Why study Communication?

The field of communication promotes the effective and ethical practice of human communication. The discipline is interested in how audiences interpret symbolic meaning and the social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions of speech and language in context. Communication studies draw from humanistic, social scientific, and aesthetic inquiry to investigate how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media.

As represented by the National Communication Association (NCA), the discipline is “Dedicated to fostering and promoting free and ethical communication.” NCA “promotes the widespread appreciation of the importance of communication in public and private life, the application of competent communication to improve the quality of human life and relationships, and the use of knowledge about communication to solve human problems”

Teachers and scholars in the Department of Communication at University of Cincinnati focus on media, rhetoric, public communication, interpersonal, public relations, and organizational communication. Topics include media effects, health and environmental communication, risk and science, leadership and advocacy, social and personal identity, new media, politics, and more.

Admission Requirements

  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Goal Statement: These are generally, 3-6 double spaced pages. This statement is very important. We want to ensure that your educational and professional background and goals are a good fit for our program. Your letter should discuss how your academic and professional background prepares you to do well in the program, the specific reasons you are interested in joining our program and studying communication (including the topics and sub-areas of interest), and how your time in the program will help you to meet your professional and academic goals. In addition to assessing your fit with the program, this statement is a way for us to assess your writing abilities.
  • Writing Sample: Include a sample that demonstrates your writing skills. Academic writing is preferred, but professional writing is also acceptable. You may wish to include two samples if the writing is relatively short.
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Non-profit management
  • Corporate Communication Specialist
  • Training and Employee Development
  • Recruiter 
  • Higher Education – Student Affairs, Study Abroad
  • Public Affairs/Public Relations Officer
  • Market Research Manager/Focus Group Moderator
  • Development Officer (Non-profit fundraising)
  • Events Planning
  • Community Outreach Associate
  • Environmental Campaign Manager
  • Health Educator
  • Pharmaceutical Sales
  • Scientific and Technical Writing
  • Science Journalism
  • Environmental Mediator/Negotiator
  • Crisis Management
  • Political Advocacy
  • Political Campaigns
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.

Why UC?

  1. Small program means strong faculty/student relationships
  2. Top scholar faculty in organizational, political, environmental, media, and health communication
  3. Graduates are placed in top doctoral programs and exciting professional positions
  4. Graduate Assistantships are available in teaching or research

Our two- year program includes:

  • 24 credit hours of course work, plus 9 credit hours of thesis/praxis project
  • 4 required courses in communication theory and research
  • Multiple options for electives that allow you to customize the program
  • The Master’s Thesis allows you to design and execute independent research
  • The Praxis Project allows you to apply classroom learning to professional experience
  • Strong mentorship through faculty advising

The Department of Communication at University of Cincinnati promotes knowledge of human communication through research, teaching, and service. We are located in an urban center within a large research university, which provides a dynamic context for connecting theory and practice.

Our award-winning faculty members share a distinctive focus on contemporary social problems. Research centers on understanding issues of voice, identity, public participation, and advocacy/leadership across communication contexts including interpersonal, organizational, political, organizational, rhetorical, environmental, health, and mediated communication.

Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Communication

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Zhuo Ban
4270 Clifton Court
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-4544
banzu@ucmail.uc.edu

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Program Code: 15MAS-COMM-MA