Exceptional students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the Department of Communication Studies are encouraged to apply to our Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program (ABM). This program is open to all Communication Studies students regardless of their concentration that meet the criteria for admission.
How it Works
To accelerate progress through a master’s degree in the Department of Communication Studies, a limited number of graduate courses (up to 12 credit hours) may be counted as a Communication Studies electives towards both the completion of the undergraduate degree and the Communication Management graduate degree.
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The Accelerated Master’s Program is for exceptional students. The accepted student will have:
- an average GPA of 3.5 (or better) in communication studies courses,
- an average GPA of 3.5 (or better) in all UAB courses,
- a minimum of 60 credit hours completed; 36 of these credit hours must have been taken at UAB
- completed at least one half of their communication course requirements.
Before applying, the student must meet with their Communication Management graduate program director, undergraduate advisor, and the concentration coordinator to discuss program requirements; students should also meet with a financial aid/scholarship advisor to determine the impact of ABM on their scholarships and/or aid award.
Students will submit their ABM application through the UAB Graduate School’s online portal. In addition, students must complete the Communication Management ABM program application form, and supply for review their official undergraduate transcripts, one letter of reference, a current C.V. or resume, and a personal statement.
Admission is by a committee chaired by the graduate program director, consisting of the graduate program director and the CMST concentration coordinator.
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To maintain status in ABM, the student must:
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA average
- Maintain at least halftime-student status at UAB (with exceptions for medical emergencies)
Students will be withdrawn from the ABM program if they are unable to meet these requirements. If a student is withdrawn, they will retain credit for the courses already taken in the program.
Once students complete their B.A., they enter the M.A. program as a typical graduate student and must maintain the graduate program requirements.
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To accelerate progress through the M.A. degree, up to 12 hours of M.A. courses may be counted as communication studies electives towards the completion of the B.A. degree and towards the completion of the M.A. degree.
All graduate may be used for undergraduate B.A. credit, excluding:
- CM 618 Independent Study1
- CM 675 Graduate Internship
- CM 698 Masters Applied Project
- CM 699 Thesis Research
CM 618, 675, 698, and 699 can only be use for the M.A. in CM, upon graduating with a B.A.
1CM 618 may be allowed in special circumstances with the approval of the ABM committee and the support of the faculty member directing the independent study. These cases are to be seen as exceptions and are generally to be discouraged.
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Each student must develop a specific plan of study with the help and approval of the graduate program director and communication studies concentration coordinator. Students must adhere to this plan of study while in the program. Changes to the course of study may be made with approval.
The qualified Communication Studies student may complete the ABM in five years without recourse to summer courses. (availability of required classes in Broadcast, Public Relations and Sports Communication may alter progress in those concentrations). This is a sample plan only. Students may move faster or slower through the program depending upon a number of variables unique to their personal plan.
Year Fall Spring 1 CMST 105
UG CoreCMST 103
CMST 110
UG Core2 CMST 255
3 hour CMST electives6 hours CMST electives
UG CoreUG Core 3 CMST elective
CM 601
UG Core3 hours CMST elective
3 hours CM 6xx
UG Core4 3 hours CMST elective
CM6xx
UG CoreCMST 494
3 hours CM6xx
UG Core5 12 hours CM 6xx 6 hours CM 6xx
6 hour CM 698 (or two additional CM 6xx)