Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research: Sumana Chattopadhyay, Ph.D.
Graduate Communication website

Degree Offered

Master of Arts, Plan B only

Program Description

The J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication graduate program prepares students to develop their ethical leadership and professional capabilities, with a steady focus on responsibility, care, and community impact. Students engage in core areas of media (e.g., digital media, journalism, advertising, and public relations) and communication (e.g., environmental, health, and political), examining how platforms, policies, and institutions shape culture and public life.  

The master of arts program connects knowledge, values, and theories to improve understanding of communication as a cultural and social process, and develops the skills necessary for success in research, writing, data, strategy, and multimedia. The master’s program emphasizes critical thinking, imaginative problem solving, and the ability to adapt to changing industries, technologies, and audiences. It prepares students to engage with and tackle significant issues related to media and communication that are impacting the world today. Graduates are prepared to evaluate evidence and design effective plans that connect research to practice, guide efforts that build informed publics, and reduce barriers to civic engagement. The curriculum champions trustworthy, inclusive communication so that our students are ready to lead in their future professions.   

The curriculum is grounded in four courses with topics in theory, research, law and ethics, and communication leadership and diversity. This core fosters critical thinking and trains students to become leaders in communication and media, working toward the betterment of society.

Students may choose a general course of study or choose one of two optional focus areas: a) advertising and public relations, or b) media and public engagement. Students in the advertising and public relations focus area examine how strategic communication shapes public perception, builds relationships between organizations and their audiences, and influences culture, consumer behavior, and social change across digital and traditional media. Students in the media and public engagement focus area explore how media institutions, technologies, and practices inform public life, shape civic participation, and influence the ways individuals and communities engage with social, cultural, and political issues.

Both focus areas require a problem-based, interdisciplinary, organizationally grounded educational experience. Milwaukee offers a rich urban landscape for communication study, with a wide array of advertising and public relations agencies, major corporations, consulting firms, broadcast stations, general interest and specialized newspapers and magazines, and online publications. Students in the program have the opportunity to collaborate with each other and with faculty and learn from one another’s experiences as researchers, writers, designers, multi-media specialists, consultants, trainers and marketers.

Upon the completion of the master of arts degree program in communication, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply research-based, theory-informed knowledge to the identification and solution of real-life issues in the field.
2. Apply ethical decision-making skills in a variety of communication situations.
3. Integrate knowledge from the discipline of communication with the chosen course of study.

Normally, a full-time student takes 9 credits of classes in each of the first two semesters and 6 credits of classes in each of the last two semesters to complete the 30 credits for the degree.

Master of Arts in Corporate Communication

In addition to our master of arts in communication, the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication offers a master of arts in corporate communication in conjunction with the Graduate School of Management. This program combines advanced course work in communication and business to prepare students for an executive-level communication role. See the Corporate Communication bulletin page for more information on this master of arts and its related five-year accelerated degree program.

Dual Programs of Study

M.A. in Communication and M.A. in Political Science

M.A. in Communication and M.A. in International Affairs

The J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, in conjunction with the Department of Political Science, offers a program of dual study leading to a master of arts degree in communication and a master of arts degree in political science or international affairs. Dual degree students are able to complete both degree programs in less time than if both degrees were pursued separately.

Students seeking admission into the dual degree program must submit to the Graduate School separate applications for admission to both programs, including two sets of required documentation, and must meet the admission requirements of each program. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. If a student is accepted into one program and not the other, the student can still choose to accept the admission offer from the first program but would not be considered a dual degree student. Because students are officially admitted into only one Marquette University graduate program at a time, applicants must indicate which program they intend to pursue and complete first, although once accepted for admission to both programs, students may take courses from both departments. Upon completion of the first program, the student is officially admitted to the second program for completion of the remainder of the dual program.

Dual degree students count 9 credits of course work in each program toward the required course work credits of the other program. Thus, 9 of the 30 credits required for the master of arts degree in communication come from POSC courses, and 9 of the 30 credits required for the master of arts degree in political science or international affairs come from COMM courses.

Students must complete 30 credit hours of course work. Only 6 credit hours total may be at the 5000 level. If approved by the director of graduate studies (DGS), up to 6 credits hours may be taken in COMM 6995 Independent Study in Communication. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.000 with no grades below a C. The curriculum is grounded in four required courses that foster critical thinking and train students to become leaders in communication and media, working toward the betterment of society. 

Program Requirements  

¹

With DGS approval, CMST 5250 Leadership and Communication or a Leadership course from the College of Business could also be used as a substitute for this course.

²

Electives may include any COMM course at the 5000 level or above. No more than 6 credits are allowed at the 5000 level. COMM 6964 O'Brien Fellowship Practicum must be approved by both the DGS and the director of the O'Brien Program. COMM 6995 Independent Study in Communication must be approved by the DGS. Graduate-level courses chosen from other departments must be approved by the DGS.

³

Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. will be advised to conduct independent research where the end product is a publication-ready manuscript.

Optional Areas of Focus

The master of arts in communication offers two optional focus areas. A student may complete only one area of focus. Each focus is 12 credit hours as part of the total 18 electives credits. 

Advertising and Public Relations

This option equips students for both scholarly and professional careers by combining critical, theory-driven inquiry with applied training in strategic communication, advertising, and public relations, focusing on research, ethics, and data-informed strategies.

To complete the advertising and public relations area of focus, students must complete 12 credits from the following list as part of the total electives. 

When available, CCOM 6750 Corporate Social Responsibility and CCOM 6700 Corporate Advocacy would count toward the advertising and public relations focus. Other available CCOM courses require DGS approval for this focus. Also, up to 6 credits from the College of Business would count towards this focus as approved by the DGS.

Media and Public Engagement

This option prepares students for academic and professional careers by integrating critical media theory and research with applied approaches to public engagement, policy communication, advocacy, and community-centered media practices across governmental, nonprofit, and industry contexts.

To complete the media and public engagement area of focus, students must complete 12 credits from the following list as part of the total electives.

Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program

The accelerated degree program in the College of Communication allows Marquette University students to earn both a bachelor of arts degree with a major in digital media, advertising, communication studies, corporate communication, journalism, media studies, public relations or performing arts and a master of arts degree in communication in five years. Students complete up to 12 hours of approved graduate credit in communication during their senior undergraduate year that count as part of the undergraduate credit hour requirement.  

Upon completion of the first term as a master's candidate, the student must petition the Graduate School to transfer the courses taken as an undergraduate to the master's degree. All remaining master's degree requirements may be completed during the subsequent summer, fall and spring terms.

Candidates for admission should have undergraduate junior status, have completed at least 3 upper-division communication courses and should have a major GPA of at least 3.500 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.250. Candidates for admission to this program should notify the associate dean for graduate studies and research of their intentions.

University Policies

Graduate School Policies