Online Master of Arts in Communication

Amplify Your Expertise

Lifelong Learning for a Lifetime of Success

Boost Your Earning Potential and Career Opportunities

Program Details: 1-2 years | $663 Per Credit | 33 Credit Hours

Program Benefits

  • Expert Faculty
  • Fully Online Courses
  • No Application Fee
  • Transfer Credits Accepted
  • Three Unique Tracks
  • Convenient Six-Week Courses

Given the success of our on-campus communication master’s program, where alumni have reported increased salaries of more than 50% after graduation, we are excited to now offer a 100% online Master of Arts in Communication degree program.

You’ll gain a well-rounded education in communications and related fields, including business, law, marketing, and public policy. Align your degree with your career goals by choosing one of three tracks: Brand Communication, Communication Leadership, and Public Affairs & Advocacy.

Interdisciplinary, Flexible Curriculum

The interdisciplinary nature of the online Master of Arts in Communication degree gives you several new perspectives on the field, making you more marketable. All six-week courses in the MA degree program are asynchronous, which means you can study when and where it works best for you. There are no in-person requirements or scheduled online class meetings.

Communication Courses That Foster Success in Numerous Fields

Seek your online master’s in communication degree with Drake to study communication through the lens of business, law, marketing, public policy, and other focus areas. The program includes 33 credit hours and lets you align your education with your ambitions through the following tracks:

  • Brand Communication: Build the digital marketing skills needed to develop creative strategies that inspire diverse audiences to take action.
  • Communication Leadership: Emerge as a communication leader with rich multimedia skills and expertise in research, professional ethics, and digital strategies.
  • Public Affairs & Advocacy: Bring your communication talents to political, public policy, or advocacy roles by honing your understanding of professional ethics, speechwriting, and legislation.
View CurriculumView Faculty

Program Outcomes

Drake’s online Master of Arts in Communication will prepare you to:

  • Understand the history, evolution, ethics, and application of various communication disciplines.
  • Identify and understand the theoretical foundations of the discipline, evaluate their effectiveness in communication practice, and apply them to real-world clients/issues.
  • Analyze the implications of ethical communication in a global society, develop the ability to communicate in an increasingly global society, develop message strategies that serve diverse and multicultural constituencies, and understand and demonstrate ethical policy.
  • Develop critical thinking skills through the analysis and evaluation of message strategies for diverse audiences.
  • Create, present, and defend a fully realized original research project or a communication project with a community partner.

Admission Requirements

  • Complete the online application.
  • Submit your official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities.
  • Submit contact information for two professional recommendations.
  • Personal essay specific to your track focus.

Explore our admissions requirements here.

Tuition Details

Drake University takes pride in delivering the best value education possible to our students. With our online Master of Arts in Communication degree program which costs $663 per credit hour, you’ll be prepared to pursue your career goals with skill, knowledge, and confidence. Explore our tuition details here.

Careers for Online MA in Communication Grads

Drake’s communication master’s program provides an exceptional opportunity for you to bring varied experience to the job market. Upon graduation, you will be ready to tackle higher-level positions in your career while becoming an ethical global leader. Careers in media and communications are growing fast. About 114,300 openings are projected each year, on average, between 2022 and 2032.1 Some titles include:

  • Chief Marketing Officer: $194,292 per year2
  • Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager: $138,730 per year3
  • Public Relations Manager: $120,740 per year4
  • Managing Editor: $77,361 per year5
  • Media Planner: $76,585 per year6

Faculty Spotlight

Kelly Bruhn, Professor, Public Relations — Dr. Bruhn teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in public relations strategy, PR campaigns, and research. She earned her doctorate from Michigan State University, a master’s degree from Ball State University, and an undergraduate degree in communications from Valparaiso University. She is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America. Prior to joining the Drake faculty in 2009, Bruhn created award-winning campaigns for Verizon Wireless and various nonprofit organizations. In 2013, she was recognized by the Des Moines chapter of the Public Relations Society of America as an outstanding chapter member, and she served as the 2018 Central Iowa PRSA Chapter president. Her research interests include public relations pedagogy and agency-client relationships.

Student Testimonials

Alisa, Drake University Online Student — “MAC 201: Communication Leadership Strategies was a stimulating course. It provided exposure to materials and strategies that caused me to make immediate changes in my business and personal life. I grew tremendously by making informed decisions about how I can better lead.”

About the School of Journalism & Mass Communication

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University couples hands-on training in professional skills with a strong liberal arts education to prepare students to become leaders in their fields. Drake’s SJMC is committed to developing educated, successful professionals poised to start exciting careers in the fields of journalism and mass communication. Close to 100% of SJMC graduates in recent years have reported working in jobs within their fields or other professional jobs of their choice within six months of graduation.

Drake’s SJMC is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Drake is among 119 accredited schools worldwide, is the only accredited program in a private institution in the Midwest, and is one of only 18 in the nation. To earn accreditation, schools meet eight standards, which address such issues as class size and diversity within the faculty and curriculum. Accreditation reviews occur every six years. Drake’s program has been continuously accredited since 1972, most recently in 2017.

Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Media and Communication Occupations.” Retrieved on December 6, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
  2. Salary: Chief Marketing Officer in United States 2023. Glassdoor. Retrieved on December 6, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/.
  3. Public Relations Manager Salary. Salary.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023, from https://www.salary.com/.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers.” Retrieved on December 6, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
  5. Salary: Managing Editor in the United States 2023. Glassdoor. Retrieved on December 18, 2023 from https://www.glassdoor.com/.
  6. Salary: Media Planner in the United States 2023. Glassdoor. Retrieved on December 6, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/.