120 PROGRAM Master of Professional Communication Communication Department Chain Dr. Randolph Scott Location: Elizabeth Hall, north end of third floor Telephone Contact: Virginia Stevens, 801-626-8924 E-mail Contact: mpc@weber.edu Program Director: Dr. Sheree Josephson, 801-626-6164 Employers rank communication as the top skill they seek in employees and say it is a must for career development. The Master of Professional Communication (MPC) degree emphasizes advanced communication knowledge and skills necessary to produce effective leaders, managers, and organizational members in for-profit, government or non-profit organizations. Students receive instruction in team building and facilitation, organizational leadership, strategic communication, and in the measurement and evaluation of communication messages. They will also develop or continue to develop their profidency in professional writing, presenting, communicating visually, and in using new media. The program allows students to customize their curriculum and facilitate development of a plan of study uniqudy tailored to personal career goals by selecting a number of elective courses of thdr choosing within the field of communication or from related fields such as business, education, and health professions. The MPC degree culminates with a professional project or thesis designed specifically to enhance students' career goals. Courses in the two-year program blend dassroom instruction with online educational tools to fit into the schedules of busy professionals. Admission Requirements Applicants for admission into the WSU Master of Professional Communication program must possess a bachdor's degree from an accredited institution or be in the final stage of completing the degree. They must also have completed the prerequisites of COMM 3000 (Communication Theory) and COMM 3150 (Communication Research Methods) or dose equivalents before emolling in any MPC course. Applicants will submit: 1. Completed application with personal essay 2. Current resume 3. Offidal transcripts from every institution of higher education attended 4. Three letters of academic and/or professional recommendation 5. Scores from the GRE taken within the last five years Additional Admission Requirements for International Students All international students and any applicants educated outside the United States must demonstrate proficiency in English. Those whose native language is not English must submit an offidal score from the Test of English as a Fordgn Language (TOEFL) of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). The score may not be more than two years old. Equivalent IELTS score is also accepted in place of TOEFL. Students who do not have these scores may be admitted provisionally to the program upon review. If they are able to perform satisfactorily in their first semester, their provisional status may be amended. Acceptance into Program Each applicant is accepted on an individual basis. Ideal applicants will present a strong overall previous academic record, positive letters of recommendation, professional accomplishment, and an appropriate GRE score. An ideal class will consist of working professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds in for-profit, government or non-profit organizations. Ethnic diversity is a plus. The MPC program will have limited enrollment. Elective Courses from Other Universities Related graduate-level courses from other universities may be accepted with permission of the MPC director. Transfer Credit Transfer credit must be approved by the program diredor and cannot exceed 12 hours. Transfer dasses must be at an appropriate level and fulfill the objectives of the MPC. No courses for which credit was used to fulfill requirements of another degree may be used toward the MPC degree. Grade Requirements To earn the MPC degree, candidates must complete all MPC courses with a grade of B- or higher and a grade of C or better in all non-MPC graduate courses. The overall program GPA must be 3.0 or higher. Failure to maintain a 3.0 grade point average, or two consecutive course sessions where a grade lower than C- has been earned, will result in academic probation in accordance with departmental policies. Graduation Requirements 1. 37 credit hours, at least 28 at the 6000-level. 2. Grades of B- or better in all MPC courses and grades of C or better in all non-MPC courses. 3. Overall GPA of at least 3.0. 4. Successful completion of thesis/project. Time for Degree Completion MPC students have a maximum of six calendar years to complete their degree requirements, starting from the first semester during which the student has registered and begun taking dasses. Students who exceed this requirement may submit a letter of appeal to the MPC director to request that this requirement be waived. Students who fail to enroll in MPC courses for three consecutive semesters must apply for readmission to the program. In order to ensure timely progress through the program, students must consult with an MPC advisor every Fall Semester. Students who, for any reason, do not finish their thesis or project or program of courses within the two-year framework suggested in this program, must pay continuing enrollment and tuition every semester. Course Requirements for MPC Prerequisites to WSU's MPC program (6 credit hours) COMM 3000 Communication Theory or equivalent COMM 3150 Communication Research Methods or equivalent These two courses must be taken within five years of admission to! Required Core WSU MPC Courses (22 credit hours) MPC 6000 Introduction to Graduate Studies for Master in Professional Communication (1) MPC 6100 Team Building and Facilitation (3) MPC 6150 Writing for Professional Communicators (3) MPC 6200 Presentational Speaking and Visual Communication for the Workplace (2) MPC 6300 New Media in Professional Communication (3) MPC 6400 Communicating Organizational Leadership (3) MPC 6600 Strategic Communication (3) MPC 6700 Research Methods for Professional Communication (3) MPC 6800 Advanced Communication Research and Writing (1) Required Thesis or Project Courses (6 credit hours) MPC 6900 Thesis/Project I (3) MPC 6950 Thesis/Project II (3) Weber State University 2011 -2012 Catalog