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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.
Program options for your master’s degree in communication
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.
These are just some of the reasons to consider joining us at UW for your master’s degree in communications:
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.
Professors. 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.
Choices. 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.
Internships. 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.
Advanced media. Gain experience using cutting-edge media production technologies and media research. You’ll have access to professional audio storytelling equipment and facilities, 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.
Networking. 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 Association.
Graduate assistantships. The Communication and Journalism Department typically offers six to eight graduate assistantships each year, including:
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.
Financial aid. 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.
Oral Communication Center. UW’s Oral Communication Center 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 UW’s master’s program in communications, you can practice presenting your thesis proposal with our director and trained lab consultants for constructive feedback.
Sample Communication thesis titles:
Jobs for graduates with a master’s in communication degree are wide ranging. You could pursue a doctoral degree in graduate or law school, teach at a college or university, work for a nonprofit, enter private industry and much more.
Our graduates who have chosen careers beyond academia have been hired to work in communications, journalism, and media at Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Madwire Technology Company, Hewlett Packard and Civica, among others.
Communication Careers
These are just some of the fields you could work in with a master’s degree in communication:
"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, Ph.D Student/Researcher at Syracuse University School of Information Studies; M.A. in Communication '18, University of Wyoming
Through a variety of courses in both human communication and mass media, the master’s in communication degree program curriculum at UW will expand your mind, develop your skills and help you reach your goals. These are just a few of the graduate courses available:
View the full Master of Arts in Communication degree program curriculum
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