Communication Studies
Accelerated Graduate Program
WHAT IS THE ACCELERATED DEGREE?
The accelerated graduate program allows undergraduate Âé¶¹´«Ã½ to take graduate coursework and use that credit for both their undergraduate degree and their graduate degree, saving them time and money. Students who enroll in our accelerated program:
- gain early admission to the graduate program while still an undergraduate
- complete a Master’s degree in 3 semesters rather than the typical two-year (4-semester) program
- gain full admission status to the graduate program upon completing the bachelor’s degree
- pay undergraduate costs for graduate level work
WHY CHOOSE THE ACCELERATED PROGRAM?
Students in the accelerated program:
- pay undergraduate tuition and fees while taking graduate classes (one semester)
- finish the master’s degree quicker
- gain a wide range of critical thinking and communication skills that increase marketability in any communication career!
- start careers earlier with higher pay; Âé¶¹´«Ã½ with MA degrees earn a weekly median average of $224 MORE than graduates with only a bachelor’s degree (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Students must meet the following criteria to apply for the accelerated program:
- Be an undergraduate major in Communication Studies, Health Communication, Public Relations, or TV & Video Production
- Have completed 60 semester hours of undergraduate work, 15 hours of which must be from one of the above undergraduate majors
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.25
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Once admitted to the program, Âé¶¹´«Ã½ may select up to 9 hours of credit from the following shared courses:
- CMN 4755 Television Genres. Credits: 3
- CMN 4765 Communication in Families. Credits: 3
- CMN 4770 Television Criticism. Credits: 3
- CMN 4775 Documentary Filmmaking. Credits: 3
- CMN 4820 Political Communication. Credits: 3
- CMN 4900 Advanced Topics in CMN. Credits: 3
- CMN 4919 PR Campaigns. Credits: 3
- CMN 4920 PR Case Studies. Credits: 3
- CMN 4921 Seminar in PR. Credits: 2
- CMN 4950 Workplace Relationships. Credits: 4
- CMN 5260 Science and Technical Communication. Credits: 3
- HCM 4910 Applied Health Education. Credits: 3
- HCM 4950 Special Topics in HCM. Credits: 3
HOW DO I APPLY?
Students should consult with their undergraduate advisor before applying to the accelerated program.
- Start the application process here.
- Upon acceptance to the program, Âé¶¹´«Ã½ must complete this shared course request form with assistance from the program's graduate coordinator.
WANT TO GET STARTED?
CONTACT:
Dr. Angela Jacobs
Graduate Coordinator
asjacobs@eiu.edu
(217) 581-2020