Communication Studies/Professional Communication, Technical Communication Concentration (4+1), BA/MA

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The Communication 4+1 Program enables students to earn both a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.A. in Professional Communication (MAPC) in five years. After completing two undergraduate communication courses (which count toward both the BA and MA degrees), 4+1 students enroll in two MAPC courses in their senior year. In the fifth and final year, they complete the MAPC program as graduate students. This program prepares graduates for careers in content creation and management, corporate communication, media and public relations, and digital content strategy, among other professional communication jobs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Core Knowledge: graduate students will define, identify, and apply the rhetorical conventions and strategies appropriate to communicating effectively and ethically to varied audiences;
Scholarly Communication: graduate students will write and edit a substantial amount of revised prose, meeting standards and applying conventions defined by the field of communication;
Professionalism: graduate students will produce written, oral and digital communication of high quality consistent with their professional concentration and focus;
Research: graduate students will conduct skilled and ethical research in the field of communication and contribute original knowledge in their chosen industry and profession.

Communication 4+1: Pre-Requisites

In order to qualify for the 4+1 program, students majoring in Communication Studies must first complete any two of the following undergraduate courses. Both courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher.

Communication Studies Major (44 units)

Please see the Communication Studies Major for undergraduate requirements.

Communication 4+1: Substitutions (8 units)

Communication Studies courses (listed below) will count as transferable for up to 8 units of MA in Professional Communication (MAPC) 32-unit degree requirement. These courses will transfer as electives, thus reducing the MAPC elective units for Communication 4+1 Program students from 12 to 4 units. Students must earn an A- or higher in two courses they intend to transfer from the list below to earn the substitution.

Professional Communication MA Major Requirements (24-32 units)

Required Courses (8 units)

Technical Communication Concentration (12 units)

Elective (4-12 units)

Students must complete elective courses that have not been counted toward the core or the concentration. Up to 8-units of Communication Studies courses may be substituted as MAPC electives. The number of total elective units required to complete the 32-unit program depends on how many Communication Studies courses are counted as MAPC electives. Students may select their elective courses from the list below.