2024 Master’s in Communication Programs in Arizona (Campus, Online)

Campus Programs in Arizona
Online Programs in Arizona
Directory of All Programs in Arizona

Arizona has three schools that offer a total of nine master’s in communication programs. Of the nine programs, six are campus-based programs, and three are online. Across the nine different programs, students have several program specializations to choose from, including communication studies, health communication, and interpersonal communication. Some of the programs described below also allow students to tailor the elective portion of their curriculum to meet their career goals and academic interests. All the schools listed on this page, which include Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona, are non-profit institutions that have been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Arizona

Arizona State University offers three campus-based master’s in communication programs. ASU’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts offers a Master of Science in Technical Communication program that teaches students about the intersection of different communication technologies and effective rhetoric. Students take courses covering topics such as technical communication, social media, multimedia messaging, user experience design, visual communication and data representation, technical and scientific reporting, and web design and authoring.

ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, with a particular emphasis in advocacy, for students who would like to study advanced communication theories and learn skills that are applicable to a wide range of careers in communication. This program covers persuasive communication, communication research methodology, and communication for humanistic objectives.

Finally, ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers two different Master’s of Mass Communication degree tracks. First, there is a mid-career program designed for journalists and other communication professionals who already have substantial career experience, and wish to build new skills to advance their career. Students who are admitted into this program are paired with a Cronkite faculty member and are allowed to customize their program according to their goals. The second Master of Mass Communication track at ASU is open to any student with a bachelor’s degree. Students in this program can choose to focus in either Journalism or Strategic Communications. All of ASU’s master’s in communication programs require students to complete a “Capstone Experience,” which, depending on the program, may be a research thesis, an applied project, a portfolio, and/or a comprehensive examination to demonstrate what they have learned during their program.

Northern Arizona University’s (NAU) School of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication with optional emphasis areas in Documentary Studies, and Strategic Communication. This program has both campus and hybrid options. (In addition, this program is available fully online, but without the optional emphasis areas; please see the section below on online programs for more details.) Students in this program take core courses in communication theory and its application, the history of and recent developments in communication research, and methods of communication research and criticism. Students in the Strategic Communication track take courses in reputation management, social media analytics, audience psychology and behavior, crisis communication, and promotional content development. Students who elect to take the Documentary Studies track take classes in storytelling and other documentary skills, documentary research, and the history of the documentary as a narrative form. Students of NAU’s program must complete either a research thesis or project to demonstrate their understanding of program concepts.

The University of Arizona’s Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication with areas of specialization in Interpersonal Communication, Media, and Health Communication. The program is designed to be flexible so that students can tailor their course selections according to their academic interests and career goals. The Interpersonal Communication specialization allows students to explore communication dynamics between individuals and small groups through courses that cover family communication, team dynamics, intercultural communication, and more.

The Media concentration allows students to study the impact of media messaging on different demographic groups, how the media can influence political and economic decisions, and how to leverage new media technologies. The Health Communication specialization focuses on using effective communication strategies to promote patient education and community health. Similarly to other programs, this program allows students to choose between a master’s thesis or a non-thesis capstone option as their final graduation requirement.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Arizona

For students who do not live in Maricopa County or in driving distance to Flagstaff or Tucson, online programs provide access to master’s in communication programs without the need to relocate for graduate school. This may be ideal for Arizona residents who live in cities like Yuma or Bullhead City, or in other parts of West and Northwest Arizona. Currently, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University offer online master’s in communication programs.

Arizona State University offers an online Master of Science in Technical Communication program through its College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, and an online Master of Arts in Communication program through its Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. ASU’s online MS in Technical Communication is equivalent to the campus-based program in both curriculum and graduation requirements. The online MA in Communication program provides students with skills in strategic communication and business communication strategies for the for-profit and non-profit spaces. Students learn about persuasive rhetoric, global communication, workplace communication, and conflict mediation. As with their other programs, ASU’s online Master of Arts in Communication program requires students to complete a Capstone Experience.

Northern Arizona University (NAU) offers an online Master of Arts in Communication that is equivalent in courses and graduation requirements to NAU’s on campus-based master’s degree program, except that the online program does not currently have emphasis options. As with the on-campus program, students in the online program have the support of an advisor during the completion of their master’s thesis or capstone project.

Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Arizona

Online Master's in Communication Programs that Accept Students from Arizona
Johns Hopkins University Online Master of Arts in Communication with Concentrations in Public and Media Relations, Political Communication, Health Communication, Digital Communication, and Corporate and Non-Profit Communication		Program Website
Arizona State University Online Master of Arts in Communication (Organizational/Workplace Communication)		Program Website
Syracuse University Online Master of Science in Communications with Specializations in Strategic Communications, Journalism Innovation, and Media Management		Program Website
Maryville University Online Master's in Strategic Communication and Leadership with an Optional Concentration in Emerging & Digital Media		Program Website