M.A. Program
The Department of Communicology offers an innovative M.A. program emphasizing the central processes and functions of human communication. To that end, course work, seminars, and student research develop a cross-situational understanding of theory and research in the three areas central to the discipline.
Intended candidates for the M.A. should have a strong undergraduate preparation in Communicology or a closely allied discipline. Students who lack this preparation must make up deficiencies either before or during graduate study. In the latter case, the student will be admitted conditionally, pending removal of the deficiencies.
To request a Communicology Department graduate program brochure, please email graduate chair Dr. Amy Hubbard at comgrad@hawaii.edu
M.A. Program Requirements
The department offers both Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis: comprehensive exams or applied project) programs. Candidates must choose between Plan A and Plan B by the end of their second semester of study.
Forms needed for procedures: see “Links” page
Plan A Procedures
Plan A requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate work, at least 27 of which must be in Communicology courses numbered 600 and above, including 6 credit hours of COMG 700 Thesis Research. Additionally, COMG 601 and COMG 602 are required. Communicology courses numbered 400 to 499 and courses from allied disciplines may be counted toward the degree only with prior consent of the graduate chair. Successful completion of Plan A requires each candidate to present an acceptable thesis and pass a final oral examination based on the thesis.
Applied Study Option
The applied study option requires the candidate to conduct a study designed to assess the state of affairs or test a problem-solving solution in a local organization. The study is expected to result in a written report which shall be submitted to and reviewed by the candidate’s advisory committee. Finally, the candidate will conduct a presentation of research results to the advisory committee and address questions regarding the study.
Comprehensives Option
Candidates who elect to complete comprehensive exams will provide written responses to questions developed by the candidate’s advisory committee. All candidates will respond to questions assessing their understanding of communication theory and research. In addition, candidates will respond to questions addressing their particular course of study. Each member of the advisory committee will read and assess the candidate’s responses. At least two of the three committee members must accept the candidate’s responses in each topic area for the candidate to pass the topic area. Candidates must pass all three topic areas to successfully complete the written comprehensive exams. The entire comprehensive exams may be retaken only once. Individual items may be rewritten no more than two times. Upon passing the written comprehensive exams, the candidate must also pass a final oral exam of the comprehensive exams.
Taking Courses Outside of Communicology Department
Students are allowed to take a maximum of two graduate classes outside of our Department. Whenever you take a course outside of our Communicology Department, this selection must be approved by your faculty advisor and the graduate chair.
1. Complete Petition to Enroll in a Graduate Course Outside of Communicology 
2. Submit written justification
3. Submit course syllabus
Rarely, we may allow you to take one upper-division undergraduate course and use that toward your MA degree in Communicology. When this is done, the undergraduate course workload must be adjusted to earn graduate level credit.
1. Complete Petition to Enroll in an Upper-Division Undergraduate Course
2. Submit written justification
3. Submit course syllabus
For complete Communicology course listings, refer to the General Catalog and its Courses page. Course number 500 and above are for graduate courses. Course descriptions and syllabi are available here.
• Financing Your Education (UHM Graduate Division Website)
• List of Communicology Master Theses (Plan A) and Projects (Plan B) Since 1949
