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Plan B1-Comprehensive Exam

New Requirements Starting Fall 2009

The requirements listed below are for students who entered the Communication Studies M.A. program prior to Fall 2009. For students entering the program in Fall 2009 or after, please go to the New Requirements Fall 2009 page.

Overview

1. Complete 30 units of coursework, of which 9 are the required core courses (COMM 200, 201, 202) and the remainders are electives to meet the additional seminar, department, and residence requirements set forth in the SJSU Catalog.

Core courses: Comm 200, Comm 201, Comm 202 9 credits
Electives: (approved 100- or 200-level courses) 21 credits
TOTAL: 30 credits

2. Complete a Comprehensive Examination.

Students will complete a written examination in at least three areas of the communication field. The examination will be supervised by a committee of at least three members approved by the departmental Graduate Committee.

Print out the Request for a Plan B1 Examination Committee.

After the beginning of Fall 2003 semester, the policy is revised:

In consultation with her/his faculty advisor, a student will form an examination committee of no less than three members. That committee will craft three questions that call upon the student to demonstrate mastery in theory, methodology, and a recognized area of interest related to communication studies. Once the graduate committee has viewed a summary of the questions and approved the student committee, the student's committee will identify three 48-hour periods over a maximum of two weeks in which the student will answer each question. The student's advisor will coordinate with the student to identify a suitable site (such as the student's home) to complete the exam. Each answer will be comprised of at least ten pages of double-spaced word-processed text (not including references). The student's committee will conduct an oral examination in response to the answers between 7 and 21 days after the student completes the final question.

3. Graduation

Students must have taken and passed their oral defense to participate in university commencement exercises. The graduate committee discourages the practice of students participating in departmental graduation ceremony  prior to passing their oral defense. Exceptions requested by a student's faculty advisor will be considered by the committee.

Policies

To complete a Plan B1 Option Master's Degree a candidate must:

  1. Complete 30 units of coursework, of which 9 are the required core courses (COMM 200, 201, 202) and the remainder are electives to meet the additional seminar, department, and residence requirements set forth in the SJSU Catalog.
  2. Complete a Comprehensive Examination. According to the Catalog: "Students will complete a written examination in at least three areas of the speech communication field. The examination will be supervised by a committee of at least three members approved by the departmental Graduate Committee."
  3. The following policies shall govern the examination process:
    1. In consultation with her/his faculty advisor, a student will form an examination committee of no less than three members. That committee will craft three questions that call upon the student to demonstrate mastery in theory, methodology, and a recognized area of interest related to communication studies. Once the graduate committee has viewed a summary of the questions and approved the student 's committee, the student committee will identify three 48-hour periods over a maximum of two weeks in which the student will answer each question. The student's advisor will coordinate with the student to identify a suitable site (such as the student's home) to complete the exam. Each answer will be comprised of at least ten pages of double-spaced word-processed text (not including references). The student's committee will conduct an oral examination in response to the answers between 7 and 21 days after the student completes the final question.
    2. Oral Examination. This is an opportunity for the candidate to elaborate on and explain responses in the written examination. The student should demonstrate orally her/his ability to discuss the communication field in a comprehensive manner. The oral examination process should assure that the student's competency has been assessed.
    3. Passing the Examination. A candidate must successfully complete all three written exams to pass the examination and obtain a Master's Degree. The examining committee must vote unanimously that the candidate has passed. Typically, this vote would occur after the oral examination.
    4. Retaking Examinations. A candidate will be allowed one additional attempt to pass a section of the written exam failed on the first attempt. No additional attempts will be allowed.

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