What you will study
Whether you’re pursuing a new career or looking to get ahead in your current job,
UCM’s Master of Arts in Communication program will give you the expertise and experience
you need. Learn from Communication master’s degree program faculty who are experts
in communication and social movements, communication and leadership, film and media representation and much more.
Our master’s degree in Communication allows you to pursue a variety of topics, including analysis and promotion of social media, group communication, leadership, managing conflict, message design, persuasion and
verbal and nonverbal communication. The two track options will then allow you to specialize
in one area of communication:
- Applied Communication: Develop skills to evaluate research and how to use it in professional settings. You’ll
develop a comprehensive understanding of communication theories and ways to apply
them in personal and professional contexts.
- Communication Studies: Build on your prior experiences as you analyze and contribute to leading research
in the field. You’ll learn advanced skills that can be used in interpersonal, media
and organizational contexts. You’ll also produce scholarly and creative materials
that showcase your knowledge in a specific area of communication.
Excellence in Communication
- One of the Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (College Factual, 2022)
- Among the Most Popular Colleges for Communication & Journalism (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 10%: Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (College Factual, 2021)
- A Best Online Master’s In Communication Degree Program (Intelligent, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities in communication studies
Throughout our Communication master’s degree program, you'll have various opportunities
to put your learning into practice:
- Research projects: Applied Communication and Communication Studies students culminate their graduate
program with a research project that applies to a personal or professional interest
related to communication. For example, past grad students have developed studies in
analyzing gendered communication in the workplace or the impact of media on stereotypes.
- M.A. Thesis: For Communication Studies students who are planning to pursue their Ph.D., a thesis
offers the opportunity to work with a faculty member to create and complete an academic
primary research study. The student's experience aids them in being prepared for a
Ph.D. program.
What can you do with a Communication master’s degree from UCM?
UCM’s graduate program in Communication will prepare you for senior communication
jobs in advertising and marketing agencies, government agencies, social media oversight,
nonprofit management, news and media teams, public and private school districts, sales
teams and more. Some of our graduate students go on to pursue their Ph.D. in communication.
Looking for advanced communication jobs?
A UCM Master of Arts in Communication will enable you to move your career forward
in nearly any industry. Use our interactive tool below to learn more about job outlooks,
salary expectations and more.
Financial assistance options for master’s degrees in Communication
We offer several ways for you to finance grad school, including:
- Graduate teaching assistantships for public speaking courses
- Graduate teaching and coaching jobs with our Speech and Debate Team.
You may also qualify for program-specific scholarships. Search our UCM Scholarship Finder for opportunities and apply.
Meet Marisa M.
MA Communication ’21 - Assistant Director of Speech and Debate, Simpson College
“UCM’s master’s degree in Communication provides the preparation students need to
succeed inside and outside the classroom. The coursework is rigorous and rewarding,
and the connections I made with faculty members were invaluable. The faculty do everything
in their power to help you flourish now and in your future.”
Leading Faculty Who Will Help You Succeed
Get expert guidance online and in person
UCM’s Communication program faculty are teachers and researchers at the top of their
field. They support UCM’s graduate students by bringing their expertise in media representation,
organizational communication, persuasion and more to their in-person and online classes.
As leading thinkers in the field, they will prepare you for wherever your communication
studies take you.
Career Advice That Helps You Take Your Next Step
Small cohorts give you more time with our communication experts
UCM’s small classes ensure that our faculty have more time for you. Whether you’re
attending classes in person or online, our Communication master’s degree program faculty
are ready to help you achieve your career aspirations. With graduate classes limited
to 15 to 25 students, UCM’s faculty are available for advising when you need them.
Meet Jessica B.
MA Communication ’22 - English Language Arts Teacher
“Because of UCM’s master’s in Communication program, I can confidently say that I
am at my best both professionally and personally. Not only has the program affirmed
my passion and talent for writing, but it has also challenged me and brought me out
of my comfort zone.”
Meet Stephen J.
MA Communication ’18 - Youth Academy Case Manager
“Communication Studies at UCM provided me with the skills and opportunities to develop
a flexible portfolio that has provided me with the chance to work in fields ranging
from academia to web design. Even now, the skills I learned have given me a keen eye
and the ability to help the youth I work with — even during their most vulnerable
and crisis-ridden times.”
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Admission Requirements
Must have a 2.50 overall undergraduate GPA
Have at least 15 hours of undergraduate communication courses.
Complete and submit an online application to UCM’s Graduate School and International Admissions along with your official transcripts.
In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must submit the following
items to the program coordinator:
- A statement of purpose
- A writing sample
- Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
In addition, international students must score higher than 550 paper-based or 79 on
the IBT TOEFL to be admitted.
This program is based on a cohort model and only admits students in the Fall semester.
The deadline for applying is July 15th. Submissions after this date will not be reviewed.
If you have questions about the program, please contact the graduate coordinator (Dr.
Hillary Pennell; hpennell@ucmo.edu) for more information.
Graduate Assistantships
This program offers teaching assistantships for Comm1000- Public Speaking. A full-time
teaching assistantship requires students to teach 2 face-to-face Public Speaking courses
per semester for up to 4 semesters. This position covers 10 hours of graduate tuition
fees for both fall and spring semesters as well as a monthly stipend (approximately
$800 per month Aug.-May). There are no assistantships in the summer. Please contact
Dr. Nicole Freeman (nfreeman@ucmo.edu) or Dr. Hillary Pennell (hpennell@ucmo.edu) for more information.
This program also offers teaching/coaching positions for the Communication Speech
and Debate Team. Please contact Dr. Jack Rogers (rogers@ucmo.edu) or Dr. Nicole Freeman (nfreeman@ucmo.edu) for more information.
To apply, please click on the link https://jobs.ucmo.edu/, click on the “search jobs” tab, and enter “communication teaching assistants” in
the search bar. This will bring up any position available in the program.
