Expand the section navigation mobile menu
Students seated in a row of desks, looking to the front of the room.

Accelerated B.A. to M.A. in Communication

Undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a master’s in communication degree may be eligible to enroll in the Accelerated B.A. to M.A. provided they meet GPA and major requirements.

Students who apply with junior standing, or in year three of their bachelor’s degree, can graduate with a bachelor’s as well as a master’s degree in communication in 5.5 years. 

More information about our Accelerated B.A. to M.A. program can be found here.

Program OverviewProgram Requirements

Students should apply in year three or when they are halfway through the completion of their undergraduate program. To be considered, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

Students need to have an overall GPA of at least B (3.0) and a GPA in the major of at least 3.5 to enter the program. They must maintain an overall B (3.0) GPA to remain in the accelerated degree program.

They also need to have completed the following major core requirements in Communication by the end of their junior year.  

  • COM 1000 (Introduction to Communication Studies)
  • COM 3300 (Communication, Culture, and Belonging)
  • COM 2000 (Public Speaking), COM3080 (Competitive Speaking), or 2001 (Professional Communication) and
  • COM 3000 (Relational Communication Theory), COM 3201 (Rhetorical Theory), or COM 3002 (Cultural Theory in Communication)

Upon acceptance at the department level students will be required to formally apply to the program through the Graduate College.

Admissions Terms and Deadlines
The application deadline for the Accelerated BA MA program is March 1 for Fall and November 1 for Winter.

Fill out the B.A. to M.A. enrollment form to apply.

Year 1

Fall Credits
COM 1000 4
Gen Ed #1 4
Gen Ed #2 4
WRT 150 4
16 total

Winter Credits
JRN 2000 or WRT 364 or 382 (Knowledge App G.E. #4) 4
COM Public address course (COM 2000, 2001, or 3080) 4
Gen Ed #3 4
OU Elective 4
16 total

Year 2

Fall Credits
COM Area Group Course #1 4
COM 1500 or Foreign language 114 4
Gen Ed #5 4
Gen Ed #6 4
16 total

Winter Credits
COM Theory Course (COM 3000, 3201, 3002, or 3003) 4
COM 1501 or Foreign language 115 4
Gen Ed #7 4
Gen Ed #8 4
16 total

Year 3

Fall Credits
COM Area Group Course #2 4
CAS Exploratory Req. 4
CAS Exploratory Req. 4
OU Elective 4
16 total

Winter Credits
COM Area Group Course #3 4
COM 3300: Multicultural Comm 4
CAS Exploratory Req. 4
OU Elective 4
16 total

Summer Credits
Gen Ed #9 4
4 total

Year 4

Fall Credits
COM 5000 (replaces BA capstone) 4
OU Elective 4
Gen Ed #10 4
12 total

Winter Credits
COM 5001 (replaces COM elective or area group requirement) 4
COM MA Elective or Methods (replaces COM BA elective or area group requirement) 4
OU Elective 4
12 total**

Year 5

Fall Credits
COM MA Elective 4
COM MA Elective 4
8 total

Winter Credits
COM MA Elective or Methods 4
COM MA Elective 4
8 total

Summer Credits
COM MA Exit Option 4
4 total

** Students choosing not to seek admittance into the MA program but graduate with a BA in COM instead must meet with a faculty adviser

Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations

Wilson Hall, Room 316
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, MI 48309-4486
(location map)
(248) 370-4120


General Department Questions:
CJPR