Master of Arts in Communication

100% Online, Designed with the Working Professional in Mind

Complete the form below to get more information about our M.A. in Communication

 

Student Success! That's What We're About!

The Communication Program capstone project may be what you're looking for.

Eligibility Requirements

Our Master of Arts degree is sufficiently flexible to allow you to take graduate courses (up to 6 hours) outside the department to support your career or academic objectives, with the approval of your graduate advisory committee. This allows you to engage in an accredited learning process that fits your academic and professional goals.

Non-thesis option: 30 semester hours of coursework. This coursework must include Communication 532 Communication Capstone Project. Thesis credits (Communication 599) may not be used to fulfill coursework requirements.

Thesis option: 24 semester hours of coursework, plus a 6-hour thesis. You must complete a thesis and successfully pass an oral defense of the thesis. If you elect the thesis option, you may not enroll in Communication 532 Communication Capstone Project.

Find more information with the links below or fill out the form to advance your career.

For More Information

Contact us to find out more about the MA in Communication.

Communication Graduate Coordinator

Dr. Patricia Dobson
Chair, Department of Communication; Professor of Communication; Graduate Coordinator
ENMU Station 27
1500 S Ave K
Portales, NM 88130
575.562.2130

Convenient Online Program

Convenient and Flexible

Choose a traditional thesis route or complete a capstone project that is uniquely adjusted to accommodate your individual career goals.

Trusted Degree

Affordable Degree

We offer one of the most affordable programs in the country with tuition and fee rates for as low as $310.50 per credit hour.

online program

100% Online

Our program is designed for the working professional in mind. You can balance full-time or part-time work and your personal life while getting your master's degree.

Ready to take the next step?


Apply today or fill out the form to contact Communication Program graduate coordinator to see if our Master of Arts in Communication is a good fit for you.

Complete the form below to get more information about our M.A. in Communication

 

Program Details

Our Master of Arts in Communication offers a more practical and hands-on approach for advanced study. Our program is unique in offering you flexibility to pursue advanced study in a variety of areas, including public relations, journalism, media literacy and criticism.

Career Opportunities with a Master of Arts in Communication

Our Communication Program benefits working professionals who need flexibility and practical experience for career advancement. As a graduate of this program, you are prepared to pursue employment or advancement in careers in public relations, journalism, publishing, broadcast journalism, broadcast production, non-profits, media relations, management, human resources, business, education, marketing, political consulting, advertising, sales, the nonprofit sector and government. It also prepares you for entering doctoral programs in communication and other related fields.

After attaining this degree, you have:

  • The opportunity to enter the workforce directly upon graduation
  • A means to advance your professional career
  • Preparation for entering a doctoral program in communication or a related field

Explore employment opportunities in this field by visiting the O*NET webpage. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database. The site aggregates data for occupations across the United States.

Professions that Benefit from a Master's in Communication

  • Public relations
  • Journalism
  • Publishing
  • Broadcast journalism
  • Broadcast production
  • Media relations
  • Management
  • New Media
  • Human resources
  • Business
  • Education
  • Marketing
  • Political consulting
  • Advertising
  • Sales
  • Non-profit
  • Government
  • And more!

Learning Format for Communication Graduate Degree Coursework

Our Communication master's degree can be completed 100% online; but, the majority of our classes are offered in a hybrid format (face-to-face paired with online) for students who wish to attend in person. Since most classes are offered hybrid, this is ideal for international students. You’ll complete assignments, group and individual projects, group and individual presentations, readings and tests throughout the semester.

Recorded lectures via Mediasite will connect you with professors and other students on your own time. Your participation, using Mediasite and other programs like Skype and Audacity related to recorded lectures, can be done at your convenience rather than during a specific time.

To fulfill your graduation requirements for this program, you have the option of writing a thesis or completing a capstone project. For distance education students living outside of Portales, we use media equipped classrooms to let you defend your thesis from home.

Advising for Communication Students

If you are taking the time to complete an advanced study program, we know you want not only the benefits from our classes, but also our faculty’s professional experience. To support you, we offer advising meetings in person and via email, phone and video chat. Our professors help you choose the classes that best fit your goals and we want you to feel connected and prepared to create and defend your thesis or capstone project.

Resources and Academic Support for Communication Students

We want to make sure you get the support you need. We offer flexible tutoring services, including the ENMU Writing Center which is available to help you improve your writing and help you clearly communicate for written, school-related projects and assignments.

We also have online databases, journal article, and eBooks accessible through the Golden Student Success Center (GSSC). ENMU librarians are available virtually, via phone and email to provide assistance, so you'll always have the help you need to take advantage of library resources.

See our distance learning library services

If you have questions or concerns about your homework assignments, projects or grades, you also have the option to email or call your professor. With a 17:1 faculty-to-student ratio, our professors have the opportunity to really get to know each student in the program. Our faculty cares, and it makes a difference!

Affordable Master’s in Communication

Eastern New Mexico University has the second lowest bachelor's and master's-level tuition in the state of New Mexico, and has one of the most affordable graduate tuition rates in the U.S. If you are an out-of-state student enrolling in 6 or fewer hours per semester, you'll pay tuition and fees at the low in-state rate.

Communication Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for qualified applicants. Graduate assistants are hired on a yearly or semester-by-semester basis, depending on departmental needs and the applicant's qualifications. Graduate assistants are required to be in residence, as they are primarily responsible for teaching lower-division undergraduate communication courses.

If you are interested in applying for an assistantship, submit a Graduate Assistantship Application. The Communication graduate coordinator, in conjunction with the department chair, will award assistantships.

Admission Requirements and Procedure for Communication Master's Program

If you are seeking a Master of Arts in Communication, you are expected to have a bachelor's degree in communication from an accredited institution, although well-qualified applicants from other disciplines are eligible for admission. All students seeking admission must apply to the Communication Program in addition to submitting an application to the Graduate School.

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Additionally, the following materials must be submitted to the Graduate School (see contact information below):

  1. Official transcripts reflecting a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (see more about sending a transcript to ENMU)
  2. A one-page statement of purpose outlining your goals and objectives for your graduate work

Submit required materials to:

Graduate School
ENMU Station 24
1500 S Ave K
Portales, NM 88130
Phone: 575.562.2147

Degree Requirements

You may select either a thesis or a non-thesis option. The thesis program consists of 24 semester hours of coursework, plus a 6-hour thesis. If you select the thesis option, you must complete a thesis (topic to be approved by the graduate advisory committee) and successfully pass an oral defense of the thesis. The non-thesis program consists of 30 semester hours of coursework, which includes Communication 532 Communication Capstone Project.

Our Master of Arts degree is sufficiently flexible to allow you to take graduate courses (up to 6 hours) outside the department to support your career or academic objectives, with the approval of your graduate advisory committee.

Thesis option: 24 semester hours of coursework, plus a 6-hour thesis. You must complete a thesis and successfully pass an oral defense of the thesis. If you elect the thesis option, you may not enroll in Communication 532 Communication Capstone Project.

Non-thesis option: 30 semester hours of coursework. This coursework must include Communication 532 Communication Capstone Project (see coursework below). Thesis credits (Communication 599) may not be used to fulfill coursework requirements.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for qualified applicants. Graduate assistants are hired on a yearly or semester-by-semester basis, depending on departmental needs and the applicant's qualifications. Graduate assistants are required to be in residence, as they are primarily responsible for teaching lower-division undergraduate communication courses. Students interested in applying for an assistantship should submit a Graduate Assistantship Application Form. The Communication Program graduate coordinator, in conjunction with the department chair, will award assistantships.

Master of Arts in Communication Degree Requirements

Note: Degree information shown on this page is based on the 2020-22 Graduate Catalog.

Communication Core (12 credit hours)

Course Credits
COMM 502 Communication Research Methods 3
COMM 510 Mass Media and Society 3
COMM 513 Critical Analysis of Mass Media 3
COMM 545 Communication Theory 3

Required Graduate Communication Courses (12–18 hours)

If you elect to take the non-thesis option, you must complete 18 hours from the list below, including COM 532 Communication Capstone Project. If you choose the thesis option, you'll complete 12 hours from the list below in addition to COMM 599 Master's Thesis (If you are taking the thesis option, you will not enroll in COM 532 Communication Capstone Project.)

Course Credits
COMM 509 Multimedia Journalism 3
COMM 511 Public Relations Cases and Concepts 3
COMM 517 Race, National Identity, and Media 3
COMM 522 Directing for Television 3
COMM 522L Directing for Television Lab 3
COMM 523 Global Media 3
COMM 525 Rhetoric and Popular Culture 3
COMM 526 Communication and Social Change 3
COMM 527 Integrated Communication Campaign 3
COMM 529 Management in Media 3
COMM 531 Documentary Writing and Production 3
COMM 532 Communication Capstone Project 3
COMM 546 Feature Writing 3
COMM 554 Relational and Interpersonal Communication Behavior 3
COMM 557 Strategic Communication 3
COMM 569 Workshop in Communication 3
COMM 575 Gender Communication 3
COMM 577 Family Communication 3
COMM 579 Individual Research 3
COMM 593 Topics in Communication 1–3