The 15 Best Online Master’s in Communications Programs

1. University of Florida – Online

Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville’s University of Florida offers an online communication master’s degree with seven specializations:

• Audience Analytics
• Global Strategic Communication
• Political Communication
• Public Relations & Communication Management
• Web Design & Online Communication
• Digital Strategy
• Social Media

The number of required credits in the master of arts in mass communication degree ranges from 33 to 39 credits. Professors deliver coursework asynchronously, and students must meet weekly assignment deadlines. Students take courses in 12-week-long semesters, or 16-week-long semesters if enrolled in the web design specialization. With full-time study, each specialization takes less than two years to complete.

Each program teaches cutting-edge techniques for maximum job placement potential, and students learn by watching recorded lectures and reading course material. To facilitate interaction and ease of learning, faculty members schedule live online office hours. Program structures vary, with some allowing for a wide range of electives and others requiring a preset course sequence. Each program concludes with a three-credit capstone course.

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all attended accredited undergraduate institutions and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. UF also requires GRE scores, a statement of purpose, a professional resume, and three letters of reference. There are three start dates per year, one per semester, with three admissions deadlines to match. In-state and out-of-state online master’s in communication students pay the same tuition rate.

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2. Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Located in Boston, MA, Northeastern University’s online communications master’s degree offers rigorous academics and many opportunities for hands-on learning. The master of science in corporate and organizational communication curriculum consists of 45 quarter-hours focused on core courses and concentrations.

Core classes such as ethical issues and strategic communication management introduce students to key communications concepts and teach them how to implement successful communications strategies. After completing the 18- to-22 quarter-hours of core classes, students choose from one of five concentrations: human resource management, leadership, project management, public relations, and social media. Each 15- to-18-quarter-hour concentration teaches workplace skills that align with the student’s professional goals. The curriculum also includes up to nine quarter-hours of electives and concludes with a capstone course.

To reinforce skills learned in the classroom, Northeastern offers a number of hands-on learning opportunities. Students who reside in Boston may pursue a co-op placement at a location in the surrounding area. Students who live outside of Boston can find similar placement through an online co-op program that asks them to design a communications program in their workplace. Students use this online co-op to meet the capstone course requirement.

Applicants must complete the online application form and submit official transcripts from their undergraduate institution. Complete applications also require a 500- to-1,000-word personal statement that outlines educational goals, two letters of recommendation, and a professional resume. All students pay the same per-credit tuition rate irrespective of where they reside.

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3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s master of science in strategic brand communication prepares students for leadership in a shifting global business environment. Students pursue this online master’s in communication with a thesis or non-thesis option.

The 32-credit curriculum covers key topics, such as:

• Consumer Insights
• Global Perspectives
• Measurement and Evaluation
• Promotional Strategy
• Strategic Analytics
• Strategic Brand Communication

Students gain the necessary knowledge and skills for providing innovative solutions to complex problems in the growing digital landscape.

While not required, ideal applicants possess 16 semester hours of undergraduate-level communications courses. Additionally, the admissions office requires some students to submit an oral examination. Strict application requirements include the submission of official transcripts with a GPA of at least 3.0 for 60 credit hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate course work. Additional application requirements include GRE scores, a personal statement, and a writing sample. Illinois residents pay discounted tuition.

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4. American University

Washington, District of Columbia

Located in Washington D.C., American University offers an online master’s in strategic communication that helps students take advantage of the world’s largest media hub. The curriculum consists of 30 credit hours that students complete in 10 months of full-time or 20 months of part-time study. Part-time students take just two courses per semester, making this option ideal for working professionals.

The first 15-credit hours cover five core courses in principles of strategic commutation, writing, communication theory, research, and a capstone. The remaining 15-credit hours span electives that include sports communication, speech writing, political advertising, international communications, and dynamic content. In total, American University offers 26 electives to communications students.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credits. Admissions does not require prior academic or professional experience, but applicants must demonstrate their commitment to communications through a 1,000-word essay outlining their goals. The university reserves the right to ask candidates to undergo an admissions interview. Classes for both the full-time and part-time options begin in the fall, and students pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency.

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5. Webster University

Webster Groves, Missouri

Webster University’s master of arts in communications management serves as a double pathway to career advancement. Though designed for educators, the curriculum also trains students for professions that require lots of interpersonal and group communications.

Students pursuing the 33-credit online program complete five core courses in oral, visual, written, and interpersonal communication; curriculum design; and teaching writing. Students complete these courses prior to focusing on the 12-credit communication arts emphasis. Students tailor the communication arts emphasis curriculum around their needs with the help of a dedicated advisor, and coursework typically includes a number of smaller projects that facilitate concept reinforcement and skills training. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and petition for graduation at least one semester prior to their intended graduation date.

Candidates must submit an online application along with official transcripts from their undergraduate institution. Applicants must also submit a personal essay addressing their interest in the communications master’s degree. Admissions does not require pre-graduate test scores like the GRE for entrance into the program. Though located in St. Louis, Missouri, Webster offers the same tuition rate to all students irrespective of their state residency.

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6. Marist College

Poughkeepsie, New York

Marist College designed its online master of arts in integrated marketing communications for full-time, working students. Its master of arts in communication takes two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study to complete. Students take classes entirely online in eight-week-long accelerated sessions with no on-campus requirements. Students who take the master’s in communication full-time program complete four courses per semester, while students who take the program part-time take two courses per semester.

The 30-credit curriculum includes courses in topics, such as:

• Advertising Management
• Brand Management
• Global Consumer Insights
• Marketing Foundations
• Marketing Research
• Social Media Strategies and Tactics

Students earning this online master’s in communication must also complete a capstone course. Altogether, students develop the necessary strong set of advanced knowledge and skills for success in leadership roles in business communications.

Prospective students must submit an online application form along with official transcripts from all undergraduates and graduate institutions. Marist College also requires applicants to submit a personal essay, professional resume, and three letters of recommendation. The admissions office requires GRE scores from some applicants. Applicants may submit their applications year round, but classes begin only in August. Students pay the same tuition rates regardless of state residency. Online students who submit the FAFSA in time may qualify for financial aid.

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7. Arizona State University – ASU Online

Tempe, Arizona

ASU’s master’s in communication online combines innovative instruction with proven traditional strategies, resulting in graduates who work effectively with both print and digital media. Students take the 12-class, 36-credit online master of science in technical communication in one year. The accelerated 7.5-week format leads to the completion of nine credits per semester.

The curriculum consists of two core courses, one in rhetoric and the other in research. Students spend another 24 credits taking restricted electives in social media, content management, and intellectual property and copyright in a digital age. The program concludes with a six-credit culminating experience. Students choose to write a thesis or complete an applied project.

ASU welcomes applications from students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a GPA of at least 3.0. Prospective students must also submit official transcripts, a statement of purpose, professional portfolio, and three letters of reference. The portfolio needs to include between 15 and 30 pages of writing samples that an admissions committee evaluates for clarity, focus, purpose, and technical proficiency. Students pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency, and financial aid is also available.

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8. West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University offers students a 36-credit master of arts in corporate and organizational communication focused on digital and print media. Part-time students take two courses per semester over three years, enabling them to maintain both their professional and private lives while earning a degree.

The curriculum explores persuasion in print and digital media and covers leadership, diversity, corporate environments, and managing conflicts. Students work on two research components, one in the second semester and the other in the final semester. The final research course explores real-world case studies. The program requires students neither write a thesis nor take any elective courses.

Graduates work in various fields in business and education as public relations specialists, professional writers, general managers, communications professors, and education administrators, among other positions. West Virginia University receives its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Ideal applicants possess an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher. The university does, however, admit students with a lower score on the condition that they complete two graduate-level courses with a B grade or higher outside of the communications department. Applications include a submitted online application form and official transcripts from all prior institutions attended. The program begins in the fall and spring, and the school offers the same tuition rates to students living in-state and out-of-state.

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9. Liberty University Online

Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University offers its communications master’s degree entirely online. The 36-credit master of arts in communication curriculum combines academic theory with professional practice to enable students to develop successful business campaigns. After completing four core courses in leadership, rhetoric, praxis, and research, students select communications electives that align with their professional goals and interests. Notable choices include problem solving and collaborative communication, conflict analysis and resolution, event planning and donor relations, and professional communications and nonprofit development. The curriculum also includes one non-communications elective.

The core research course teaches students how to think critically and research, tools thesis students will find useful. In place of the thesis option, students may take a comprehensive exam.

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to graduate, with no more than two C grades. Taking three courses per semester in eight-week-long sessions guarantees graduation in four semesters.

Though based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University charges all online students the same tuition rate regardless of which state they call home. Prospective students must submit an application either online or by mail, along with their official transcripts or self-certification forms. Liberty University also asks candidates to apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA form. Applicants typically receive full admission, but some enter the university under academic caution status. These students must complete an additional three-unit course in their first semester.

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10. California Baptist University – CBU Online

Riverside, California

On average, CBU’s 30-credit master of arts in communication takes 12 months to complete. The program teaches students analytic and strategic communication in combination with coursework focused on a biblical worldview. Students take 10 core courses that examine media effects on communication behavior, risk communication, communication ethics, and communication in the digital age. A 25-page research paper serves as the program’s culminating project. Students must incorporate at least four course concepts learned over the course of the degree within their paper and defend their position in front of a panel of three professors.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, write a 500-word essay, official transcripts, and a current resume. Prospective students with undergraduate GPAs of at least 2.75 recieve unconditional admission, while applicants with undergraduate GPAs between 2.5 and 2.75 receive conditional admission consideration.

The university requires a FAFSA form to be filed shortly after submitting the online application form. Financial aid is available to online students in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, veterans’ benefits, and employer tuition assistance.

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11. South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

From its home base in the city of Brookings, South Dakota State University offers print and digital journalists a master of mass communication degree that equips graduates for public relations in print and digital media. Both the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the Higher Learning Commission offer this particular program accreditation status.

The 32-credit asynchronous curricula takes students through five core courses, including cross-platform storytelling and media law, as well as skills-based electives like opinion writing, health journalism, international media, mass communication teaching methods, and social marketing for health and behavioral change. Because at least half of students’ coursework must be skills-based, the curriculum includes one-to-three credits of optional internships and one-to-three credits of optional independent study. Students may pursue an additional four credits—totaling 36 credits—of master’s research and projects. The non-project option excludes a thesis or culminating capstone course.

Candidates for this online master’s in communication must submit the online application and provide official transcripts from a bachelor’s degree-granting institution. SD State also requires proof of immunization, a personal goal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. All students pay the same tuition rate irrespective of state residency.

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12. Western New England University

Springfield, Massachusetts

Located Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University offers an online master of arts in communications with a public relations concentration to students residing in all 50 states at the same cost. This communications master’s degree program differs from others by emphasizing digital media over print media. Nevertheless, the 30-credit curriculum includes courses in writing and campaign management that apply to both traditional and modern platforms.

The curriculum incorporates a mix of core and elective courses that take approximately 15 months to complete. Students take courses like principles and practices of public relations and crisis management before moving onto electives such as public relations strategies for social and digital media and strategic approaches to public relations. Electives also include variable credit courses that enable students to complete the program faster through hands-on independent study and thesis options.

The university accepts applications on a rolling basis. To apply, prospective students must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions previously attended. Applications also include a 500-word personal essay and three letters of recommendation sent directly to the university’s admissions office. The program does not require pre-graduate test scores.

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13. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University offers an online master of arts in communication with six focus areas: strategic design, multimedia writing, audience engagement, community orientation, entrepreneurship, and digital savvy.

The curriculum consists of 12 required courses totaling 36 credits. Students may pursue an optional concentration in digital strategy, which increases the course load to 13 and 39 credits. The main course sequence explores topics such as the social creation of organizing, the management of meaning, and the mediated self and changing relationships—a study of the effects of digital media. The digital strategy concentration’s four-course sequence builds on these concepts and teaches students advanced methods in managing comprehensive plans for digital communication.

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions. Ideal candidates possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The university welcomes applicants with lower GPAs, but they need to submit GRE scores. Applicants with more than five years of work experience may appeal the GRE requirement. Complete applications also include a professional resume, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

14. Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University offers a master’s in communication with two specializations—corporate communication and general communication—and two concentrations—marking communication and media management. Awarded as a master of arts in communication, this degree prepares communications professionals for rewarding careers.

Each program’s curricula consists of 34 credits. In the corporate communication specialization students take courses in advertising, broadcast journalism, e-commerce and social media, marketing, and writing. The general communication curriculum provides students with more flexibility and allows students to work with an advisor to select electives that meet their professional goals.

Concentrations work similarly to specializations, only with a more tailored focus. The marketing concentration offers advanced training in management positions in the communication industry, and the curriculum strives to build leaders in Tennessee, specifically Clarksville. The concentration in media management provides cable and broadcast professionals with opportunities to advance to executive management positions. Students in the general communication concentration may pursue an optional six-credit thesis in place of the three-credit research paper. Media management students take two courses per eight-week session for a total of four courses per semester.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Applicants with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher are exempt from the university’s GRE requirement.

15. National University

La Jolla, California

National University’s master of arts in strategic communications program consists of 45 quarter-units. The curriculum includes nine core courses focused on global communications, marketing communications, campaign and program management and evaluation, persuasion, and legality. Students graduate knowing how to negotiate issues of copyright and intellectual property. In addition to the core courses, students take one elective in any department. The course sequence enables students to effectively manage a communications campaign for a large organization. The program concludes with a capstone project focused on the creation of a digital portfolio. Graduates use this portfolio in their job search.

National University makes a quality communications graduate education accessible to everyone by charging the same low tuition rate irrespective of state residency. Candidates should have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and ideal candidates possess a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 or a GPA of at least 2.75 for the last 90 semester hours completed.

Candidates with GPAs between 2.0 and 2.49 are also welcome to apply, but must submit GMAT, GRE, or MAT scores along with their application. Unlike other communications master’s degree programs, National University accepts 4.5 quarter-units of transfer credit from another institution on the condition that those credits do not count toward the fulfillment of requirements of an earned degree.

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