Master's Degree in Communication
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| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2027-03-01 | - |
| 2027-06-01 | - |
Program Overview
Introduction to the Online Master's in Communication
The Master of Arts (MA) in Professional Communication is a graduate degree program designed for individuals who see a career path in nonprofit, higher education, healthcare, and digital media. This master's degree will also prepare students for the rigor of a doctoral communication program.
Program Overview
Communication is one of the most in-demand skill sets regardless of industry or occupation. In our online graduate program, students will learn theoretical and practical communication theory which can be applied to virtually any workplace.
Who Is the Online Master's Degree in Communication Designed For?
The program is designed for individuals who want to pursue a career in:
- Nonprofit
- Higher education
- Healthcare
- Digital media
Among hiring managers, communication management consistently ranks as integral for the workplace. Conflict management, interpersonal communication, public speaking, effective communication, and team collaboration are just a few of the skills students will learn and apply to various communication fields, including:
- Organizational communication
- Political communication
- Crisis communication
- Mass communication
- Corporate communication
- Digital communication
- Strategic communication
- Media studies
- Market research
Career Opportunities
Communication graduates from UAF work in industries and careers such as:
- Human resources
- Training & development
- Relationship management
- Science & environmental education
- Health communication
- Sustainability or policy development
- Public relations
- Media relations
- Social media marketing
- Advocacy
- Sports management
Why Earn Your Online Master's Degree in Communication at UAF?
- Students are able to study full-time or part-time and complete coursework via online or on-campus formats.
- Students have the option to complete a capstone project in lieu of a traditional thesis.
- Experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA) and coach in the UAF Communication Center.
- Opportunities to build teaching and mentoring portfolios and get tuition assistance.
- Master's communication degree is designed to provide students with flexibility to reduce barriers to pursuing their education.
- A unique environment for partnering with historically excluded communities to challenge colonist practices and promote respect, representation, and belonging.
- Unprecedented access for scholars and practitioners to study science and environmental communication in a sub-arctic environment.
Degree Type
- Graduate Degree
Availability
- Online
Accredited by
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Program Requirements
Students choose between three areas of concentration:
- Interpersonal interaction
- Public relations & organizational communication
- Science & environmental communication Students complete a minimum of 30 credit hours.
Learning at UAF
Earn your master's degree online at UAF and pay in-state tuition wherever you live. Emphasizing the unique experiences and challenges of Alaska and the circumpolar North, our eCampus programs connect you with leading faculty and researchers in a collaborative remote classroom designed for students on the go.
Cost Breakdown
The estimated cost for the communication master's degree program based on current rates is $18,725. The UAF Department of Communication has a limited number of virtual teaching assistant (TA) positions for highly qualified full-time students.
Example Projects
Students have opportunities to partner with faculty on innovative research projects. Our students have published book chapters, presented at regional, national, & international conferences, and published in top-tier journals. Students complete 6-9 elective credits based on personal interests and desired specializations.
- 'It's a Magnifying Glass': The Communication of Power in a Remote Field Station
- #Effyourbeautystandards: Message Construction in the Body Positivity Movement on Instagram
- Down Side Up: Representations of Down Syndrome in Born This Way _ _
- Search For Identity In Post-War Lebanon: Arab Vs Phoenician
- Identity Crisis: How Ideological and Rhetorical Failures Cost Egyptians Their Revolution
- Outdoor education and feminism: a review of the outdoor adventures program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- 'I am the last frontier': idealized Alaskan themes through media and their influence on culture, tourism, and policy
- Tanana Valley State Fair crisis public relations plan project
Related Programs
Other online master's degree programs to explore at UAF include:
- Master in Business Administration
- Master in Justice Administration
- Master of Security and Disaster Management
Director's Message
Welcome to our UAF COM-unity! The faculty, curriculum, and research/development opportunities built the strong foundation needed to earn a PhD and become a tenure track professor. Our graduate program creates the space for students to explore the rich, varied areas and theories the Communication discipline has to offer to master the areas of communication most relevant to their academic, personal, professional, and civic goals.
Online Classes at UAF
At UAF, online courses typically do not have set meeting times but do have weekly deadlines. While there are some standard practices, each course is designed by the instructor to best teach the material. Most courses run the full length of the 16-week semester.