The Master of Arts in Professional Communication prepares students to work in communication intensive jobs, including professional speaking, social media management, user experience, advertising, public relations, writing and editing, human resources, fundraising, event management, training, and organizational consulting, among other things. We accept students with a variety of undergraduate degrees and experience.
Students in the MA in Professional Communication must complete 33 total hours, including the core requirements and either Plan I (non-thesis) or Plan II (thesis). They may select electives freely OR follow one of the suggested emphases below. All students must complete 33 hours, including 12 hours of 600-level coursework (excluding CM 699). No more than 12 hours of the 33 hours may be taken in a discipline other than CM.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core (required of all students) | ||
| CM 631 | ADVANCED COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| CM 633 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| CM 655 | COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE | 3 |
| CM 670 | ADVANCED COMMUNICATION METHODS | 3 |
| CM 675 | RHETORICAL CRITICISM | 3 |
Plan I: MA without Thesis
- Choose 18 hours of electives, which may be freely chosen OR follow one of the suggested emphases identified below. Note: Students are not required to complete an area of emphasis.
Plan II: MA with Thesis
- Choose 12 hours of electives, which may be freely chosen OR follow one of the suggested emphases identified below. Note: Students are not required to complete an area of emphasis.
- Six (6) hours of CM 699 Master’s Thesis
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Suggested Emphases for Electives | ||
Social Media | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | ||
| NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | ||
User Experience | ||
| USER-CENTERED DESIGN | ||
| USABILITY STUDIES | ||
| INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE | ||
Advertising/Public Relations | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | ||
| ADVERTISING | ||
Professional Writing | ||
| ACTION RESCH WRITING STUDIES | ||
| EDITING FOR PUBLICATION | ||
Six hours selected from one of the following areas: | ||
Technical Writing | ||
| THRY & PRACTICE TECHNICAL COMM | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
Media Writing | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
| NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | ||
Communication Studies | ||
| CONTEMPORARY RHETORICAL THEORY | ||
| COMMUNICATION PEDAGOGY | ||
Human Resources Management | ||
| ORGAN THRY, BEHAV & ENVIRONMEN | ||
| EMPLOYEE STAFFING & DEVELOP | ||
| EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR MANAGERS | ||
| STRATEGIC COMPENSATION MGMT | ||
or MGT 631 | HRM & ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR | |
Teaching English as a Second Language* | ||
| POLICY & PRACTICE IN EDUC LING | ||
| INTRO TO LANGUAGE SYSTEMS | ||
| INSTR & ACADEMIC LANG CONT DOM | ||
| INSTR & EVAL OF LANGUAGE USAGE | ||
| PRACTICUM, TESOL | ||
*To earn your TESOL certificate, contact the TESOL advisor, Dr. Andrea Word-Allbritton (andrea.word@uah.edu)
Other Areas of Emphasis
Students in the MA in Professional Communication program may take electives within the major, as well as up to four courses from other graduate programs, but no more than 12 hours of the 33 hours may be taken in a discipline other than CM. Below are some of the example electives.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| CM 505 | ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | 3 |
| CM 508 | CLASSICAL RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| CM 509 | CONTEMPORARY RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| CM 518 | LEGAL ARGUMENT | 3 |
| CM 520 | PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 3 |
| CM 530 | MASS MEDIA IN AMERICA | 3 |
| CM 533 | DARK SIDE INTERPERSONAL COMM | 3 |
| CM 540 | PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | 3 |
| CM 544 | ADVERTISING | 3 |
| CM 551 | ORGANIZATIONAL TRAIN & DEVELOP | 3 |
| CM 610 | COMMUNICATION PEDAGOGY | 3 |
| CM 640 | SPECIAL TOPICS | 3 |
| EH 500 | COMPOSITION STUDIES TCHRS | 3 |
| EH 501 | THRY & PRACTICE TECHNICAL COMM | 3 |
| EH 502 | PROBS TECHNICAL EDITING | 3 |
| EH 512 | SP TOPICS IN CREATIVE WRITING | 3 |
| EH 554 | NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | 3 |
| EH 601 | ACTION RESCH WRITING STUDIES | 3 |
| EH 602 | PRACTICUM/TECHNICAL COMM | 3 |
| EH 603 | EDITING FOR PUBLICATION | 3 |
| MGT 560 | EMPLOYEE STAFFING & DEVELOP | 3 |
| MGT 561 | STRATEGIC COMPENSATION MGMT | 3 |
| MGT 562 | EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR MANAGERS | 3 |
| MGT 600 | ORGAN THRY, BEHAV & ENVIRONMEN | 3 |
| MGT 631 | HRM & ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR | 3 |
| MGT 622 | MANAGING HUMAN CAPITAL | 3 |
| MGT 629 | LEADERSHIP: THRY & PRACTICE | 3 |