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Master's in Communication Studies Online

Arkansas State University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Communication Studies spans 30 credit hours, can be completed in as few as 10 months and costs $350 per credit hour ($1,050 per course; $10,500 total tuition), with six start dates a year. This theory- and research-oriented program is designed for working communicators and educators who want to advance into roles such as communications director, program manager, public relations specialist, college instructor and other leadership positions.

Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27

Program Overview

What does A-State's online M.A. in Communication Studies offer?

Expand your career path with a Master of Arts in Communication Studies online degree from Arkansas State University. This graduate level program improves your effectiveness in communicating with small and large audiences, making you a valuable asset to any business organization. Sharpen your research and writing skills, and gain insight into nonverbal and multicultural communication.

Throughout this online master’s program, you will grow your proficiency in the subtleties of different communication methods—preparing you to voice your message in a format that best resonates with your audience. Gain knowledge about multicultural and nonverbal communication, communication theories, and research and writing techniques that help you craft effective messaging.

Learning qualitative and quantitative research methods along with models and theories of human communication will allow you to create meaning in your communications. The competencies you acquire can help you move up into management roles such as program director and communications or content management, as well as teaching at the higher-education level.

The 100% online Master of Arts in Communication Studies degree at Arkansas State University is designed for flexibility and is customizable to meet your interests, with electives making up more than half of the program. Create a curriculum that helps you achieve your personal and professional goals on your own schedule in this affordable degree program.

In this program you will learn how to:

  • Understand and summarize the basis of communications theories
  • Effectively apply communications theories in various communications contexts/ situations
  • Utilize basic methods of communications research
In this program you will learn how to:+
  • Understand and summarize the basis of communications theories
  • Effectively apply communications theories in various communications contexts/ situations
  • Utilize basic methods of communications research

As a graduate, you will be prepared for career advancement into communications roles including:

  • Communications Manager / Communications Director
  • Program Manager
  • College Instructor
  • Content Manager / Content Strategist
  • Corporate Communications Manager
  • Public Relations Specialist
As a graduate, you will be prepared for career advancement into communications roles including:+
  • Communications Manager / Communications Director
  • Program Manager
  • College Instructor
  • Content Manager / Content Strategist
  • Corporate Communications Manager
  • Public Relations Specialist
+

Also available:

The Master of Arts in Communication Studies is A-State's theory- and research-oriented communication master's. If you want an applied emphasis or a different credential level, explore the related programs below:

Total Tuition: $10,500
Program Duration: As few as 10 months
Credit Hours 30
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

How much does the online M.A. in Communication Studies cost?

Our M.A. in Communication Studies online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $350
Total Tuition: $10,500

Calendar

When can you start the online M.A. in Communication Studies?

Our completely online M.A. in Communication Studies offers multiple start date options and accelerated coursework with working professional students in mind.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/12/269/28/269/28/2610/8/2610/9/2612/4/26
Spring 11/11/2712/28/2612/28/261/7/271/8/272/26/27
Spring 23/8/272/22/272/22/273/4/273/5/274/30/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/28/26
Start Class 1/11/27

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

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Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the online M.A. in Communication Studies?

A-State Online has a streamlined admission process for new students and transfers alike. Students who are interested in the M.A. in Communication Studies online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelors Degree
  • Official Transcripts
  • 2.5 GPA
View all admission requirements +

  • Complete online application and submit a nonrefundable $30 fee.
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA or a 2.75 in the last 60 hours (undergraduate, graduate or combination thereof) or graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree from a regionally accredited (U.S.) institution.
    Note: if you are admitted and have less than a 2.75 cumulative GPA and less than a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours, you must make a grade of B or better in each course during the first 6 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University as part of a conditional admission status.
  • Submission of a sample of writing, which could be a recent term paper or research paper.
  • Official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institutions.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Courses

What courses are in the online M.A. in Communication Studies curriculum?

The M.A. in Communication Studies online program requires 30 credit hours of coursework. Students will take four required core courses (12 credit hours) and choose six elective courses that are COMS or STCM courses (18 credit hours).

You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All

Students must complete the following 4 courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the tools and techniques of empirical research as they may be applied to mass communications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Theories, models, and approaches relevant to the study of human communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of research methods, theories and constructs, and selected studies of the communication discipline.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Major approaches to qualitative inquiry in the fields of media and communication. Students will gain experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative data as well as in writing qualitative research reports.

Students must select six courses (18 credit hours) from the following choices. Two courses (6 credit hours) must be 6000-level courses. Other COMS/STCM graduate courses may satisfy the elective requirements.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course covers interpersonal communication in the context of personal relationships such as romantic relationships, friendships, professional relationships, and family relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
A study of the history and philosophy of the pedagogy of communication studies, to include both theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to foundational as well as current theory and research in interpersonal communication. Students will examine several interpersonal communication contexts and processes as well as methodologies in interpersonal communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of a broad range of rhetorical theories to help students make critical and analytical applications to public discourse.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course will introduce students to intercultural communication and function of organization communication in the workplace, addressing how effective communication within organizations affects business and how to advance intercultural skills while being aware of different world views.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on the strategic integration of various channels and methods of communication for the purpose of delivering key messages to diverse target audiences in order to elicit responses, create a dialogue and engender relationship-building.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of the International Intellectual Property System (IIPS) and its development in response to international trade and digital innovations. Subject areas include a primary focus on copyright and trademark with some coverage of patent law.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines concepts and applications of social media within mass communications, news, advertising, and public relations industries. We will explore and apply social media tools, integrating them into an organization’s overall communication strategy.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the world of online interactive advertising. It surveys a variety of important topics, from integrating social media initiatives into the overall marketing communications plan to online display ads to developing an effective search engine strategy.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Measurement and improvement of investment outcomes from use of social media in advertising, public relations, and marketing communications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An investigation of communications during crises, focusing on public relations, advertising and other persuasive efforts by institutions, corporations, movement leaders, and citizens to describe, persuade and shape human interactions with their environment during a crisis.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Current and emerging issues in communications policy and regulation, including privacy, libel, FTC and FCC regulations, First Amendment issues, copyright and trademarks.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Using social scientific research methods for audience/consumer analysis, this course provides a survey of applications of research in media industries. Pragmatic task activities will be conducted via Nielsen, Arbitron, SRDS and related data sources to find audience market insights.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Advanced study of the principles and practice of advertising account management. Includes an in-depth analysis of advantages and disadvantages of multiple media platforms and strategic communication in communicating messages to diverse target audiences and a discussion of effective and ethical client relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The role of strategic communications in and for organizations and brands, including communications objective(s), target audience(s), and key messages. Addresses application of communication theory and research related to public relations, advertising, and social media.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of principles of privacy law and technology to current legal and policy problems.

Built for Your Schedule, Not Your Zip Code

Arkansas State University's online M.A. in Communication Studies is built for working communicators anywhere in the U.S. who want a research-grounded graduate credential without relocating to Jonesboro. Because the program is completed entirely online with six start dates a year, and in-state and out-of-state students pay the same $350 per credit hour ($10,500 total), your location does not limit your access. Electives make up 18 of the 30 credit hours, so you can build a curriculum around your own work and research interests. Arkansas National Guard members may qualify for the state’s National Guard Tuition Waiver; see A-State's military page. For state authorization details, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

FAQ

Communication Studies Master’s Online FAQs

Intro copy

Both are 30 credit hours at $10,500 and can be completed in as few as 10 months. The M.A. is theory and research oriented: its four core courses are Quantitative Research Methods, Communication Theory, Introduction to Communication Studies and Qualitative Research Methods, and electives make up the other 18 credit hours. The M.S. is applied: its five core courses are Quantitative Research Methods, Audience Market Analysis, Advertising Account Management, Seminar in Strategic Communications and a capstone, followed by an emphasis or electives.
Applicants submit a sample of writing, which can be a recent term paper or research paper. The other requirements are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, official transcripts and a 2.5 cumulative GPA (or 2.75 in the last 60 hours). Applicants admitted below a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 in the last 60 hours must earn a B or better in each course during their first 6 hours of graduate work.
Electives make up 18 of the 30 credit hours. Two must be 6000-level courses. Electives can be COMS or STCM courses, so students can mix theory courses such as Rhetorical Theory and Criticism with applied courses such as Social Media Measurement, Crisis Communication or Integrated Marketing Communications.
College Instructor is among the roles students can develop skills for, and Communication Education (COMM 66233) is an elective covering the history and philosophy of communication pedagogy, including theoretical and applied aspects. Hiring institutions set their own credential requirements for instructor roles, so check postings in your target field.

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