Interdisciplinary Studies: Coordinated Management of Meaning, CAGS

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS)

General Philosophy

Fitchburg State University’s CAGS programs are designed to meet well-defined career needs of professionals who have earned an appropriate master’s degree and who wish to attain greater competency in a combination of areas of study within one of the major CAGS fields offered.

General Description of Program

Each student’s CAGS program is planned under the direction of an advisor and is built on the academic background, professional position, and career goals of the student. CAGS programs consist of an integrated core curriculum, supervised professional practice, an Internship, and elective courses.

General Program of Study

Upon acceptance into the program, the student’s plan of study is developed with and approved by an advisor, who works with the student over the course of study. A minimum of 30 approved graduate credits is required to complete the CAGS with the following restrictions:

• CAGS courses may not repeat work previously accomplished by the student in other graduate degree study
• CAGS credits must be earned in graduate-level courses
• 6000-level professional development courses may not be taken or transferred in as part of the CAGS program of study

Details regarding the CAGS curricula, including information about required and elective courses, may be found in the specific CAGS program description which follows.

CAGS - Coordinated Management of Meaning

Program Advisor:

John Chetro-Szivos, PhD

Fitchburg State University, in association with the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) institute, offers a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Interdisciplinary Studies: Coordinated Management of Meaning through a combination of long distance learning and real time work-shops and seminars. This is a 36 credit program for post Master level students. Students will complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credits and then complete a 6 credit thesis that would demonstrate the ability to apply CMM to real world challenges. The faculty selected for this program are among the leading researchers in the field of CMM research and application. This certificate will be delivered through a combination of long-distance/online learning (synchronous and asynchronous) and on-campus workshops and seminars.

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Interdisciplinary Studies: Coordinated Management of Meaning, a student must have completed a Master’s Degree in Communication or a related field and meet all of the University’s admission requirements.

Required Courses

•  

• COMM 8015 - Introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning 3 cr.
• COMM 8016 - Philosophical Underpinnings of the Coordinated Management of Meaning 3 cr.
• COMM 8017 - A CMM Based Approach to Research and Analysis 3 cr.
• COMM 8018 - Joint Action: Meaning, Thought and Episodic Action 3 cr.
• COMM 8019 - Methods and Techniques of CMM 3 cr.
• COMM 9015 - CMM in Organizational Settings 3 cr.
• COMM 9016 - CMM in Public Dialogue or Participatory Democracy Projects 3 cr.
• COMM 9017 - A Comparative Study of CMM and Other Theories 3 cr.
• COMM 9018 - CMM in Personal and Social Development 3 cr.
• COMM 9019 - Advanced Seminar in CMM 3 cr.
• COMM 9980 - Thesis in Communication 6 cr.

Total Credits for CAGS: 36 credits