International Communication (MA)

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Offered by the School of International Service , and founded in 1968 as the first International Communication program in the country, this innovative program provides students with interdisciplinary course offerings and professional skills training, focusing on emergent and vital topics in international communication. The curriculum allows students to explore themes including intercultural relations, cross-cultural communication, international exchange, global technology governance, cultural and public diplomacy, health communication, and global media studies. The program includes two research and practice-focused laboratories providing distinctive opportunities: the Center for Research on Collaboratories and Technology Enhanced Learning Communities (COTELCO) and the Intercultural Management Institute (IMI).

Admission to the Program

Students applying for admission to this program must have had a strong undergraduate major or minor in social and behavioral sciences or communication. For further information, contact the International Communication Division at 202-885-1621.

Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least a B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale) and should have had at least 24 credit hours of social science coursework relevant to international studies. Students who do not meet these minimum requirements, if otherwise admissible, may be assigned additional coursework in excess of degree requirements specified at the time of admission.

The application deadline for fall admission is January 15; for spring admission October 1 (September 15 for international students). Admitted students may defer matriculation for no longer than two semesters provided that a written request for deferment is submitted to and approved by the SIS Graduate Admissions Office.

All applicants whose native language is English or those whose degrees are from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English are required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Non-native English speakers are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution before enrollment at SIS. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 600 on the paper-based test (PBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. Fall applicants should plan to take the appropriate test no later than December to ensure full consideration of the application by the January deadline.

All applicants must submit two letters of reference evaluating undergraduate academic performance and suitability for graduate study in international affairs, at least one of which should be from an academic source. A resume should be included in the application. Applicants must submit transcripts from all institutions attended. Cultural factors are considered in evaluating transcripts and examination results.

Requests for the transfer of a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours from other accredited institutions to be applied to a master’s degree must be completed in the student’s first semester in the graduate program at American University. A minimum grade of B in each course is required for transfer. Transfer courses must have been completed within five years of admission and must fulfill stated requirements of the degree program.

Degree Requirements

39 credit hours of approved graduate coursework with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00, including a minimum of 6 credit hours in the core including one theory course, 18 credit hours in a concentration selected from offerings in SIS or other teaching units of the university, 6 credit hours in research methods, 3 credit hours in economics, 3 elective credit hours, and a 3 credit hour capstone experience.
One oral presentation at the International Communication Practicum Forum.
Capstone experience: demonstration of critical thinking, research and writing skills through completion of a master’s thesis, substantial research paper requirement, or practicum. All courses taken to fulfill this requirement must be passed with a grade of B or better.
- Thesis: 6 credit hours of thesis credit and submission of the thesis.
- Substantial research paper requirement: 3 credit hours
- Practicum: 3 credit hours
Proficiency in a modern foreign language:
- Research competence in English and another language relevant to the student’s career objectives must be certified.

Course Requirements

Core (6 credit hours)

Economics (3 credit hours)

Social Science Research Methodology (6 credit hours)

SIS-600 Statistics, Research Design, and Research Methods for International Affairs (3)
or
SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics (3) : Advanced Statistics, Research Design, and Research Methods for International Affairs
3 credit hours in methodology or professional skills coursework appropriate to the student’s research and career interests

Concentration (18 credit hours)

18 credit hours in courses approved by the student’s faculty advisor selected from one concentration. Students may design their own concentration with the approval of the faculty advisor. Examples of concentrations include:

Global and Social Media, Technology, and Policy
Global Health Communication
Intercultural Relations
Public Diplomacy
Transnational Education

Capstone Experience (3 credit hours)

Note: The thesis or substantial research paper must relate to the field of International Communication.

SIS-797 Master’s Thesis Supervision (1-6) (may include 3 elective credit hours)
or
Substantial research paper or practicum requirement

Elective (3 credit hours)

3 credit hours selected from skills workshops, internship for credit, master’s thesis requirement, or other elective courses