Colorado State University, Fort Collins' Department of Journalism and Media Communication - Online Master of Communications and Media Management

Colorado State University, Fort Collins offers an online Master of Communications and Media Management (M.C.M.M.) program through its Department of Journalism and Media Communication. This fully online program requires no campus visits, and uses both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, with required live Zoom sessions that give students the opportunity to learn from and network with instructors, peers, and invited lecturers. The M.C.M.M. program is designed to prepare students for careers in communications, multimedia production, social media, public relations, and more.

The 30 credit-hour, ten course program can be completed in two years, with starts in the fall, spring, and summer terms. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an introduction to ethical and research-driven communication management practices. The curriculum cultivates students’ understanding of communication research methods and media analytics, the digital media production process, and organizational communication principles and strategies, and also features a diverse set of electives to allow students to tailor their course of study to their precise interests in digital media design and development. The program consists of coursework only, with no thesis or capstone requirements.

To complete the program in two years, students take two courses per fall and spring semester, and one course during the summer. For required courses, synchronous Zoom sessions are mandatory one evening a week from 6:30-8:50pm, Mountain Time. These synchronous sessions feature group projects, in-depth case studies, and guest lectures. Required courses include Digital Media Writing and Production, Managing Communication Systems, Technologies of Public Communication, Organizational Media Production, Digital Media Research and Evaluation Methods, and Strategic Digital Communication.

Students in the M.C.M.M. then complete four additional elective courses, which use asynchronous instruction. Electives cover a variety of applied skills and specialized theoretical issues important to today’s communication managers and practitioners, including professional and technical communication, advertising, public relations, web design and management, media ethics, corporate communication, and digital video editing.

While there is no thesis, capstone, or portfolio requirement, students are encouraged to keep a portfolio of their work, assembled from the case studies and projects they have worked on during their time in the program. In addition, coursework in this program will offer examples of professional portfolios and how students can represent themselves and their industry skills online. Students’ portfolios can serve to demonstrate their knowledge and qualifications to potential employers post-graduation.

Colorado State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.