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There are currently eight schools in Kentucky that offer a total of 13 master’s in communication programs, six of which are campus-based, and seven of which are online. Among these 13 programs, students can choose specializations ranging from organizational communication to health communication and mass communication. All schools listed on this page are non-profit educational institutions that have been regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Kentucky
Schools throughout Kentucky offer campus-based and hybrid master’s in communication programs with a wide variety of specialization options.
Bellarmine University’s School of Communication in Louisville offers a Master of Arts in Communication with an optional concentration in Health Care. Required core courses for this program include classes in communication theory and academic literature, intercultural communication, digital media studies, communication ethics, research methods in communication, and media studies. Students then take elective classes according to their interests, in areas such as strategic communication, political communication, leadership communication, global communication, social change campaigns, and intercultural communication. Students who elect to pursue the optional Health Care Concentration take online electives in communication and health technology, designing health promotion programs, statistics and program evaluation, and health behavior change theory, which are also a part of Bellarmine’s Master of Health Science. Note: Bellarmine University also offers a Master of Science in Digital Media which has overlapping coursework with the MA in Communication, but also features more courses in technical communication and digital media practices. Students of the MA in Communication can choose electives from the MS in Digital Media program, with advisor approval.
Murray State University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications offers a Master’s in Mass Communications with an optional Concentration in Public Relations. Students in this program can elect to earn either a Master of Science or a Master of Arts in Communication. This program requires courses that cover mass communication theory, philosophical concepts and ethical issues in mass media, American journalism, global mass communications, and mass media as an industry. Students can then choose from courses in areas such as new media, advertising and public relations, media and its interactions with culture and gender, strategic communications, and internship and study abroad opportunities. Students who select the Public Relations concentration complete a curriculum that more heavily emphasizes new media technologies, public relations, advertising, and strategic communication, as well as crisis communication, marketing planning, and social entrepreneurship. For their final graduation requirement, students complete a comprehensive project that allows them to synthesize what they have learned in the creation of a professional deliverable.
Murray State University’s Department of Organizational Communication offers a Master’s in Organizational Communication that prepares students to engage in daily professional communications, human resources tasks, employee training and education, and public relations responsibilities for corporate, non-profit, and other organizational settings. As with the Master’s in Mass Communications, students can choose whether to earn a Master of Arts or a Master of Science. Students in this program take classes that explore communication technology in organizational settings, conflict mediation strategies, interpersonal communication, organizational communication principles, research in organizational communication, crisis communication, and communication in training and educational contexts. Students can elect to complete a master’s thesis or a comprehensive examination as their final graduation requirement. This program features some online course options, enabling students to pursue a hybrid course of study if they wish.
| Online Master's in Communication Programs that Accept Students from Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Syracuse University | Online Master of Science in Communications with Specializations in Strategic Communications, Journalism Innovation, and Media Management | Program Website |
| Georgetown University | Online Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications | Program Website |
| Wake Forest University | Online Master of Communications | Program Website |
The University of Kentucky’s Department of Communication, located in Lexington, offers a Master of Arts in Communication with areas of specialization in Health Communication, Instructional Communication, Media and Mass Communication, and Strategic and Organizational Communication. This program prepares students for work for corporations, non-profits, journalism and mass media organizations, and other settings that require a strong understanding of communication’s role in society and how to optimize communication strategies for different scenarios. Students take classes in communication theory, quantitative research methods in communication, statistical analysis for professional communication, interpersonal communication, mass communication theory, and mass communications and society. From there, students tailor their course of study through electives in areas such as international communication, communication assessment and intervention, communication leadership, and health communication. Students then have the option to complete either a master’s thesis or additional elective coursework to finish their degree.
The University of Louisville’s Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication with concentrations in Interactional Communication, Integrated Communication, and Social Advocacy. Students take core classes in communication ethics, qualitative and quantitative research methods in communication, and communication theory and methods. After these core classes, students must choose one Interactional Communication course (course selections include interpersonal communication, health communication, risk communication, organizational communication, and corporate communication), one Integrated Communication course (for example, classes in computer-mediated communication, mass communication, and public relations and crisis management), and one course in Social Advocacy (which includes selections in public discourse, multicultural communication, conflict management, and public communication campaigns). After completing the core program requirements, students progress to electives and also must complete either a master’s thesis for credit or a graduate-level practicum in an area that is relevant to their course of study.
Western Kentucky University’s School of Media & Communication offers a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication. Students of this program take core courses in organizational communication theory and both qualitative and quantitative research methods in communication before progressing to electives in areas such as organizational communication and culture, health communication, non-profit communication, global leadership communication, corporate advocacy, crisis communication, group communication, multinational and intercultural communication, power dynamics in organizations, conflict mediation, family communication, and interpersonal communication. Students have a choice of completing either a master’s thesis culminating in an oral defense, or a comprehensive examination along with additional coursework.
Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Kentucky
Currently, six schools in Kentucky offer online master’s in communication programs. Online programs may be ideal for students who do not live near a campus-based program and do not want to relocate for graduate school. This includes students who live in Owensboro and Henderson, or students who live in Southeast Kentucky.
Asbury University’s School of Communication Arts, which is based in Wilmore, offers an online Master of Arts in Communication. This program was created to prepare students to step into advanced marketing, advertising, and public relations roles, as well as positions in non-profit and global communication. Students take core courses in advanced communication theory, intercultural communication, integrated communication strategies, public relations, and communication research methods. In addition, they take a selection of interdisciplinary courses in areas such as global communication, viral marketing and media, cross-platform storytelling, entrepreneurship and innovation, international business development, and media ethics. For their final graduation requirement, students must fulfill either a communication apprenticeship or a capstone thesis or project.
Morehead State University’s Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences offers an Online Master of Arts in Communication, which is a generalist program with electives that students can take according to their interests and professional objectives. Students take three core courses in graduate research and writing, communication research methods, and communication theory before selecting an additional core course in crisis communication, media criticism, organizational communication, or health communication. From there, they have the flexibility to choose from electives that cover topics in news media and public opinion, American popular culture, small group communication, communication technologies, advanced public speaking, intercultural communication, and communication teaching and training. For their final graduation requirement, students complete a directed study project that culminates in a research manuscript and a oral presentation before faculty advisors.
Murray State University’s Department of Organizational Communication offers an Online Master’s in Organizational Communication that is equivalent to its campus-based program in terms of course content and sequencing, as well as graduation requirements. Additionally, Murray State University’s Master’s in Mass Communications is available online, with the same course options and faculty mentorship opportunities as the corresponding on-campus program.
Union College offers an online Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Communications Management, which features a set curriculum totaling 30 credits that combines management and leadership principles with advanced concepts in branding, integrated marketing communication (IMC), social media, market research, and e-commerce. Students in this program take courses in business ethics and social responsibility, strategic decision-making, organizational change and leadership, internet consumer behavior, and managerial leadership analysis before progressing to marketing-specific courses in IMC, social media marketing, brand management, and marketing data analytics. As part of their graduation requirements, students must conduct a case study of a Fortune 500 company that analyzes this company’s past, current, and future organizational challenges. Students deliver written and oral analyses of these challenges, along with recommendations for how to address them, before program faculty and peers. This program can be completed in less than two years.
Finally, the University of Kentucky’s School of Information Science offers an Online Master of Science in Information Communication Technology with tracks in Health, Technology and Analytics, and Policy and Regulation. Students in this program learn about how computer technology, software, telecommunications, and other information systems technologies impact communications between organizations and their stakeholders, including the public, investors, and other organizations. Students also receive training in how to leverage these technologies for different kinds of communication initiatives. Core classes in this program cover topics such as information communication technology in society, leadership in informatics, data science, research methods in information communication technology, and data analysis and visualization. From there, students take electives and concentration courses, which include classes on knowledge management, electronic information services in the health sciences, information architecture, security informatics, public health, medical informatics, technology and digital citizenship, cybercrime and digital law, and human and computer interaction. Students must complete a practicum and an exit assessment as their final graduation requirements.
Western Kentucky University’s School of Media & Communication offers an online version of its Master of Arts in Organizational Communication. This program is equivalent in terms of curriculum, faculty advising, and final graduation requirements to the on-campus program.
In addition to online programs mentioned above, there are a number of out-of-state schools that offer online master’s in communication programs that accept students residing in Kentucky. An out-of-state program may be a good option for students who wish to explore additional specialization options not offered online by in-state schools. While the majority of online programs accept students from Kentucky, it is possible that some programs may not be authorized to enroll online students who currently reside in the state. Therefore, prospective students should check with an admissions advisor before applying to an out-of-state program to ensure that they accept students from Kentucky.
Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Kentucky
| Online Master's in Communication Programs that Accept Students from Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Syracuse University | Online Master of Science in Communications with Specializations in Strategic Communications, Journalism Innovation, and Media Management | Program Website |
| Georgetown University | Online Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications | Program Website |
| Wake Forest University | Online Master of Communications | Program Website |
| West Virginia University | Online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications with Specializations in Creative Strategy, Data Marketing Communications, Digital and Social Media, Healthcare Communication, Higher Education Marketing, Management, and Public Relations Leadership | Program Website |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online Master of Arts in Communication with Optional Concentrations in New Media & Marketing, and Public Relations | Program Website |
All Master’s in Communication Programs in Kentucky
Campus programs, 
Campus/Hybrid programs, 
Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~5 campus visits per year)
