VALDOSTA — While the physical size of Valdosta State University grows daily, the educational area of the university is expanding at the same rate.

In fall 2009, 16 students will begin studying for a Master of Arts in Communication.

The Board of Regents approved the program this summer, Frank Barnas, Associate Professor of Mass Media, said.

“We are now one of the few schools that offers this Master’s program in the southeast,” Barnas said. “We are pleased to be able to offer this advanced degree.”

The graduate degree will be grounded in research and theory and include topics like international media and digital communication, he said.

The degree will cover two areas, Speech Communication and Mass Media.

The advanced degree will prepare students for jobs in a variety of areas within the corporate world, education or to pursue a Ph.D., he said.

“The need for a master’s in communication was especially needed in South Georgia because no one else is servicing this region,” Barnas said.

Professors will begin to review potential candidates in the fall of this year and the department will admit 16 students into the program each fall.

The faculty and courses have been chosen for the degree, the next step is finding the students and developing the course work, Barnas said.

“We are really excited about finding the graduate students,” he said.

Barnas said he will be teaching the international media course for the degree.

Students will need an undergraduate degree in a related field, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a GRE of 1,000 or higher and a recommendation letter.

Students interested in the program can contact VSU’s Department of Communication Arts at 229-333-5820.