Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication - Online Master's in Communication Programs

Ohio University offers two online master’s programs that are geared towards communication professionals seeking to advance their careers. The first is an online Master of Communication, and the second is an online Master of Arts in Organizational Communication. While the Master of Communication is offered through Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication, the MA in Organizational Communication is offered through the School of Communication Studies, which is part of the Scripps College of Communication.

Both degree programs can be completed fully online, as students are not required to make any visits to campus. Ohio University eCampus, which supports both programs, uses a variety of online and distance learning technologies, including the Blackboard Learn learning management system, to facilitate student learning. Students can participate in online class projects and discussions, hold video conferences with instructors, access course materials, submit assignments, and more.

The Master of Communication is a highly flexible, 30-credit program that enables students to specialize in a number of areas of professional communication, and to also earn graduate certificates in these areas to designate their expertise to employers post-graduation. There are seven graduate certificate options, which students can stack as their course credit availability allows: Communication Diversity, Ethics, and Inclusivity; Communication and Change; Crisis Communication; Digital Media Transformation & Innovation; Media Tools for Professional Communication; Strategic Communication Management; and Team Leadership and Communication. This program can be completed in as few as 15 months of full-time study. The Master of Communication requires only two core courses: an Introduction to Graduate Research in Communication, and the culminating Master’s Capstone. Aside from these two courses (six credits), the remaining course credits are devoted to classes that comprise the graduate certificates.

For example, students who wish to earn the Communication and Change graduate certificate take courses in Instructional Training and Development in Communication, Communication and Persuasion, and Communication and Information Diffusion. Meanwhile, students who opt for the Communication Diversity, Ethics, and Inclusivity graduate certificate take courses in Facilitating Difficult Conversations; Ethics, Mass Media, and Society; and Gender, Race, and Class in Journalism and Mass Media. The Crisis Communication graduate certificate consists of a Crisis Communication Workshop, as well as courses in Crisis Communication and Planning, Crisis Communication Strategy, and Social Analytics in Crisis Communication, while the Team Leadership and Communication certificate requires courses in Cross-Cultural Communication, Communication in Social Conflict, and Communication Process in Small Groups. Students have the freedom to mix and match graduate certificates to design a program of study that precisely meets their professional goals. The Master’s Capstone allows students to complete an applied research project that synthesizes all the concepts, principles, and methodologies they have learned in their coursework.

The Master of Arts in Organizational Communication requires 30 credits to graduate and can be completed in approximately 15 months (two classes per semester) to 24 months (one class per semester). The degree is designed for working professionals seeking to advance their knowledge of the communication field, in particular decision making, problem solving, and strategic planning and organization. The curriculum emphasizes a well-rounded approach to theory and practice, introducing students to advanced concepts in measurement methodologies, communicative practices, instructional training, cross-cultural communication, and more.

The curriculum is divided between core coursework (8 credits), electives (16 credits) and capstone experience (6 credits). The first year of the graduate program familiarizes students with communication theory and research methodologies. The two-class core curriculum is comprised of Communicative Practices in Organizations and Measurement Methodology in Communication. Through these courses, students explore the connection between organizational structure, research, communication, and change, while also learning how to conduct theoretical and methodological analyses of organizational structure and communication. They also learn measurement principles, techniques, and evaluation processes used in the organizational communication field.

After their core classes, students must also complete a four-class sequence of additional courses that are approved by the program administrator. These courses vary according to the student’s interest and professional goals. Example courses include Communication and Information Diffusion, Cross-Cultural Communication, Instructional Training & Development in Communication, Communication in Social Conflict, and Gender and Communication. Through these classes, students learn about the principles and processes underpinning organizational development, theories of instructional design, data analysis and data-informed communication strategy, communication’s relationship to cultures and language, and communication tactics for managing conflict in a variety of social and organizational situations. The program culminates with a capstone experience, allowing students to select comprehensive examinations, an applied project, or a master’s thesis.

Ohio University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.