The Master of Arts in Professional Communication prepares students to work in communication intensive jobs, including social media management, user experience, advertising, public relations, professional writing, human resources, fundraising, event management, general management, training, and consulting, among other things. It fosters basic understanding of communication processes, including:
• Understanding of the major theoretical concepts and practical applications associated with the study of human communication
• The ability to conduct scientific research ethically and effectively, to interpret statistical information, and to assess its practical import for understanding communication in the world.
• Understanding of variables in communication situations, including the number (especially as it impacts interaction), background, interests, and values of participants; language, communication purposes, and contextual factors.
• Understanding of the implications of a multicultural world on appropriate and effective forms of communication.
• Understanding of how to adapt to variable communication situations for informative and persuasive purposes.
• Understanding of special forms of communication such as that related to advertising, public relations, social media, technical writing, and communication technology, among others.
• The ability to effectively produce and critically analyze persuasive messages.
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 18 hours of 600-level coursework (excluding CM 699).
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core (required of all students) | ||
| CM 555 | COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE | 3 |
| CM 631 | ADVANCED COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| CM 633 | ||
| CM 670 | ADVANCED COMMUNICATION METHODS | 3 |
| CM 675 | RHETORICAL CRITICISM | 3 |
Plan I: MA without Thesis
Choose 18 hours of electives from the list below (including at least 3 hours of 600-level course work, excluding CM 699), which may be freely chosen or may follow one of the suggested emphases identified below
Plan II: MA with Thesis
- Choose 12 hours of electives from the list below (including at least 3 hours of 600-level course work excluding CM 699), which may follow one of the suggested emphases identified below
- Six (6) hours of CM 699 Master’s Thesis
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Suggested Emphases for Selecting Electives | ||
Social Media | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
CM 635 | ||
CM 540 | ||
| NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | ||
User Experience | ||
| USER-CENTERED DESIGN | ||
| USABILITY STUDIES | ||
| INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE | ||
Approved Elective | ||
Advertising/Public Relations | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
| ADVERTISING | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | ||
CM 640 | ||
Professional Writing | ||
| NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | ||
| ACTION RESCH WRITING STUDIES | ||
Six hours selected from one of the following areas: | ||
Technical Writing | ||
| THRY & PRACTICE TECHNICAL COMM | ||
| PROBS TECHNICAL EDITING | ||
Media Writing | ||
| ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | ||
| NEW MEDIA WRITING & RHETORIC | ||
Communication Studies | ||
CM 521 | ||
| CONTEMPORARY RHETORICAL THEORY | ||
| BURKEIAN THEORY & CRITICISM | ||
| 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 | |
Other Areas of Emphasis
Students in the MA in Professional Communication program may request to take up to four courses from other graduate programs that cover areas not included here. For example, Alabama A&M University has graduate emphases in Counseling and in Telecommunications that would be suitable. The Graduate Adviser must approve such courses.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| CM 505 | ADVANCED MEDIA WRITING | 3 |
| CM 508 | CLASSICAL RHETORIAL THEORY | 3 |
| CM 509 | CONTEMPORARY RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| CM 518 | LEGAL ARGUMENT | 3 |
| CM 520 | PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 3 |
| CM 521 | ||
| CM 526 | BURKEIAN THEORY & CRITICISM | 3 |
| CM 530 | MASS MEDIA IN AMERICA | 3 |
| CM 533 | DARK SIDE INTERPERSONAL COMM | 3 |
| CM 540 | ||
| CM 544 | ADVERTISING | 3 |
| CM 551 | ORGANIZATIONAL TRAIN & DEVELOP | 3 |
| CM 610 | COMMUNICATION PEDAGOGY | 3 |
| CM 620 | ||
| CM 640 | ||
| CM 660 | ||
| CM 670 | ADVANCED COMMUNICATION METHODS | 3 |
| EH 500 | COMPOSITION STUDIES TCHRS | 3 |
| EH 501 | THRY & PRACTICE TECHNICAL COMM | 3 |
| EH 502 | PROBS TECHNICAL EDITING | 3 |
| EH 512 | SP STUDIES 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 |