M.A. Communications

Students can complete their degree in as little as 18 months as a full-time student and 24 months as a part-time student. A standard full time load for a semester is 9 units or 3 courses. There are online and evening options available.

You will design a study plan, in consultation with the graduate advisor, which will map out your course of study. Students may transfer up to 9 semester units of approved graduate study plan coursework from other accredited institutions.

In designing a flexible study plans, you may select from courses in mass communication, advertising, entertainment and tourism, journalism and public relations. In consultation with the graduate advisor, students are able to customize a course of study to meet their own academic, personal, or professional goals and objectives.

Flexible Study Plans

Completing your master's degree in communications provides you with the critical thinking and knowledge you need to compete and excel in media professions. Use our extensive networking system to enter a media profession, or, use your professional project degree to advance into executive or management positions at your present workplace. You can also use your master's degree to teach in the community college system or to enter a Ph.D. program by writing a thesis. See the flexible study plans webpage for details about the concentration in Mass Communications Research and Theory and the concentration in Professional Communications and Communications in Tourism and Entertainment.

Before completing the first 9 units of coursework, you will design a study plan, in consultation with the graduate coordinator, which will map out your course of study. Study plans can be amended, but they provide a sense of direction at the outset. Students may transfer up to 9 semester units of approved graduate study plan coursework from other accredited institutions.

In designing a study plan, you may select from courses in mass communication, advertising, entertainment and tourism, journalism and public relations. The uniquely interdisciplinary curriculum may also incorporate courses from other departments such as American studies, business, psychology, public administration, and sociology. In consultation with the graduate advisor, students are able to customize a course of study to meet their own academic, personal, or professional goals and objectives.