The Master of Arts in Organizational Communication is an online degree that focuses on helping early- and mid-career professionals refine an advanced set of communication competencies related to understanding and managing organizational culture, team productivity and their personal career growth. The degree is applicable to a wide range of professions, including human resources, communications, or engineering – especially as one advances into management and leadership positions.

Professionals in every field today must be skilled at communicating across boundaries and uniting people around big new ideas and business imperatives. The MA in Organizational Communication provides students research-based insights helpful in clarifying, connecting, and inspiring diverse groups of employees and customers through communication. This differentiating communication skillset will help graduates become a trusted advisor for peers, company leaders and clients. Whether planning for a role change, looking to transition back into the workforce after taking care of family, or simply looking to effectively share expertise with others, advanced communication knowledge helps professionals transition within and across multiple industries and professions over the long term.

The program focuses on key facets of communication within organizations such as,

• Effectively building trust, prevent conflict across diverse teams and departments
• Identifying the management communication issues driving low employee engagement
• Leading a global team on a complex organizational change project
• Increasing retention of a diverse workforce with inclusive team communication practices
• Building effective onboarding programs for new hires and promotions
• Distilling survey findings into a presentation or report to address the concerns of multiple stakeholders or audiences, from marketing to finance and manufacturing
• Leveraging the power of social networks to successfully launch new internal initiatives, products
   

Admissions

To apply for admission, the applicant must supply the following materials:

1. Complete an online application. An application fee will be charged at the time of applying online. Applicants must pay the application fee with a credit card.
2. Submit one copy of official transcripts of all previous college work, both undergraduate and graduate. Transcripts will be submitted online by the student, and the applicant must send an official sealed copy to the department at the address listed below.
3. Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals in a position to comment meaningfully on the applicant's potential for graduate work. Individuals writing letters will be sent an e-mail from College Net with instructions to fill out an evaluation form and attach a copy of their letter to that.  These items will be uploaded to the student's account when complete.
4. Submit a two-to-three-page statement of purpose letter indicating the importance of your goals and academic interests and how these goals and interests could be satisfied by studying Organizational Communication.
5. Submit a resume or curriculum vita.
6. Submit a research or professional writing sample.

Applicants are evaluated on the overall strength of their materials based on a balance of the following criteria:  academic record as reflected in overall GPA; the strength of recommendation letters; and the strength of the research sample submitted by the student. The final decision is based on the overall strength of the application as reflected in all of the criteria listed.

Degree Requirements

The MA in Organizational Communication degree is comprised of the following 30 credit hours:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses: 12 credit hours
PFS 730	Writing and Speaking for Decision Makers	3
or PFS 801	Interpersonal and Persuasive Communication Skills for Managers
PFS 810	Organizational Communication Strategies	3
PFS 850	Interview-Based Research in Organizations	3
PFS 860	Exploring Communication Theory	3
Elective Options: 15 credit hours (Students may select 15 credit hours of the electives below or other departmentally-approved courses. Students may opt to enroll in 6 credit hours of relevant course work from other disciplines with department approval.)
PFS 741	Intercultural Communication in Organizations	3
PFS 821	Employee Onboarding and Role Development	3
PFS 823	Organizational Change and Communication	3
PFS 825	Communication Practices for Inclusive Organizations	3
PFS 827	Communication Ethics for Managers and Leaders	3
PFS 829	Communicating Across Workplace Generations	3
PFS 831	Case Studies in Organizational Communication	3
PFS 833	Communication and Team Development	3
PFS 835	Interpersonal Communication Skills at Work	3
PFS 837	Communication Strategies for Remote and Hybrid Teams	3
PFS 839	Conflict Dynamics in Organizations	3
PFS 875	Special Topics in Organizational Communication	3
PFS 895	Independent Study in Organizational Communication	1-3
Capstone: 3 credit hours
PFS 898	Capstone Project in Organizational Communication (The master’s degree concludes with a demonstration of content mastery. Students can choose to complete either a comprehensive exam or a capstone project. Selection from these two options should be based on your learning goals and chosen in consultation with program faculty and your academic success coach. An additional three credit hours of electives will be required for the exam option. Please consult with your advisor to discuss which option will work best for your needs and goals.)	1-3