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, 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 the 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

  • A cover letter stating the desired term of admission and indication of full-time or part-time status along with description of academic goals.
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Verified GRE scores
  • 3 letters of recommendation

For Application deadlines, please visit the Graduate Admissions page for more information.

  • Recruiter
  • Non-profit management
  • Corporate Communication Specialist
  • Training and Employee Development
  • 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

Why UC?

  1. Rated one of the best masters only Communication programs in the country
  2. Small program means strong faculty- student relationships
  3. Top scholar faculty in organizational, political, environmental, media, and health communication
  4. Graduates are placed in top doctoral programs and exciting professional positions
  5. 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 the 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.

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

Contact Information

John Lynch
4263 Clifton Court
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-6232
lynchjo@ucmail.uc.edu

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Program Code: 15MAS-COMM-MA