Nov 17, 2024

Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025

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Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025

Communication and Rhetoric M.S.

The M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric emphasizes a research approach to communication problems and prepares students for applied research in industry or government, or for further study in a doctoral program. This program accepts students from discourse-related fields such as English, communication arts, or journalism and students with research experience in the social sciences, physical sciences, or engineering.

The M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric requires satisfactory completion of 30 credits of course work. No more than 15 credit hours of 4000-4990 courses may count toward the degree or be applied to the Plan of Study. While courses may be taken in a semester other than noted below if that is when they are offered and there is availability in the students’ plan of study, the following plan notes the degree requirements for the M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric:

Semester One

Foundational Theory Course

choose one of the following 3-4 credit courses:

COMM 6510 - Communication Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3
IHSS 6790 - Media Studies Credit Hours: 3
or an advisor and GPD-approved alternative course

Foundational Research Methods Course

choose one of the following 3-4 credit courses:

IHSS 6410 - Ethnography Credit Hours: 3
IHSS 6570 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
or an advisor and GPD-approved alternative course

Writing Course

choose one of the following 3-4 credit courses:

WRIT 6410 - Research Writing Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 6550 - Proposing and Persuading Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 6380 - Writing and Response Credit Hours: 3
or advisor and GPD-approved alternative course

Theory Course

choose one of the following 3-4 credit courses:

COMM 6560 - Visual Design: Theory and Application Credit Hours: 3
COMM 6530 - Post-Factual Media Credit Hours: 4
COMM 6700 - Rhetoric of the Photograph Credit Hours: 3
or advisor and GPD approved alternative course selected from the areas of communication, media, rhetoric, or culture

Free Elective

if necessary to maintain adequate progress toward degree completion

Semester Two

Research Methods Course

choose one of the following 3-4 credit courses:

IHSS 6410 - Ethnography Credit Hours: 3
IHSS 6570 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4470 - Information Design Credit Hours: 4
STSO 6120 - Advanced Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
or an advisor and GPD approved alternative course

Two Theory Courses

choose two of the following 3-4 credit courses:

COMM 6560 - Visual Design: Theory and Application Credit Hours: 3
COMM 6530 - Post-Factual Media Credit Hours: 4
COMM 6700 - Rhetoric of the Photograph Credit Hours: 3
or advisor and GPD approved alternative course(s) selected from the areas of communication, media, rhetoric, or culture

Capstone Course

choose one of the following 3-credit options:

COMM 6940 - Communication Studies Credit Hours: 1 to 6
COMM 6990 - Master’s Thesis Credit Hours: 1 to 6
or advisor and GPD approved alternative course

Free Elective

if necessary to complete the degree requirement of 30 credit hours