Professional Communication
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Communication (907) 474-6591
Department of Journalism and Broadcasting (907) 474-7761
Degrees: M.A.
Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30-33 credits beyond bachelor's degree
The M.A. in Professional Communication is intended to provide advanced education for individuals in or pursuing communication related careers in public/nonprofit organizations, media organizations, health care organizations, or in higher education. Students take courses that focus on written and oral communication theory and practices.
The degree has two tracks: The Journalism & Broadcasting track is pragmatically based for the practicing professional. The Communication track is both theoretically and pragmatically oriented to prepare students for the professional workplace or for doctoral study.
Graduate Degree Requirements
Professional Communication -- M.A. Degree
Degree Requirements
- Complete the general university requirements and master's degree requirements.
- Pass a written, comprehensive examination which is to be taken no later than student's fourth semester of work.
- Students may advance to candidacy when their advisory committee deems that they have made satisfactory progress in both academic and writing areas.
- Pass an oral defense of the thesis.
- Course Requirements (30-33 credits):
Complete a minimum of 24 credits at the 600 level (a maximum of 6 credits of approved 300- 400 level courses may be included in the 30-33 credit requirements):
Required courses (15 credits): Credits
ENGL 687 -- Writing Professional Prose (3 credits)
COMM/JB 625 -- Communication Theory (3 credits)
COMM/JB 601 -- Communication Methodologies (3 credits)
COMM/JB 699 -- Thesis (6 credits)
Complete one of the tracks:
Journalism & Broadcasting Track Additional Courses (15 credits):
Required Courses (9 credits):
JB 623 -- Advanced Editing for Professionals (3 credits)
JB 680 -- Diversity and the Media (3 credits)
ART/JB 684 -- Multimedia Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Elective Courses (6 credits):
JB 605 -- Advanced Photography Seminar (3 credits)
JB 611 -- Advanced Writing for Publication (3 credits)
JB 613 -- Advanced Mass Media Law and Regulation (3 credits)
JB 633 -- Public Relations Theory and Practice (3 credits)
JB 640 -- Ethics and Reporting (3 credits)
JB 641 -- Comparative Media Systems (3 credits)
Communication Track Additional Courses (15 credits):
Required Courses (9 credits):
COMM 675 -- Training & Development Communication (3 credits)
COMM 680 -- Comm Diversity in the Professional World (3 credits)
ENGL 689 -- Editing Prose (3 credits)
Elective Courses (6 credits):
COMM 622 -- Interpersonal Interaction (3 credits)
COMM 631 -- Team Building (3 credits)
COMM 635 -- Organizational Culture and
Communication (3 credits)
COMM 682 -- Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
(Alternatively, students in either the JB or the Communication Tracks may take 300, 400, and 600 level courses in Art, Education, English, JB, Communication, Marketing, Business Administration, and Northern Studies as well as graduate level independent studies to fulfill the 6 credit elective requirement, if approved by the student's committee. Students will also be able to apply up to 6 credits of appropriate graduate level coursework from other universities in the elective area if approved by the student's committee.)
Additional Requirement for Teaching Assistants (3 credits):
COMM 685 -- Teaching College Communication (3 credits)
Total credits required 30-33