Learn all about the online Masters in communications program, including the requirements, benefits and the different online courses offered.
Are you looking for an online masters in communication program? Master’s degree programs in communications including specialty areas such as journalism or public relations are widely available online. Most of these programs are aimed toward professionals with work experience in the field of communications.
Most online masters in communication degree programs offer a master of arts degree. This type of program usually consists of 30-36 credit hours and takes 1 to 2 years to complete for full-time students and 2 to 3 years for part-time students.Communications graduate programs are available online, which allows communications student to access their course work over the Internet anytime.
Distance learning is very popular today, providing flexibility and accessibility to students with full-time jobs. The curricula for online M.A in communications programs are generally the same as the curricula of the traditional classroom programs. Masters in communication students are required to take communications classes such as Conflict Resolution, Communications Theory, Communications Research and Media Communications, just to name a few.
Some schools offer online communications degrees in specialty areas such as health communications, business communications and more. These programs usually include content comparable to that of a general master’s program, but specialize in materials that would fit the needs of their concentration area. Examples of specialty areas in communication that are offered online include Health care communication, Journalism, Corporate communication, Mass communication, Communication management, New media, Organizational communication and leadership and Technology communication.
However, communications students may ask, ‘What can I do with a communications degree?’ Graduates can work in various fields, including human resources, public relations, new media, print and broadcast. Those already working in the field may also use their master’s degree to advance in their respective careers.
Individuals interested in pursuing online masters in communication should have a bachelor’s degree diploma and Internet access. Some schools may need specific software as well as certain computer specifications to log into their learning systems. Students can connect with their instructors through discussion forums, chat rooms and instant messenger.
There are several common online master’s in communications courses including communications research, persuasion, and communication and social responsibility, among others. Under the communications research course, graduate students gain knowledge of research methods in evidence-gathering, data collection and data analysis. Students learn how to investigate topics systematically through focus groups, interviews, library resources, experiments and surveys.
In persuasion courses, the concentration is more on theories, approaches and concepts. The course generally studies, compares and explains why some approaches and concepts are psychologically persuasive. On the other hand, communication and social responsibility courses study the legal and ethical aspect of mass media.
A masters in communication degree holder usually does executive or managerial roles in different communications fields. Based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for communications-related positions was about $80,000 for advertising managers and $108,000 for marketing managers, as of 2008. Individuals who want to continue their education after a masters degree may consider getting a doctorate degree in communications.
A doctorate program in communications is available for individuals with a masters in communication degree. PhD graduates are able to teach at higher-level educational institutions such as major universities and do research in communications. Unfortunately, online PhD communication programs are rare and as such, a prospective student may have to enroll in an on-campus program.


