At the time of acceptance, each student is assigned to a department advisor. The choice of courses, selection of subject for research paper or thesis, and the reading preparation for the comprehensive examination are made under the advisor's direction. The department requires both a written and oral comprehensive final examination. Must have at least one semester of statistics. Includes hypothesis construction, research design, data collection, sampling techniques and interpretation of results.
Students plan and undertake a research project.
Critical assessment of the scholarly research for a campaign to influence or change public opinion or behavior. Investigation of management issues and application of theory to crisis situations. A comprehensive study of social ethics from consequentialism and duty-based theories to individualistic and collectivistic theories, and the use of these theories as they apply to daily decisions in media management. Critical analysis of aesthetic decisions and skills in the planning and production of television programs from initial research, through writing, to final completion. Focuses on the theoretical and scientific knowledge necessary for the development of professional level programs.