Communication

Master of Arts (M.A.)

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Earn Your Communication M.A. at UW

Interpersonal communication. Journalism. Public relations. Rhetoric. Media studies. Build advanced, effective skills in myriad forms of communication that are valuable to any career or life path.

Combining communication and media theory with qualitative and quantitative research methods, UW’s Master of Arts in communication will strengthen your education and experience to help you gain a competitive edge in the job market and perform well in any type of environment. At UW, our master’s program in communication will empower you through intellectual inquiry to meet the communication challenges of a globally connected society — and feel confident in your future plans for graduate or law school, college teaching, or finding a job for master’s in communication graduates.

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This program is currently offered in
the following locations:

Laramie Campus

About the Communication M.A. Degree Program

Our flexible graduate degree program is designed to provide a supportive environment where you can examine questions that relate to your career goals and interests. Choose from two master’s thesis options:

  • A traditional research-based thesis that will advance communication research, bridge communication theories and disciplines and contribute to practical knowledge in communication
  • A creative or professional project-based thesis (Plan B) that results in an applied communication plan or product ready for implementation


In UW’s communication master’s degree program, we develop knowledgeable, academically grounded, independent-thinking communicators, because the world needs more authentic voices.

Student working at Wyoming Public Radio
Check out previous theses and projects!

Explore the projects that UW communications master's students have completed, and get ideas for your own.

 

 

The Department of Communication and Journalism typically offers six to eight graduate assistantships each year, including:

  • Public Speaking Teaching Assistantship
  • Media Writing Teaching Assistantship
  • PR/Marketing Administration for COJO
  • Wyoming Debate Union Administrative Assistantship
  • Wyoming Debate Union Teaching Assistantship


Graduate assistants get all of tuition and most students fees paid for, and they receive a stipend for one academic year. They may also be eligible for student health insurance.

G.A. helping students in class
Learn more about our graduate assistantships!

Get all the details about the various graduate assistantships available for our students.

Communication Master’s Degree Program Highlights

Small Class Size

Despite being among the largest graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, we offer small graduate program class sizes that provide numerous ways to interact with and get to know your professors and fellow graduate students.

College of Arts & Sciences

Top-notch faculty have diverse backgrounds and research interests. For example, Dr. Li Li presented papers about instructional communication at conferences and taught cross-cultural communication. Dr. Sandy Hsu published journal articles about communication apprehension and taught intergroup communication.

Meet Our Faculty

You can take media production classes, such as video production, documentaries, public relations, photojournalism and web design. You can complete a one-on-one independent study with a faculty member to do research. You can complete an internship in a communication or media position for credit toward your graduate degree. In UW’s communication master’s program, you have flexible options to study courses and topics that interest you.

 

Earn graduate course credit. Gain real-world experience. Build professional connections. Graduate students in UW’s communication master’s degree program have completed internships with Wyoming Athletics, Student Media, Biodiversity Institute, McNair Program and many other campus units.

Internships

Gain experience using media production technologies and media research. You’ll have access to professional audio storytelling equipment, professional video cameras and Adobe Creative Suite. You’ll also use SPSS, a statistical software program for analyzing data, and Qualtrics, an online survey software.

 

Master’s in communication graduate students can network and find opportunities with many on-campus and off-campus organizations. You’ll also be encouraged to network at regional and national communication and media conferences, including the annual conferences of the Wyoming Press Association, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Rocky Mountain Communication Association, National Communication Association and Visual Communication conference.

 

UW’s Oral Communication Center (OCC) provides support for public speaking and oral presentation needs. Resources at the Center include multimedia technology and visual aid equipment to practice group and seminar presentations and teaching in a classroom environment. As a graduate student in the master's program in communication, you can practice presenting your thesis proposal with our director and trained lab consultants for constructive feedback.

OCC

UW continues to offer one of the best values for a graduate degree in the United States. Plus, you may be able to apply for a variety of other graduate student funding options, such as graduate scholarships and awards, loans, part-time work, work-study or graduate assistantships in other programs.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Small Class Size

Select a Highlight

What Can You Do With a Communication Master’s Degree?

With a master’s in communication, you can work in PR, marketing, media, corporate communications or nonprofits. Many grads also go on to teach, pursue a Ph.D. or enter law or business school—the options are endless! The degree opens doors to careers that shape messaging, strategy and public engagement across industries.

  • Media production
  • Public relations or business promotions
  • Journalism
  • Advertising or sales
  • Photography
  • Marketing or management
  • Web design
  • Human relations or diversity training

  • Yellowstone National Park
  • University of Wyoming
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Madwire Technology Company
  • Hewlett Packard (HP)
  • Civica
  • and many more!

Examples of previous thesis and project titles:

  • "Falling out of fandom: An analysis of politically outspoken celebrities and its effect on their Millennial and Gen Z fan bases"
  • "The Impact of Teacher Clarity and Student Receiver Apprehension on Academic Misconduct"
  • "I know Obama, Personally: Examining Parasocial Relationships via the White House Facebook Page"
  • "Objectivity in Question: The Ideal of Objectivity and The Display of Adversarialness and Neutrality by Cable News Interviews"
  • "Recruit. Tweet. Repeat. An Analysis of Social Media Practices by Men’s Division I Basketball Coaches"
  • "An investigation in the Chinese LGBT People’s Online Coming-Out Narratives: Cultural Influences, Cocultural Practices, and Outcomes"

  • Public relations and marketing
  • Media and broadcasting
  • Corporate communications
  • Nonprofit and advocacy organizations
  • Government and public affairs
  • Higher education and research
  • Healthcare communication
  • Technology and digital media
  • Advertising and branding
  • Entertainment and sports

Local Impact—National Recognition

UW’s Communication & Journalism (COJO) Department earned national recognition for excellence in public relations. A class project addressing the nationwide shortage of sports officials was featured in the nationally syndicated Referee Magazine, showcasing the program’s real-world impact and innovation.

About this Feature

“The education I received from the University of Wyoming Communication and Journalism Graduate Program was outstanding. I valued the small-class sizes, hands-on learning, and teaching preparation I received in the program. Through its focus on theory and research methods, the program prepared me with foundational skills to pursue a Ph.D degree. Dr. Landreville and other faculty provided me with mentorship to help me grow as a student and scholar. I would absolutely recommend UW to individuals who are seeking a program with all-around great professors, mentorship, and one-on-one learning."

- Isabel Munoz, M.A. in Communication '18, University of Wyoming | Ph.D Student/Researcher at Syracuse University School of Information Studies

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