UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Master of Arts in Communications and Technology
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Opened in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the University of Alberta has grown to be one of Canada's foremost research-intensive universities. The University is located in Edmonton, the vibrant cosmopolitan capital of the province of Alberta.

The University of Alberta serves nearly 34,000 students in more than 200 undergraduate programs and 170 graduate programs. The University's pioneering spirit inspires faculty members and students to advance knowledge through research, to seek innovation in teaching and learning, and to find new ways to serve the people of Alberta and the world.

Distance Learning Program

The Master of Arts in Communications and Technology (MACT) program has attracted communication professionals from the world's leading organizations, including the United Nations, the Government of Canada, and Microsoft Corporation. Currently, students and graduates reside across Canada and the United States, and internationally.

The MACT is designed for individuals who seek to provide reflective and informed leadership in the management and use of information and communications technologies in their organizations and fields. Communication is examined across all contexts in the program: interpersonal, small group, public speaking, organizational, mass, and intercultural.

Delivery Media

MACT students use the Internet to access a course Web site, available within WebCT, that presents any required academic and administrative information. An electronic conferencing system is used for exchanging messages and distributing information during the term.

Students can access the course and do the work required for it whenever it is convenient for them—in the early morning, during their lunch hour, in the evening, or over the weekend. Chat sessions may be arranged at specified times, but these are optional and are not graded.

Since the MACT is a Web-based program, students are required to have a Pentium-generation computer that can sustain an Internet connection with a minimum speed of 56K, along with word-processing capabilities. WebCT is accessible using either a Mac or PC and with either a Netscape or Explorer browser. The faster the Internet connection and the more powerful the computer, the quicker a student is able to complete his or her work online.

Program of Study

The MACT requires the completion of seven core courses, three elective courses (offered by the University of Alberta or another recognized university), and a final applied research project.

Four of the core courses are completed during two Spring Institutes, held each May at the University of Alberta, with the remaining three core courses completed online during the fall and winter terms. Core courses are scheduled to permit completion of the degree by part-time study within two academic years.

Course work covers small-group and organizational communication; the theory, history, and practice of information and communications technologies; and the research skills associated with analyzing and evaluating these technologies, particularly as they are managed and used in the workplace.

Credit Options

Students may complete approved elective courses offered by other recognized universities. Credit for elective courses may be granted for course work previously completed. For more detailed information, prospective students should contact the program by e-mail or telephone.

Faculty

Professors associated with the program are engaged in disciplinary research connected to the theme of organizational uses of information and communication technologies. Students should visit the MACT Web site for detailed information about faculty members' publications, presentations, and research interests.

Admission

Admission to the program is competitive with up to 25 students being admitted each year. Admission requirements for the MACT are as follows: a four-year degree from a recognized university; a GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent) on a 4.0 scale; at least three years of relevant professional experience; three current and application-specific letters of reference; a letter of interest, which should state the applicant's academic or professional area of specialization, specifically how completion of the program would support the applicant's professional practice, and identifying a provisional topic for the final applied research project; where applicable, a TOEFL score of 600. For more information, students should contact the program by e-mail or telephone.

Tuition and Fees

The total cost for the MACT over a two-year period includes instructional and noninstructional fees for 36 credits of course work. In addition, a nonrefundable program fee of Can$3000 is due in each of the two years of study. A continuing program fee of Can$1000 is due in each additional year of study.

For international students, whether from the U.S. or another country, a 100 percent differential fee applies. Complete graduate fee information is available online at http://gradfile.fqsro.ualberta.ca/regfees/.

A Can$100 nonrefundable application fee is charged for each graduate studies application at the University of Alberta. Currently, the total cost for program texts is between Can$500 and $700.

Financial Aid

The MACT program does not offer any scholarships. For University of Alberta student award information, students should visit http://gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca.

Applying

The annual application deadline for the MACT program is December 15 each year. Applicants must complete an Application for Graduate Admission, which can be found at http://gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca/applyadmission/.

In addition to a completed Application for Graduate Admission, students must provide the following documents by December 15: official postsecondary transcripts; a statement of interest; three current and application-specific letters of reference; a TOEFL score of 600, where applicable; and a current curriculum vitae. All supporting documents should be sent directly to the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology Program office.

Students should visit the MACT Web site for further details. A decision regarding admission to the program is sent to applicants by mail in February.

CONTACT

Master of Arts in Communications and Technology
Faculty of Extension
University of Alberta
8303-112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2T4
Phone: 780-492-1501
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.extension.ualberta.ca/mact