Master of Arts in Communications Online

Gain theoretical and practical knowledge to lead messaging campaigns that captivate audiences and help organizations reach their goals. This online program offers a thesis track and non-thesis track.

Apply by: 4/21/25
Start class: 5/5/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

Delve into the benefits of our online master’s in communications

$15,710* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months* Duration
30 Credit Hours

Leverage your passion for language with enhanced understanding of communication theories, research methods and practical applications. If you are seeking to pivot or advance in academia, the thesis-track option delves into qualitative and quantitative research methods; a survey of major theories and philosophies that inform communication studies; and support for the research, development, completion and defense of your thesis. Tailor your degree with a range of electives emphasizing artificial intelligence, mass media and pop culture, organizational communication, public relations, marketing and much more.

Non-Thesis Track

In the non-thesis track, prepare for leadership roles in public relations, media, corporate communications and beyond. Led by faculty with tools and insights informed by real-world experience, this online program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and developing strategies to maximize messaging effectiveness in diverse environments across any industry. Shape your degree with an array of elective options including rhetorical leadership, organizational communication, digital communication, brand identity design, public relations and advertising campaigns, artificial intelligence, media use analytics and more.

Non-Thesis Track+

In the non-thesis track, prepare for leadership roles in public relations, media, corporate communications and beyond. Led by faculty with tools and insights informed by real-world experience, this online program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and developing strategies to maximize messaging effectiveness in diverse environments across any industry. Shape your degree with an array of elective options including rhetorical leadership, organizational communication, digital communication, brand identity design, public relations and advertising campaigns, artificial intelligence, media use analytics and more.

In this online M.A. in Communications program, you will:

  • Understand communication as a complex social process, focusing on both traditional forms and new media
  • Communicate effectively, thoughtfully and with sensitivity in a variety of contexts and mediums
  • Critically analyze and evaluate messages using theory-based reasoning and various analytical techniques
  • Adapt to unexpected situations through effective communication, leadership, teamwork, proper time management and creative problem-solving
  • Collect, analyze, synthesize and interpret large amounts of qualitative and statistical data from multiple sources
In this online M.A. in Communications program, you will:+
  • Understand communication as a complex social process, focusing on both traditional forms and new media
  • Communicate effectively, thoughtfully and with sensitivity in a variety of contexts and mediums
  • Critically analyze and evaluate messages using theory-based reasoning and various analytical techniques
  • Adapt to unexpected situations through effective communication, leadership, teamwork, proper time management and creative problem-solving
  • Collect, analyze, synthesize and interpret large amounts of qualitative and statistical data from multiple sources

M.A. in Communications career opportunities:

  • Public Relations Manager
  • Corporate Communications Manager
  • Content Strategist
  • Media Relations Specialist
  • Internal Communications Specialist
  • Social Media Manager
M.A. in Communications career opportunities:+
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Corporate Communications Manager
  • Content Strategist
  • Media Relations Specialist
  • Internal Communications Specialist
  • Social Media Manager

Other business programs also available:

The University of Texas at Tyler offers a variety of specialized program options. Check out our other business programs.

As low as $15,710* Total Tuition and Fees
As few as 12 months* Duration
As few as 30 Credit Hours
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 877-588-3286

Call 877-588-3286

Tuition

An online communications degree program makes financial sense

The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing an M.A. in Communications online.

Tuition breakdown:

$15,710* Total Tuition
$523.67 Per Credit Hour
View additional tuition information +

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
M.A. – Communications $523.67 $1,571 $15,710*

*Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. The university reserves the right to change tuition and fees in keeping with acts of the Texas Legislature and/or policies of the Board of Regents.

Learn more about our tuition refund schedule.

Tuition breakdown:

As low as $ 15,710* Total Tuition and Fees
$523.67 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Take note of these important dates

Designed for working professionals, UT Tyler online programs conveniently feature multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that’s best for you.

Now enrolling:

4/21/25 Apply Date
5/5/25 Class Starts

View full calendar  + 

TermStart DateApp DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineClass End DateTerm Length
Summer I5/5/254/21/254/28/255/5/255/1/256/21/257 weeks
Summer II6/23/256/9/256/16/256/23/256/20/258/9/257 weeks

Now enrolling:

4/21/25 Apply Date
5/5/25 Class Starts

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Apply Now

Admissions

Here is what you need to apply for the M.A. in Communications online program

Let's get started! The admission process is the first step toward earning your online degree. Familiarize yourself with these requirements for the M.A. in Communications online master’s program, along with information on required documentation.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • No GMAT required
  • Transcripts from all prior degree programs
View all admission requirements +

Prospective students seeking admission to the M.A. in Communications program must submit the following in order for eligibility to be determined:

  • Complete an online application
  • Pay the $50 application fee for domestic students and $75 application fee for international students
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
    • Students who do not have a journalism, mass communication, speech communication, or communication studies major or minor in their undergraduate studies may be required to take leveling courses as determined by the communication graduate faculty
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on all upper-division coursework
  • Writing sample from undergraduate work
  • Two favorable letters of recommendation
  • International applicants must provide satisfactory English proficiency exam scores. Minimum score requirements: TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5 band with at least a 6.0 in each subsection), PTE (53), or Duolingo English Test (105). Applicants with bachelor’s degrees from foreign institutions must include a course-by-course transcript evaluation from an approved company.

Note: If significant time has passed since an applicant was an undergraduate and access to previous work is inaccessible, the department will provide a writing prompt for the applicant to demonstrate writing ability at the graduate level.

Students may request that the original institution send the transcripts electronically to [email protected]. Transcripts sent electronically will only be reviewed if they are received directly from the original school.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission status is good for two start periods within the same semester. Official transcripts and any other missing documents must be submitted prior to enrollment in the first session of the second semester. A student who is not fully admitted by the beginning of the first session of the second semester will not be allowed to continue in the program until full admission requirements are met.

Learn more about financial aid opportunities and payment options.

Documents and official, sealed transcripts should be mailed to:

The University of Texas at Tyler
Office of Graduate Admissions, HPR 248
3900 University Blvd.,
Tyler, TX 75799

Have a question? Call us at 877-588-3286.

Note: Applicants with foreign transcripts must submit a detailed, course-by-course international transcript evaluation. The evaluation determines an applicant's degree comparability to a U.S. bachelor's degree and provides their GPA on the U.S. scale. UT Tyler accepts international transcript evaluations conducted by the current members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Courses

Discover what you will learn in this online M.A. – Communications program

For the Master of Arts in Communications online, the curriculum comprises 10 courses covering 30 credit hours, including 12 hours of core courses and 18 hours of electives.

For the Master of Arts in Communications Non-Thesis Track online, the curriculum comprises 10 courses covering 30 credit hours, including 9 hours of core courses and 21 hours of electives.

The Master of Arts in Communications has two certificates embedded into the program. To earn the Corporate Communication Certificate, choose 3 courses to complete a total of 9 credits from the following options: COMM 5302, COMM 5328, COMM 5344, COMM 5335 and COMM 5340. To earn the Integrated Marketing Certificate, choose 3 courses to complete a total of 9 credits from the following options: COMM 5303, COMM 5315, COMM 5360, COMM 5345, COMM 5380, COMM 5355, MARK 5320 and MARK 5380.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is the culmination of your learning experience in the COMM graduate program. It is designed for you to reflect upon and to showcase your academic work. You will develop and present a digital portfolio grounded in your graduate studies. Students complete this course in the last semester of they MA program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of major theories that inform communication studies and their philosophical assumptions and implications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the uses, assumptions, processes, techniques, principles, and critical evaluation of qualitative and quantitative research methods applied in the systematic study of communication.

Please note that the Thesis Track may take additional time to complete. Students should expect to complete this track in as few as 12-14 months.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of major theories that inform communication studies and their philosophical assumptions and implications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the uses, assumptions, processes, techniques, principles, and critical evaluation of qualitative and quantitative research methods applied in the systematic study of communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Selection of research topic and development of thesis plan.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Completion and defense of thesis.

Students must take 21 hours of directed program electives. Students may choose from the courses below:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Rhetorical principles, procedures, and methods of systematically analyzing persuasive discourse in various media.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of propaganda theory and methods, emphasis on opinion-making processes in governments, political parties, pressure groups, and mass media. Critical examination and synthesis of past and on-going research on propaganda.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with exposure to scholarly norms and practices. Students will engage in a comprehensive research project geared toward the development of scholarly research and theoretical knowledge.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of popular culture with emphasis on the role of television, cable, film, magazines, internet, and emerging technologies in transmitting symbols and images.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Involves the student in a definition of leadership and its role within the processes of small groups. It is a theoretical study of communication networks, human motivation, conflict reduction, and the introduction of social change.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of major communication theories in mass communication and speech communication with an emphasis on current ideas and literature. May be repeated once for credit when content changes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A critical look at the role of communication in formal organizations, both public and private. Emphasis on a review of literature and field research in selected communication problems.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed to provide the student with the opportunity to acquire theoretical guidelines and experiential applications in the study of human communication across cultures, including intercommunity, international, and global communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the interplay of communication media, technology, technique, processes, environment and culture with human feeling, thought, value, and behavior. Special consideration of how changes in media shape changes in human consciousness.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the interplay of communication media, technology, technique, processes, environment and culture with human feeling, thought, value, and behavior. Special consideration of how changes in media shape changes in human consciousness.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Independent study in specific areas of journalism or speech communication not covered by organized graduate courses. A maximum of six credit hours of independent study courses may be applied toward a graduate degree.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theoretical exploration of brand identity design products, with emphasis on logos as systems that fuel the recognition of that brand, its public perception, and its effectiveness through students envisioning brands design development.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Public Relations and Advertising Campaigns focuses on strategically planning, budgeting, and managing integrated marketing communication campaigns. Students will accumulate hands-on experience of strategic thinking and IMC by generating and implementing plan for real life clients or participating in industrial competitions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Surveys the field of Artificial Intelligence and Communication with focus on the inputs, outputs, effects, and applications of AI technologies. Beginning by charting the historical development of artificial intelligence, its creation, applications, and where it might go in the future. Specific emphasis will be placed on how developments in AI alter our conceptualization of communication forms such as reading, writing, and speaking. Upon completion of the course, students will have received sufficient training to serve as technically knowledgeable and ethically informed shepherds for future development and integration of AI technologies in society.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of contemporary problems in marketing with emphasis on dynamic market characteristics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of approaches and methods of marketing research employed by marketing managers to solve marketing problems; emphasis on survey methodology and applications of statistical methods.

Students must take 18 hours of directed program electives. Students may choose from the courses below or any advisor-approved UT Tyler 5000 elective or higher course:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Rhetorical principles, procedures, and methods of systematically analyzing persuasive discourse in various media.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of propaganda theory and methods, emphasis on opinion-making processes in governments, political parties, pressure groups, and mass media. Critical examination and synthesis of past and on-going research on propaganda.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with exposure to scholarly norms and practices. Students will engage in a comprehensive research project geared toward the development of scholarly research and theoretical knowledge.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of popular culture with emphasis on the role of television, cable, film, magazines, internet, and emerging technologies in transmitting symbols and images.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Involves the student in a definition of leadership and its role within the processes of small groups. It is a theoretical study of communication networks, human motivation, conflict reduction, and the introduction of social change.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of major communication theories in mass communication and speech communication with an emphasis on current ideas and literature. May be repeated once for credit when content changes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A critical look at the role of communication in formal organizations, both public and private. Emphasis on a review of literature and field research in selected communication problems.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed to provide the student with the opportunity to acquire theoretical guidelines and experiential applications in the study of human communication across cultures, including intercommunity, international, and global communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the interplay of communication media, technology, technique, processes, environment and culture with human feeling, thought, value, and behavior. Special consideration of how changes in media shape changes in human consciousness.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the interplay of communication media, technology, technique, processes, environment and culture with human feeling, thought, value, and behavior. Special consideration of how changes in media shape changes in human consciousness.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Independent study in specific areas of journalism or speech communication not covered by organized graduate courses. A maximum of six credit hours of independent study courses may be applied toward a graduate degree.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theoretical exploration of brand identity design products, with emphasis on logos as systems that fuel the recognition of that brand, its public perception, and its effectiveness through students envisioning brands design development.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Public Relations and Advertising Campaigns focuses on strategically planning, budgeting, and managing integrated marketing communication campaigns. Students will accumulate hands-on experience of strategic thinking and IMC by generating and implementing plan for real life clients or participating in industrial competitions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Surveys the field of Artificial Intelligence and Communication with focus on the inputs, outputs, effects, and applications of AI technologies. Beginning by charting the historical development of artificial intelligence, its creation, applications, and where it might go in the future. Specific emphasis will be placed on how developments in AI alter our conceptualization of communication forms such as reading, writing, and speaking. Upon completion of the course, students will have received sufficient training to serve as technically knowledgeable and ethically informed shepherds for future development and integration of AI technologies in society.

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