The MA is research-based: students must take a certain number of compulsory and optional courses (4 for the thesis option, 6 for the research paper). Students then submit a research proposal in collaboration with a professor from the Department of Communication. The proposal is evaluated by one or more members of the faculty, after which students undertake their thesis (collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, writing up results, etc.). The MA program (which serves as a gateway to eventual doctoral studies) represents a unique opportunity to develop an area of expertise and specialization by doing original research. Students enrolled in this program develop skills related to data analysis and interpretation, methodology, the communication of results, etc.