What is the MA in Communication at UC?
The Master of Arts in Communication at the University of Cincinnati gives students the opportunity to investigate the power of communication to shape our personal identities and our social, organizational, mediated, and political lives.
Students sharpen their skills as effective, ethical communicators who use critical thinking to lead positive change.
Our program prepares students for future excellence at the Ph.D. level or in professional careers through a blend of theory, research methodology, and practical application.
We offer a 2-year full-time MA program, a part-time MA program, and a 4+1 MA/BA for UC Communication majors.
What are our focus areas?
- Organizational Communication and Public Relations
- Media and Cultural Studies, Traditional and Digital Media Effects
- Health and Environmental Communication
- Interpersonal Communication and Leadership
- Culture and Globalization
- Rhetorical, Interpretive, Critical, and Quantitative Methods
What are some of the advantages of this program?
- Small classes mean you get concentrated attention from our award-winning faculty.
- You can customize the program to your interests by choosing electives and a completion project: conduct an independent research project (a thesis) or engage in a professional experience (the praxis project).
- Many of our full-time MA students receive a graduate assistantship (GA), a competitive assistantship that pays your tuition and provides a $13,000 stipend each year for two years. Most GA students teach their own sections of public speaking, and consider it a highlight of their experience.
- Part-time students can finish the degree in as little as two years. Our courses are offered in the evenings for your convenience.
- The UC MA in Communication gives students plenty of opportunities for engagement outside the classroom to build an academic vitae or professional resume.
Interested in a Career in the Communication Field after the MA?
- The MA in Communication can enhance your performance if you are a working professional. The degree can also prepare you for a wide array of professional positions. The program serves students interested in:
- Education, Academic Advising, and Training / Political, Public Policy, and Market Research / Employee Communication / Public Relations / Social Media Management / Non-Profit Advocacy / Development & Events Management / Health and Environmental Writing & Advocacy /Public Affairs / Government and Politics
- Education, Academic Advising, and Training / Political, Public Policy, and Market Research / Employee Communication / Public Relations / Social Media Management / Non-Profit Advocacy / Development & Events Management / Health and Environmental Writing & Advocacy /Public Affairs / Government and Politics
- By selecting a “Praxis” project, students gain real-world experience through an advanced internship, and write a paper about that experience under the supervision of faculty members.
- Professional, paid positions available in training and consulting through our Department’s UCommunicate Consulting Group http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/communication/ucommunicate.html.
- Our graduates are working as: Assistant Director of Education Abroad; Adjunct Instructor; Instructional Designer; Director of Communication; HR Communications Manager; Marketing and Brand Specialist; Promotions and Events Manager; Research Associate
Considering a Ph.D. after the MA degree?
- Challenging coursework prepares you for doctoral admissions.
- The department offers multiple research opportunities, from coursework to independent projects to faculty-led research teams.
- Some funding is available for presenting research at conferences.
- Unlike many doctoral programs, we offer support in deciding whether you want to pursue professional work or doctoral study.
- Doctoral-bound students from UC are admitted to top PhD programs around the country. Recent graduates have gone on to: Purdue University, University of Kentucky, Texas A&M University, University of Utah, University of Georgia, University of Connecticut, and University of Illinois-Chicago.
What is it like to live in Cincinnati?
The University of Cincinnati is a major urban research university. UC often tops lists of the “Most Beautiful Campuses.” For those of not familiar with our city, Cincinnati has the amenities of a big town while retaining a small town feel. We have two major sports teams, renowned art and cultural museums, theater and Broadway performances, multiple concert venues, the country’s greenest zoo, an exciting food and nightlife scene, major medical and public health institutions, and we’re on the forefront of some exciting environmental initiatives. And if you talk to locals, they will tell you about hometown favorites, Graeter’s ice cream and Skyline Chili!