Morehead State University offers an online Master of Arts in Communication through its Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. This fully online program does not require students to visit campus to complete any academic requirements. For online courses, the university uses the Blackboard learning management system. Through Blackboard, students can access course materials, submit assignments, watch lectures, communicate with instructors and peers, and more. The majority of instruction is asynchronous, meaning students are not required to log on to Blackboard for live lectures or discussions.
The Master of Arts in Communication requires 30 credits to graduate and can be completed in as little as 12 months, if students enroll and earn six course credits during a summer session. The program is considered a generalist degree, with a curriculum that blends the study of core concepts and specialty areas within the communication field to help students sharpen their professional skillsets. With the wide variety of courses available, students can design a curriculum that prepares them for roles in areas such as media management, public relations, corporate training, human resources, and community college education. With prior faculty approval, students are also able to take upper-level courses that are not within the communication electives offerings.
The curriculum for the program is divided between core classwork, electives, and an independent and individualized communication research project. The core coursework covers graduate-level research and writing, communication research methods, and communication theory. Students also select one additional core course in one of the following areas: crisis communication, organizational communication, media criticism, and health communication. From there, students choose electives that align with their academic goals and intended career path. Topics that electives cover include public speaking, small group communication, communication teaching and training, public opinion and news media, American popular culture, communication technologies, intercultural communication. Students can also complete an internship for credit, with prior faculty approval.
For their final graduation requirement, students must complete a directed research project under the guidance of faculty. Students tailor this project to their individual professional and academic goals, and complete a research manuscript that explains their findings and conclusions. Upon submitting their manuscript, students must also present their research results to their faculty advisors.
Morehead State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Arts in Communication
Overview
Department: Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Specializations/Concentrations: General Program with Electives
Websites: Department
and Program
Program Format
Structure: Online program with no required campus visits
Instruction Methods: Program uses asynchronous instruction and the Blackboard learning management system
Campus Visits Required: No
Program Length: Full-time: program can be completed in 12 months; Part-time: program can be completed in 2-3 years
Start Dates: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer starts with rolling admission
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
Credits Required: 30 credits (10 courses)
Thesis Required: No
Capstone Options: Thesis and non-thesis options with graduate portfolio
Example Courses: Research Methods in Communication; Communication Theory; Bibliographic Research and Writing; Crisis Communication; Intercultural Communication; Organizational Communication; Media Criticism
Admission Requirements
Application Requirements: Bachelor's degree with coursework in a communication related field
GPA Requirements: Minimum GPA 2.5 (Undergraduate GPA multiplied by GRE score must meet or be greater than 781)
Testing Requirements: GRE required (minimum GRE score of 163 on the verbal section) - students who have already completed a master's program may forego the GRE
Tuition Costs
Estimated Tuition*: ~$17,100 + fees
Cost per Credit Hour: $570 per credit hour
State Authorizations: Program accepts students from all 50 states
