Current Graduate Students

Graduate Student Manuals

Our graduate program manuals detail the requirements, policies, guidelines and procedures for completing the M.S. and Ph.D. in Journalism & Media Communication according to department, college, and university requirements for the degree.

It is intended for use by faculty, students, and staff. Our manuals describe the typical M.S. and Ph.D. program process, but there are many ways to tailor your journey to fit your specific needs while fulfilling requirements. Your JMC advisor and the department’s Graduate Program Committee are here to help you navigate the process.

M.S. Manual

Ph.D. Manual

G.S. Handbook

Resources

Conference Travel Funding

Our department offers modest travel support for graduate students whose papers or panels have been accepted for presentation at academic conferences.

Our department can reimburse approved travel expenses such as airfare, food and lodging, and associated travel costs. Travel funding does not roll over year to year.

For all conference funding of any kind, you must fill out our pre-trip form and have it approved by the department before you book any travel. To learn more about travel support, please email the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Externally-funded travel (grant-funded) must go through the same approval process using our pre-trip form and must be approved by the relevant faculty and the department chair. Budget restrictions on externally funded travel come from the project budget, not JMC, so consult the relevant faculty on the project to determine what you can spend.

Graduate Student Awards

Graduate students are eligible for the annual Department of Journalism & Media Communication Engaged and Emerging Scholarship Dissertation and Thesis Awards. Our graduate students work hard to complete their degree programs and their theses and dissertations are the culmination of their work. Thus, the department wishes to recognize the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of our graduate students. Our faculty committee looks to award projects that exemplify:

An innovative/original query with a sound qualitative or quantitative research design
Public connections that address significant social issues or community concerns
A solid contribution to the discipline and/or profession
Sound written and/or visual storytelling

Journalism & Media Communication Award recipients are recognized during a formal annual graduate student gathering in fall or spring.

Throughout the school year, our department also recognizes the contributions and exceptional work of graduate students through AttaRam, a tradition that spreads positivity and camaraderie throughout our department.

Professional Development Opportunities

There are many opportunities at CSU to engage in professional development training to gain skills in inclusive pedagogy, leadership, writing, grant applications, professional well-being, career paths, and more. These are not courses, but instead are 1- to 3-hour sessions that address specific professional skills unrelated to an academic discipline. They are generally free of charge. Professional development sessions open to graduate students at CSU include:

The Graduate School – A range of workshops and talks specifically for graduate students through their Professional Development Series.
The Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) – Pedagogy training focused on specific challenges for faculty, staff, and graduate students, including active learning, syllabus design, online teaching, critical thinking, and more.
Office of Inclusive Excellence – A series of employee trainings for faculty, staff, and graduate students offered a la carte focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics such as uncovering bias, intercultural communication, understanding oppression, and more.

Get Involved With Our Centers

Center For Science Communication (CSC)

The JMC Center for Science Communication brings together experts, professionals, and students in pursuit of research-driven strategies for understanding the communication of science and science-related topics. The SCS is a hub for interdisciplinary, stakeholder-engaged scholarship in science communication. Their goal is to foster better communication outcomes in pursuit of socially sustainable agricultural, environmental, and health systems.

Strategic Communication Center (SCC)

The SCC is an initiative of the JMC Department launched in 2024 to promote Public Relations and Advertising in the College of Liberal Arts at CSU. The goal is to promote teaching, research, and building industry experience and connections for both our undergraduate and graduate students. The SCC provides students with engaged research and industry experience by utilizing an agency model to learn more about public relations and advertising.

On Campus Facilities/Resources

Graduate Student Offices

The department provides doctoral and master’s students office space and access to a computer. There are also some common areas that can be used for meetings and other gatherings.

Mail and Breakroom

Graduate students are welcome to use the journalism department's breakroom and amenities as well as a personal mailbox for incoming mail.

Software and Printing Resources

Desktop computers in graduate student offices have Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, etc.) on Windows machines. They also have the statistical analysis software SPSS and the qualitative analysis software NVivo. Students who wish to purchase software licenses for their personal computers should seek out student- and/or university-pricing at RamTech.

Graduate students may also use the department's printer for teaching-related activities. Students are given a unique copy code once classes begin.

Participant Research System - SONA

SONA is the department’s IRB-approved participant management system for recruiting undergraduate student participants for research data collection. Undergraduate students are able to sign up to participate in your research project through the online platform. Participants are compensated with extra credit in some JTC courses. The system is available for your thesis/ dissertation research or for other studies you conduct at CSU. IRB approval is required before use.

Graduate School Forms

The Graduate School requires all students to complete a series of forms at established points throughout their time at Colorado State University. Forms required by the Graduate School have a “GS” prefix and are provided on your RamWeb. The Graduate School is located at 108 Student Services and can be contacted at (970) 491-6817.

RAMweb

GS Form Details

GS Form Deadlines

Required Department Forms

DG1 Temporary Advising Form DG2 Thesis/Research Project/Dissertation Proposal Approval DG3 Graduate Degree Completion Checklist DG4 PhD Program Transfer Credit Approval Form & GS6 Planner (PhD students only) DG5 Ph.D. Coursework Approval & GS6 Planner DG6 M.S. Coursework Planning Form Journalism and Mass Communication Abstract Form

DG1 Temporary Advising Form

This form is filled out by the temporary advisor of new JMC graduate students (MS & PhD) early in or before the start of the 1st semester. Submit the form via email to the JMC Graduate Program Coordinator.

DG2 Thesis/Research Project/Dissertation Proposal Approval

This form should be completed after the student defends the thesis, dissertation, or research project proposal.

Note: Students should bring this form to their thesis, dissertation, or research project proposal defense.

Required Signatures:
Committee members

Form Due Date:
Return to the graduate program coordinator within two working days after the thesis research project, or dissertation proposal defense.

DG3 Graduate Degree Completion Checklist

DG4 PhD Program Transfer Credit Approval Form & GS6 Planner (PhD students only)

In consultation with their advisors, students should complete this form at three separate times:

Upon acceptance into the program and before enrolling in courses: Identify which Master’s and post-Master’s courses you want to transfer toward the PhD degree. Email your temporary advisor for help. This is particularly important if you want to request to substitute prior graduate level social science research methods and/or media communication introductory theory courses for our required courses in these areas: JTC 500 and/or JTC 501.
In the second semester: Indicate a rough outline of the desired program of study.
In the third semester: Indicate a final outline of the desired program of study.

Required Signatures:
Graduate program committee chair, preliminary examination committee chair.

Form Due Date:
This form is submitted three times:

By mid-July: Submit to the graduate program committee.
In the second semester: Submit to the graduate program committee.
In the third semester: Submit to the preliminary examination committee.

DG5 Ph.D. Coursework Approval & GS6 Planner

DG6 M.S. Coursework Planning Form

Journalism and Mass Communication Abstract Form

Department Optional Forms

Special Course Proposal Form Travel Request Form

Special Course Proposal Form

Students who wish to enroll in supervised college teaching (JTC 684 or 784), independent studies (JTC 695 or 795), thesis (JTC 699), or dissertation (JTC 799) credits must complete this form.

Required Signatures:
Supervising faculty member

Form Due Date:
Submit to the department’s graduate program administrator before end of registration period.

Travel Request Form

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get reimbursed for conference travel?

Well ahead of their conference travel dates, graduate students must submit a pre-trip travel request form and evidence that their paper or panel has been accepted to the department chair for approval.

The form explains the university’s procedure for making airline reservations and lists travel costs that are typically covered. Additionally, students may contact their advisers for guidance on filling out travel request forms and arranging for travel.

What resources are available to fund graduate student research projects?

How do I get an adviser and a committee?

All master’s students are assigned a temporary adviser upon entering the graduate program. This adviser helps the student choose courses, become acquainted with the department and with Graduate School procedures, and so on. M.S. students should choose their permanent adviser by the end of their second semester of study. For M.S. students, the committee consists of three faculty members: the JMC faculty adviser, one other JMC faculty member, and one faculty member from outside of the JMC department. Advisers and committee members usually share similar interests with the M.S. student and play a critical role in guiding the student’s thesis or project.

Similarly, Ph.D. students are assigned a temporary adviser upon entering the graduate program. Ph.D. students must select their committee by the end of their second semester or when they have completed 12 credit hours in their program, whichever comes first. The Ph.D. committee consists of five members: a permanent adviser, two additional JMC faculty members, and two faculty members from other departments. Committee members usually share research interests with the Ph.D. student and play a critical role in guiding the student’s course of study, preliminary examinations, and dissertation.

Additional information about the adviser and graduate committee can be found in the M.S. Student Manual and the Ph.D. Student Manual.

If I need to change committee members, how do I do that?

What is the GS6 Program of Study form? How do I fill it out?

The GS6 form is a university-wide form that all graduate students are required to complete. On the form, graduate students identify their committee members and the courses they have taken or will take to fulfill the degree requirements. The form must be completed prior to the fourth semester of regular registration. Failure to complete the form will result in a hold on the student’s account and the inability to register for future classes. Students must work with their advisers to complete the GS6.

Why can't I register for JTC 684, 784, 695, 795, 699, or 799?

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