Communication

Master of Arts (M.A.)

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Master the Power of Communication

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 doctoral study, law school, college teaching or a professional career.

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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.

A 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 receive full tuition, mandatory student fees and health insurance, plus a stipend for one academic year.

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

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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 and SCIENCES

Top-notch faculty have diverse backgrounds and research interests. From interpersonal to cross-cultural communication and from environmental to political communication, our faculty publish and present research in these areas, teach courses, and create media that is showcased at galleries.

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, Western State Communication Association, International 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

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

  • Marketing/PR Managers:
    • Balance Now
    • FlyDog Digital
    • Process Service of the West, Inc.
    • Developmental Pathways
    • Albany County Tourism Board
    • UniWyo Credit Union
  • Administrative Coordinators/Advisers:
    • National University of Singapore
    • UW Athletics
    • UW Foundation
  • Speech/Debate Instructors:
    • Laramie County Community College
    • University of North Texas
  • Doctoral Teaching Assistants:
    • University of Missouri 
    • University of Memphis
    • University of Southern Illinois
    • University of Wyoming
  • Law School Research Assistants:
    • University of Colorado- Boulder
    • Vermont Law and Graduate School

Examples of previous thesis and project titles:

  • Thesis: "The role of gender in distributing news-related assignments and its influence on career growth: A study of newsroom practices in Bangladesh”
  • Thesis: "Examining the Impact of Internal Communication, Digital Communication Satisfaction, and Power Distance on Organizational Identification and Job Effectiveness in Ghana
  • Thesis: “Media Multiplexity: The Influences of Relational Closeness, Media Use Frequency, and Communication Apprehension on Social Adjustment to College among Freshmen"
  • Project: “Navigating Racial and Cultural Dynamics: The Lived Experiences of African International Students at the University of Wyoming”
  • Project: "On Talking Myself Through Racial Intricacies: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Self-Talk and Inner Dialogue amid Periods of Race-Induced Critical Thinking and Self-Reflection”

  • 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

“What I appreciate most is the department’s core focus on students' academic well-being, ensuring that all students receive assistance they personally need, and a thorough focus on theory and research methods necessary to propel them to the next level of their professional/academic lives.”

- Cindy Eke | M.A. in Communication '26

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