Communication
Students can pursue a customizable Master of Arts (MA) degree in communication through the standard or BS/MA accelerated program, offered completely online, with a focus on strategic communication.
Communication Program Overview
The ability to solve conflicts, negotiate outcomes, and share ideas through effective communication is a critical skill in our global, digital world.
Our innovative graduate program - with both standard and accelerated BS/MA offerings - allows you to customize your graduate studies. Strategic communication is designed for today’s communication professionals, allowing students to develop applied communication skills while focusing on leadership, organizational and crisis communication, and social media and digital communication.
ECU Advantage
Our program ensures that you will receive the academic attention you deserve. Students have the opportunity to tailor their graduate experience around strategic communication, aligning coursework with professional goals and interests. You will also learn from faculty who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the communication field.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Keith Richards (102 Joyner East; 252-737-4641; richardsk@ecu.edu)
The Communication, MA prepares students for careers or advanced academic training in communication. The program provides thesis and non-thesis options.
Minimum degree requirement is 30 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
I. Required courses - 9 s.h.
- COMM 6000 - Communication Theory
- COMM 6030 - Research Methods
- COMM 6310 - Strategic Communication
II. Electives - 9 s.h.
Select three courses from the following:
- COMM 6124 - Organizational Communication
- COMM 6131 - Social Influence
- COMM 6140 - Special Topics in Communication
- COMM 6211 - Health Communication Campaigns
- COMM 6218 - Communication Campaigns
- COMM 6225 - Culture and Communication
- COMM 6226 - Communication Approaches to Health Advocacy
- COMM 6228 - Argumentation and Advocacy
- COMM 6250 - Internal Communication
- COMM 6312 - Risk and Crisis Communication
- COMM 6314 - Social Media for Professional Communicators
- COMM 6316 - Communication Strategies for Effective Leadership
III. Options - 12 s.h.
Select an option from the following:
A. Thesis option:
- COMM 7000 - Thesis - 3-6 s.h.
- Electives (COMM or related areas) - 6-9 s.h. *
B. Non-thesis option:
- COMM 6999 - Applied Communication Capstone (3 s.h.)
- COMM or related areas electives (9 s.h.)*
Note:
Electives are chosen in consultation with the graduate program coordinator/director. A maximum of 6 s.h. may be in related areas (outside of COMM) and must be at the 5000 level or above. A maximum of 3 s.h. may be taken at the 5000 level.
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this program is the successful completion of COMM 6999 (non-thesis option) with a grade of B or better or the successful completion of COMM 7000 (thesis option).
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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