Communication, MA
Introduction
Our vibrant community of scholars and teachers is committed to providing a real world, hands-on, and theoretically robust master's degree that will enrich students' communication knowledge and skills. Our program is a 33-credit generalist degree designed to enhance students' intellectual and professional growth through the understanding, analysis and practice of effective communication. Our faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields, and our students hail from all over the world.
Some students who complete our program receive offers to top-notch PhD programs while others accept or continue in positions related to communication management, strategic communication, public relations, media relations, human relations, and corporate and non-profit communications.
For more information please visit our website.
Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to this program.
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits from approved courses.
- Students must complete a minimum of 27 credits at the graduate level.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of B (3.0) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 3.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as P+/P/F or S/U.
- All credits for the degree must be completed with CU Denver faculty. A maximum of 12 credits of relevant graduate work may be transferred from another university with the program director's approval.
- Students must comply with all Graduate Education Policies and Procedures
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students must complete the following Research Methods and Introduction to Graduate Work courses the first semester they are available. | 6 | |
Research Methods: Qualitative | ||
Introduction to Graduate Work in Communication | ||
Students must take two graduate Communication seminars (6000-level or higher), in addition to the required COMM 6013 course. The optional COMM 6950 Master’s Thesis or COMM 6960 Master’s Project do not count as seminars. | 6 | |
Seminars are Communication courses at the 6000 level and are often special topics classes taught in faculty areas of expertise. | ||
Students must complete seven elective courses. 1 | 21 | |
All electives must be at the 5000 or 6000 level; however, 1 course (3 credits) is permitted at the 4000 level with prior approval of the student’s advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. A total of 6 credits may be outside the Communication department. | ||
All students must pass a comprehensive examination at the end of course work. | ||
Total Hours | 33 |
- 1
Courses that count as electives include:
- Any Communication courses taken at the 5000 or 6000 level that do not fulfill another program requirement.
- Communication internships (max six credit hours)
- Communication independent studies (max six credit hours)
- Courses from outside the Communication department (max six credit hours; more with the approval of the student’s advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies).
- Project or Thesis credit, if applicable. Students who choose to complete a project or thesis must register for between 3-6 semester hours of project or thesis work, which may substitute for one or two elective courses. Students who complete a project or thesis still complete a total of 33 credit hours.
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.