Communication and New Media, M.A.

Admission

Admission to the program will be on a full-time basis only, starting in September of the academic year.

Admission to the M.A. degree program will normally require an Honours Bachelor’s degree (four-year degree) in a Communication Studies and/or Multimedia program, or its equivalent with a minimum grade point average of B+ (equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 GPA out of 12) in the last 10 one-term courses relevant to studies in communication and digital media.

Students holding Honours Bachelor’s degrees (four-year degrees) from other disciplines in the humanities, the fine arts and the social sciences may also be considered, if they can demonstrate sufficient training in Communication Studies and Multimedia to undertake studies at the graduate level.

Degree Requirements

The M.A. in Communication and New Media will typically be completed within twelve months. Students will complete six 3-unit courses and year-long pro seminar, in addition to a major research project (either a 40-page research paper/project or a digital media project supported by a shorter paper).

Course Requirements

Course requirements consist of required core courses in methodologies relevant to communication studies and new media (CMST&MM 700 , CMST&MM 712  and CMST&MM 799 ; see Course List ) and four elective courses from the Course List. Students must achieve a grade of at least a B- in all courses they take for credit in order to qualify for the degree. Students may take one course from another graduate program, subject to departmental approval, in lieu of an elective course from the Course List. Students must achieve a grade of at least a B- in all courses they take for credit in order to qualify for the degree.

Major Research Project

In addition to the course requirements, students will complete a major research project under the supervision of a core faculty member. The major research project will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis by the project supervisor and second reader.

There are two options for the major research project:

1. A paper (approximately 40 pages) based on original research.
   The paper will provide an opportunity to apply methodological skills acquired in the research methods courses (CMST&MM 700  and CMST&MM 712 ) to theoretical and substantive issues taken up in other courses.
2. A digital media project (e.g., a work of art, performance, or installation; methodological tool; a software application; an educational application, or a digital game) together with a shorter paper (approximately 15-20 pages) explaining the conception and development of the project.
   The digital media project may reflect expertise and knowledge acquired during course work.

Program Timetable

Students will normally take three courses in Term I and three courses in Term II, in addition to the pro seminar, which runs through terms I and II. Preparation for the major research project will normally begin in Term II. Between May and July, students are expected to meet regularly with their faculty supervisor and make steady progress on their research and writing. A first complete draft of the project is due to the supervisor no later than 15 June, a final draft is due to the second reader by 31 July, and the approved version of the project must be submitted to the department no later than 31 August.

Courses