Â鶹ԭ´´

The 30 hour master of arts degree program in communication studies is designed to promote understanding of the functions of human communication in its various forms and venues and emphasizes four substantive research areas: rhetoric and political discourse, interpersonal communication, organizational leadership, and communication and culture. The MA degree can be completed as a main campus or distance learning student.

Students have the opportunity to customize a plan of study or complete a defined concentration to support different interests and career goals, including advanced graduate degree work, teaching, communication consulting, and corporate or nonprofit professional leadership positions. Students have four different options for culminating their degree:

Academic – for students who wish to fulfill teaching requirements in communication studies or who want to pursue advanced degree work, requiring a comprehensive written examination to demonstrate proficient knowledge in communication studies.

Research – for students who plan to continue their careers in academia and pursue advanced research opportunities, requiring an original thesis project in a specific research area of interest.

Professional – for students who plan to pursue professional careers, requiring either 1) the completion of an internship or a professional project and the submission of a final Capstone Portfolio which provides a self-reflective overview of the entire body of coursework completed for the degree or 2) the completion of a capstone seminar course that synthesizes the curriculum.

Curricular Requirements

The Department of Communication Studies uses a plan of study for student advising. Graduate students plan their programs of study with their academic advisor, assigned or chosen, during the first semester of coursework. The plan of study must be approved by the academic advisor and filed with the graduate program coordinator by the end of the first semester of coursework. Each plan of study must meet the minimum program requirements established by the Department of Communication Studies and the Graduate School. Students can also complete the degree requirements with a recommended pathway (e.g., distance learning with emphasis in Organizational Leadership), which does not require a plan of study approval.

A master of arts degree in communication studies requires a minimum of 30 hours. Students may choose one of the following four plan options for completing their degree program:

Plan I: Thesis option (available to main campus students)

Plan II: Non-Thesis academic option - comprehensive exam (available to main campus students)

Plan II: Non-Thesis professional option - capstone portfolio (available to main campus students)

Plan II: Non-Thesis capstone seminar option (available to distance learning students)

Students may have designated pathway (e.g., Organizational Leadership Emphasis) or choose elective courses to complete their plans of study, with the approval of their academic advisors. A minimum of 24 graduate hours must be completed in the communication studies discipline. All candidates are required to give a public presentation prior to completing the master of arts degree in communication studies.

Online: An online Master of Arts in Communication Studies with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from The University of Alabama can help you develop a deep understanding of the theory and strategy behind impactful, decisive communication.