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Program Overview
Discover the SUU online M.A. in Professional Communication experience
$13,500
Total Tuition
As few as 12 months
Program Duration
36
Credit Hours
Enhance your communication skills and learn the application of professional communication to effectively reach a variety of audiences with the online Master of Arts in Professional Communication. The online professional communication master's degree program is ideal for those working for any company requiring audience messaging capabilities in advertising and public relations campaigns, social media content creation, internal organizational analysis, media production and more.
Interact one-on-one with distinguished faculty in dynamic communication courses with topics like advertising and public relations strategies, pop culture, social media, and professional writing and presentation and gain skills applicable to any industry. Offering projects tailored to your professional goals, the online M.A. in Professional Communication helps you apply what you learn immediately.
In the online professional communication program, you will:
- Study the impact of technology and social media on the communication process as well as how outlets like YouTube, TV, advertisements, gaming, etc. influence identity and collective understanding
- Complete an integrated social media plan with objectives, strategies, tactics and key performance indicators
- Explore advanced issues in advertising and public relations and how practitioners respond to and manage events
- Learn the fundamentals of qualitative and rhetorical research methods and have the opportunity to write up your own studies from question formulation through interpretation and conclusion
- Complete either a Thesis or Capstone Project demonstrating knowledge gained in the program
- Study the impact of technology and social media on the communication process as well as how outlets like YouTube, TV, advertisements, gaming, etc. influence identity and collective understanding
- Complete an integrated social media plan with objectives, strategies, tactics and key performance indicators
- Explore advanced issues in advertising and public relations and how practitioners respond to and manage events
- Learn the fundamentals of qualitative and rhetorical research methods and have the opportunity to write up your own studies from question formulation through interpretation and conclusion
- Complete either a Thesis or Capstone Project demonstrating knowledge gained in the program
The online professional communication master’s degree program prepares you for roles such as:
- Public Relations Manager
- Internal Communications Manager
- Marketing Consultant
- Political Campaign Manager
- Marketing Communications Manager
- Social Media Content Creator
- Social Media Specialist
- Public Relations Manager
- Internal Communications Manager
- Marketing Consultant
- Political Campaign Manager
- Marketing Communications Manager
- Social Media Content Creator
- Social Media Specialist
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
SUU offers students the opportunity to earn their online degree with affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition, which includes all fees.
Tuition breakdown:
$375
Per Credit Hour
$13,500
Total Tuition
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. – Professional Communication | $375 | $1,125 | $13,500* |
Calendar
View the SUU online program dates and deadlines
The Master of Arts in Professional Communication is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that's best for you.
Now enrolling:
2/21/22
Next Application Deadline
3/7/22
Start Classes
| Term | Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | 1/10/22 | 12/27/21 | 1/3/22 | 1/5/22 | 1/10/22 | 2/27/22 |
| Spring II | 3/7/22 | 2/21/22 | 2/28/22 | 3/2/22 | 3/7/22 | 4/24/22 |
| Summer I | 5/16/22 | 5/2/22 | 5/9/22 | 5/11/22 | 5/16/22 | 7/3/22 |
| Summer II | 7/5/22 | 6/21/22 | 6/28/22 | 6/30/22 | 7/5/22 | 8/21/22 |
| Fall I | 9/7/22 | 8/24/22 | 8/31/22 | 9/2/22 | 9/7/22 | 10/23/22 |
| Fall II | 10/24/22 | 10/10/22 | 10/17/22 | 10/19/22 | 10/24/22 | 12/16/22 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online? Begin your online application today!
Admissions
Steps to be admitted to our online communication master's program
At SUU, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the M.A. in Professional Communication online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.
Online Application
Bachelor’s Degree
You must meet the following requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in Professional Communication program.
- Submit graduate application.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Full Admission: Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or in the last 60 hours (whichever is higher) OR
- Conditional Admission: Conditional admission may be granted based on a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or in the last 60 hours (whichever is higher). In order to meet Conditional Admission requirements, you must also provide:
- Three references to be provided on the online application form
- Letter of Intent
- This is a brief (500-word limit) description of the applicant’s goals and expectations in pursuing a graduate degree
Official transcripts, test scores and other documents should be sent directly from the granting institution(s) to:
Email address
[email protected]
Mail address
Admissions Office
Southern Utah University
PO Box 8008
Cedar City, Utah 84720
Courses
Advance your knowledge in these online M.A. in Professional Communication classes
The Master of Arts in Professional Communication online curriculum is comprised of 36 credit hours including 18 credit hours of core courses plus a capstone and 18 elective credit hours.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students learn to successfully navigate graduate education, engage in research and professional activities, and prepare portfolios and resumes/CVs. Targeted to student needs at various stages in the program.
NOT at fixed first course for MAPC students, however it is recommended to take this course first.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Using communication theory in real life. Introduction, research, and written articulation of both basic and advanced concepts of theories examining the role of applied and professional communication in human, organizational, social media, strategic, and mass media contexts.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students learn the fundamentals of various qualitative and rhetorical research methods, with their associated theoretical bases and specific applications. These methods include: 1) generic, metaphor, narrative, and Burkean criticism; 2) ethnography and participant observation; 3) semi-structured interviewing; and 4) grounded theory. Students have the opportunity to conduct and write up their own qualitative/rhetorical studies from the start (formulating research questions) to finish (interpreting the findings and drawing appropriate conclusions).
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will use relevant statistics to summarize data and explain certain human behaviors. Focus is on matching appropriate statistical tests to a given situation and providing relevant interpretations rather than on calculating the numbers. Using the IBM SPSS statistics program, students will apply their knowledge to modern-day research and practical problems related to communication professions.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will strengthen and enhance writing and presentation skills with careful attention to advanced language use required in various professional communication contexts. Students will create training sessions, press releases, digital resumes, website, social media, and marketing materials to help organizations manage their public face as well as learn how to establish and maintain their personal professional image in various contexts.
Students must select one Capstone Course.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A capstone experience demonstrating the ability to complete a professional thesis in consultation with a graduate committee. Students conceive, research, and produce a thesis in a relevant area of communication.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A capstone experience demonstrating the ability to complete a professional project.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of interpersonal communication through technology-mediated contexts. This course will explore the adoption, usage, and management of new technologies people use to communicate and interact with each other, as well as examine how the different types of mediated communication technologies affect the communication process.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines influential texts (e.g., YouTube, TV, Film, Advertisements, Music, and Gaming) that students consume daily. Focuses on the ways these discourses create identity and collective understanding. Explores message forms and their implications for critical thinking and consumption.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will explore an image's narrative on multiple levels (ironic, indexical, and symbolic meaning) and understand how our image comprehension and construction are inextricably linked to the visual languages of advertising and photojournalism. Using eye-tracking and VR technology, students will also learn how to measure attention to entire visual messages and intra-stimulus attention allocation to specific messages.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Communication and Digital Culture interrogates the so-called “digital age” by paying analytical attention to the intersection of technology, culture, economics, and politics. We will trace both the social and technological history that has led to the current moment, from the beginning of the idea of ‘the digital’ to contemporary cultural practices surrounding social media. We will seek to define “digital” and “culture” individually and in combination. Our time will be spent critiquing various cultural texts, audiences, institutions, and technical systems as well as learning how to engage in the production of digital texts as practitioners. Course readings draw from a broad range of literature situated within media studies, philosophy of technology, visual communication, and critical-cultural studies.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Discusses advanced issues in advertising and public relations and how practitioners respond to and manage issues and events, with emphasis on recent research and theoretical developments, case studies, and experimental approaches.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the strategic use of major social media platforms. Topics include blogging, search engine optimization, content creation, storytelling, corporate messaging, and uses and development of visual content. Students will complete an integrated social media plan with objectives, strategies, and tactics with key performance indicators and measurement.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Current issues in communication discussing contemporary communication topics varying by semester. Repeatable with different topics up to 18 credits toward the master's degree. Check with department for upcoming topics.
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