Graduate Programs
M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric
Communication practitioners need a strong research base upon which to make design decisions. The M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric enables students to study the knowledge base of communication research, to gain research skills used in adding to that base, and to gain experience in applying research to practice. As part of their program students are able to study web interaction, computer-mediated communication, communication marketing, and other modes of technologically mediated communication.
The M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric draws on the core M.S. courses and also gives students a grounding in analytical methods and in the research literature of a specific theoretical area. The program prepares students for applied research in industry or government, or for further study in a doctoral program at Rensselaer or elsewhere.
The program accepts students from discourse-related fields such as English, communication arts, or journalism and students with research experience in the social sciences, physical sciences, or engineering.
Download a guide about the M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric:
 Master's Program Guide (.pdf, revised 08.25.2009)
To learn more about the M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric at Rensselaer, use our automated Inquiry Wizard. You can request further information be delivered to you as email attachments or by postal mail. You can also use the inquiry system to send an email directly to Kathy Colman, LL&C Recruitment Coordinator.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric requires satisfactory completion of ten courses. Seven courses must be those offered by LL&C, while others may be chosen from courses offered by LL&C or by other departments.
- Writing Requirement:
- Theory Requirement:
- Research Methods Requirement:
- Theoretical Area Requirement:
- Capstone Requirement:
- Open Electives:
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- one course
- one course
- two courses
- three courses
- one course
- two courses
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The required courses, and research project or thesis (Capstone), give students an understanding of theory, practice, and methods needed for independent research. The electives enable students to acquire additional skills and knowledge in areas suited to their individual interests.
To add depth to your communication knowledge and skills, you include either the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Certificate or Graphics Certificate to the required M.S. coursework, unless the your advisor and the M.S. advisory committee approve a different plan. Both certificates increase your skills and marketability.
Instead of these certificates, you may choose to take electives in communication, marketing and management (from Rensselaer's Lally School of Management and Technology), or software engineering (from Rensselaer's Department of Computer Science).
Students must take one course in Writing and will meet this requirement with the following:
Students must take one course in Theory and will meet this requirement with the following:
Other courses may be designated for this requirement on a semester-by-semester basis.
Research Methods Requirement
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Students must take two courses in Research Methods, and all must take one of the following courses:
Students are to select an additional research methods course from the Department's offerings or from another department, such as Cognitive Science or Science and Technology Studies. This methods course may fall into critical, qualitative, or quantitative areas. The specific choice of a course should be guided by each student's career goals.
Students must take three courses within a defined theoretical area to give students command of the scholarly literature in a field. The theoretical areas described below are samples that are drawn from courses regularly made available by the Department.
Students may work out different theoretical areas with their advisors and with an eye to future employment or doctoral work. Since course offerings are rotated through the schedules for any given year, students should ensure that they will have access to desired courses when they need them.
Courses for these theoretical areas are added regularly to Department course offerings. Students will be able to go beyond the courses listed here when making their selections, and should not regard these lists as exhaustive.
Communication and Electronic Technologies
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Courses in this area address the effects of electronic media and the role of media in work and interpersonal processes. Students selecting this concentration are likely to conduct usability tests in industry or conduct studies of media effects in academe.
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Media Design and Theory
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Courses in media design and theory offer scholarly work on effective layout and content for electronic media. Students selecting this concentration likely will apply their knowledge to analysis and design of specific media production decisions or may conduct applied media research in academia.
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Rhetoric and Culture
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Courses in rhetoric and culture take an explicitly humanistic perspective on analysis of communication and media. Students selecting this concentration are likely to go on to conduct humanistic research in rhetoric, popular culture, or literary fields. Many, though not all, students selecting this area are likely to work in academic rather than industry settings.
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Students must take one of the following courses as their Capstone course:
The Capstone project and thesis are intended to demonstrate students' ability to conduct independent scholarship. This independent work should build on work done in the methods courses and on the knowledge gained from the theoretical area and courses chosen by individual students.
Students must complete electives, chosen in consultation with their advisor, to meet the ten-course minimum requirement for graduation.
Electives may be chosen from among course offerings in the Department of Language, Literature, and Communication and from other academic units such as Cognitive Science, Science and Technology Studies, and the Lally School of Management and Technology.
The Department strongly urges students to take either the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Certificate or Graphics Certificate as part of their elective courses.
This rotation indicates the availability of courses for upcoming semesters. Note that some courses are only offered alternate years.
You may wish to refer to this course rotation grid while developing your personal plan of study.
Fall 2008
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WRITING
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- Writing for Promotion and Marketing (WRIT-6xxx)
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THEORY
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RESEARCH METHODS
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COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
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MEDIA DESIGN AND THEORY
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RHETORIC AND CULTURE
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CAPSTONE
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Spring 2009
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WRITING
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THEORY
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RESEARCH METHODS
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COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
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MEDIA DESIGN AND THEORY
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RHETORIC AND CULTURE
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CAPSTONE
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Fall 2009
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WRITING
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- Writing for Promotion and Marketing (WRIT-6xxx)
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THEORY
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RESEARCH METHODS
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COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
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MEDIA DESIGN AND THEORY
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RHETORIC AND CULTURE
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CAPSTONE
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Spring 2010
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WRITING
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THEORY
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RESEARCH METHODS
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COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
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MEDIA DESIGN AND THEORY
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RHETORIC AND CULTURE
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CAPSTONE
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