM degree. Students will take graduate courses from each of four blocks. There is no traditional capstone experience required, but the two-course Journalism Project sequence (i.e., Block 2) will focus on application of concepts.
Concentration option: Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
The journalism and electronic media four plus one concentration requires that students select from the list of graduate courses that are specific to this concentration. The concentration requires a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours of approved coursework.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses:
Block 1: Journalism Core (12 credit hours required)
Block 2: Journalism Professional Core (6 credit hours required)
Block 3: Elective Theory Course (Minimum 3 credit hours)
Block 4: Journalism Electives
- (Minimum 9 graduate credit hours; 6 credit hours of which can be a 400-level course included in the graduate catalog and not taken as part of undergraduate degree)
Non-Course Requirements
None
Public Relations, Thesis Option / Project Option
Credit Hours Required
Minimum of 33 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Core (6 credit hours) to be taken during the first two semesters
- Concentration Electives (15 graduate credit hours)
- At least 6 credit hours of the concentration must be at the 500-level or above
- Selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Approved Electives (6 or 9 graduate credit hours)
- Take 6 credit hours (Thesis option) to 9 credit hours (Project option) graduate courses from at least two of the schools in the College of Communication and Information and are selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
- Capstone Experience
- Thesis Option: PBRL 500 (6 credit hours)
- Project Option: PBRL 590 (3 credit hours)
Non-Course Requirements
- Thesis Option
- After completion of the formal program of coursework and research for the thesis option, the student must pass an oral examination conducted by his/her graduate committee.
- Students interested in subsequent entry into a doctoral program are advised to pursue the thesis option and to take additional courses in communication theory and research, subject to advisor’s approval.
- Project Option
- The final comprehensive exam will include a written project and an oral defense of it.
- Students interested in pursuing careers as communication and information practitioners are advised to complete a project.
Five-Year Accelerated BS-MS Program – Communication and Information Major, MS (Advertising and Public Relations concentration) and the Advertising or Public Relations Major for the BS degree.
The department offers especially qualified students a Five-Year BS/MS program with a BS degree, major is Advertising or Public Relations and an MS degree, major in Communication and Information. The primary component of the program is that a qualified student may take up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both the BS degree and the MS degree. This program is designed for students pursuing their MS degree at UTK. Other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the BS degree. Qualifications for admission to the program are:
- Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.40 to be admitted to the program.
- Conditional admission may be granted after completing 64 hours of required coursework while full admission is granted after completing 96 hours of required coursework with a minimum overall GPA of 3.40 in required coursework.
- Students must at least have conditional admission before taking graduate courses for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the departmental chair of the program. Students admitted to the dual program must submit the Senior Requesting Graduate Credit Form to the Graduate School to receive graduate credit.
- Students interested in the accelerated program must follow the normal procedure for admission to Graduate School for the MS degree.
- Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
