Integrative Studies - Diplomacy and Communication (MS)
Required Credit Hours/Tuition and Fees
- 36
- Visit the Paying for College website for detailed tuition information
In politics, communication affects political attitudes and behavior and reveals the nature of political systems and institutions. Communication is at the heart of the structures, institutions and personalities involved in diplomatic relations.
Career Outlook
An integrative studies degree with a focus in diplomacy and communication from SIUE will prepare you to pursue careers in a multitude of settings, such as communication advisor, press secretary, governmental relations officer, and nonprofit leader or advocate, among others. Graduates with strong communication skills and interdisciplinary knowledge of diplomacy can make a huge difference in the world today.
Admission Requirements
- Graduate School application and $40 fee
- Official copies of all postsecondary transcripts
- Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment. Applicants may be required to take prerequisites or resolve any deficiencies before classified status is approved.
- Minimum GPA of 3.25
- Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in applied communication studies or a related field will be required to take a theories of communication proficiency exam. A grade of at least 80% on this exam is required.
- A faculty member from applied communication studies who has agreed in writing to serve as a graduate mentor must be identified by the applicant in order to be considered for acceptance into the program. Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Wai Cheah, Dr. Min Liu, Dr. Sorin Nastasia, Dr. Debbie Sellnow-Richmond, or Dr. Sarah VanSlette.
- International Applicants: Proof of English Proficiency, minimum requirements are TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5) or equivalent
- A letter of intent clearly articulating the desired focus areas, the applicant’s academic/career goals, how his/her academic background prepares him/her to undertake the program successfully, and how the program serves his/her goals must be submitted with the application.
Program application materials may be uploaded during the application process, but official transcripts must be sent directly from the school attended, and test scores must be verifiable with the appropriate testing service. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions with questions regarding the application submission process at graduateadmissions@siue.edu.
Applicants with a baccalaureate and/or graduate-level GPA between 2.5 and 3.25 may be considered if all the following conditions are met.
- The baccalaureate degree and/or graduate-level work was earned more than four years prior to the application submission
- The applicant provides a written explanation of her/his performance in the baccalaureate degree
- The applicant provides a written explanation of why he/she will be successful in the integrative studies degree program
Review the SIUE Admission Policy for more information.
Curriculum
Students will take courses in the Departments of Applied Communication Studies and Political Science, according to the master's in integrative studies program requirements:
- 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses, 18 credit hours of which are from the Department of Applied Communication Studies and 12 credit hours from the Department of Political Science
- At least half of the 30 credit hours of coursework must be at the 500 level
- No more than three credit hours of the 30 credit hours of coursework can be independent study
- All students will complete six credit hours of integrative studies thesis or non-thesis capstone work
Required Courses
Applied Communication Studies
(3) ACS 500 Seminar in Communication Theory
(3) ACS 501 Communication Research Methods and Tools
Four courses from the following:
(3) ACS 430 Persuasion and Social Influence
(3) ACS 511 Seminar in Intercultural Communication
(3) ACS 520 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication
(3) ACS 540 Survey of Organizational Communication Research
(3) ACS 541 Seminar in Organizational Culture
(3) ACS 542 Communication Consulting
(3) ACS 550 Seminar in Public Relations
(3) ACS 553 Issues Reputation Management
(3) ACS 554 Ethics in Public Relations and Communication Management
(3) ACS 557 International Public Relations
Political Science
(3) POLS 495 Constitutional Law: Powers of Government
(3) POLS 510 Readings in Political Science
Two courses from the following:
(3) POLS 429 Topics in Public Administration
(3) POLS 443 Politics of Poverty
(3) POLS 445 Voting and Elections
(3) POLS 453 Ethnic Conflict
(3) POLS 471 New Forms of Violence in the International Stage
(3) POLS 472 International Organizations
(3) POLS 479 Topics in International Relations
(3) POLS 499 Topics in Public Law
Integrative Studies Capstone Project
(1) INTG 500 Proposal Development
(5) INTG 599 Thesis Research or (5) INTG 593 Final Project
Graduation Requirements
Students must conduct an oral defense of the thesis or project with an advisory committee consisting of a minimum of three graduate faculty. Each participating department must be represented.
Review the graduation policy for more information.
