Required Courses
The Core courses provide basic, intensive and broad coverage of communication as a field of advanced study. The Core integrates mass and speech communication theories and research methodologies from all aspects of the discipline. If a student fails to achieve an average grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in the overall Core, the student may retake each Core course with a grade below “B” once, and must obtain an average grade of “B” or higher to remain in the program. The core courses must be completed within the first 18-21 credit hours of a student's program (This requirement may be waived for students entering the Communication graduate program with approved graduate credits to be used in the plan of study).
Thesis Option
The Thesis plan is a 33-credit hour program as described below:
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Completion of the Core
Completion of a Graduate-Only Seminar
Completion of Electives
Completion of COMM 8990
Total Hours
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12 Credit Hours
3 Credit Hours
12 Credit Hours
6 Credit Hours
33 Credit Hours
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The thesis is the traditional, 6-credit hour, independent research project that is conducted at minimum over the course of at least one semester (theses often begin the previous semester via independent preparatory readings assigned by your thesis advisor). When you decide that you want to complete this option, a few things need to be kept in mind:
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The academic rigor of the thesis and project are equivalent
The format/style of the thesis is often a more traditional structure
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Literature Review
Chapter 3 – Methodology
Chapter 4 – Results/Findings
Chapter 5 – Conclusions
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Rhetorical Critique/Critical or Cultural Critique (the above structure also works)
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Chapter 1 – Introductory materials (opening, discussion of artifact or text, relevant literature and approaches, overarching claim, and preview)
Chapters 2-4 (or more) – Analysis
Chapter 5 (or later) – Conclusions
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In all cases, the following checklist will be adhered to:
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- The committee will consist of your project advisor and at least one other member of the School of Communication graduate faculty. In addition, one member of the graduate faculty from outside the School of Communication (typically, but not required, outside of CFAM) must also be a member of the committee;
- The proposal will be dependent upon the method and approach in the thesis, but will include (at the minimum)
- An introductory section along with the justification for the project
- A literature review containing the relevant published research to help best understand the project subject, your approach to the subject, and the relevance.
- A methodology section to help guide the research and design
- A timeline towards completion
Note: this often is either the first three chapters of your thesis (particularly for social science-based research) or the first chapter (particularly for rhetorical or critical theses). This is really up to you and your advisor
A proposal defense will need to be held with your whole committee. Speak with your thesis advisor on how she/he/they approaches defenses. Each faculty member has their own little idiosyncrasies. There is paperwork for this.
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After the proposal meeting, you and your advisor will start the process of completing the thesis as approved by your committee.
Once the thesis is completed and approved by your advisor, a final project defense is scheduled. there is paperwork for this.
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During the process, three forms need to be completed:
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- Committee Form
- Thesis Proposal Form
- Thesis Defense Form
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*Forms are located as editable PDFs on the UNO Office of Graduate Studies web location |
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
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| COMM 8010 |
SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: QUANTITATIVE EMPHASIS |
3 |
| COMM 8020 |
SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: QUALITATIVE EMPHASIS |
3 |
| COMM 8470 |
FOUNDATIONS SEMINAR: COMMUNICATION STUDIES |
3 |
| COMM 8570 |
FOUNDATIONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION |
3 |
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12 |
| COMM 8990 |
THESIS |
6 |
| Total Credits |
33 |
All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval Forms and final approval and submission of the thesis. Theses are defended orally before the student’s committee once completed.
Project Option
The Project (thesis-alternative) plan is a 33-credit hour program as described below:
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Completion of the Core
Completion of a Graduate-Only Seminar
Completion of Electives
Completion of COMM 8970
Total Hours
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12 Credit Hours
3 Credit Hours
15 Credit Hours
3 Credit Hours
33 Credit Hours
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The project itself is considered a Thesis-Alternative. When you decide that you want to complete this option, a few things need to be kept in mind:
The academic rigor of the thesis and project are equivalent
The format/style of the project is truly up to you and your project advisor
Examples of projects include:
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Training Curriculum
Classroom Curriculum
Monograph (a research essay somewhere between a course paper and a thesis)
Visual Case Studies
Documentary Films
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In all cases, the following checklist will be adhered to:
| The committee will consist of your project advisor and at least one other member of the School of Communication graduate faculty |
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Unlike the thesis option, a committee member from outside the School of Communication is not required.
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| The proposal will be dependent upon the format of the project, but will include (at the minimum) |
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- An introductory section along with the justification for the project
- A literature review containing the relevant published research to help best understand the project subject, your approach to the subject, and the relevance.
- In some cases, a needs assessment is going to be required (dependent on your advisor)
- A methodology to help guide the research and design
- A timeline towards completion
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| A proposal defense will need to be held. Speak with your project advisor on how she/he/they approaches defenses. Each faculty member has their own little idiosyncrasies. There is paperwork for this. |
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After the proposal meeting, you and your advisor will start the process of completing the project as approved by your committee
Once the project is completed and approved by your advisor, a final project defense is scheduled. Given that COMM 8970 is a graded “class,” your advisor will post your grade to demonstrate completion and defense of the project. |
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The following is the paperwork you will need for the project (all are kept internally in the School of Communication in ASH 140 – the Green Kiosk)
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- Project Committee Form
- Project Proposal Form
- Project Completion Form
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The project, in lieu of a thesis, is based on a proposal approved by the student’s committee. The student must complete a project that is defended orally before the student’s project committee.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
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| COMM 8010 |
SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: QUANTITATIVE EMPHASIS |
3 |
| COMM 8020 |
SEMINAR IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: QUALITATIVE EMPHASIS |
3 |
| COMM 8470 |
FOUNDATIONS SEMINAR: COMMUNICATION STUDIES |
3 |
| COMM 8570 |
FOUNDATIONS OF MASS COMMUNICATION |
3 |
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15 |
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| COMM 8970 |
GRADUATE PROJECT |
3 |
| Total Credits |
33 |
Exit Requirements
Students will take either six (6) thesis credit hours or three (3) project hours during the final semester(s) of their program. These credit hours must be 1) taken either concurrently or after the student’s final semester of coursework and 2) must be taken and completed in order to successfully complete the program. The thesis or project is considered the final part of the program. With this in mind, coursework will be completed before or concurrently with the thesis or project (it is strongly encouraged that coursework is completed prior to the thesis or project). Students will meet with the GPC to discuss which option consider.
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