Program Overview

Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in Communication

The Master of Arts in Communication is a two-year full-time or five-year part-time program. The program has two concentrations from which prospective candidates can choose: Media Studies or Media Practices. Both concentrations require a 6-credit hour thesis. The master's program in Media and Communication is aimed at graduates of media and communication who desire higher academic exposure and qualifications, and who may wish to use an MA qualification as a pathway to PhD studies; graduates of Media and Communication who are working as media and communication researchers but desire more in-depth knowledge and competence in the field; media and communication professionals who require a higher degree for career progression.

Program Objectives

• To provide students with an up-to-date understanding of essential theories and concepts of media communication as they relate to the discipline's practices and discourses within national, regional, and international contexts.
• To enable students to produce a sound scholarly research based on a chosen relevant subject of enquiry using appropriate methods and procedures.
• To provide a specialized practice-based curriculum that prepares students for a career in strategic communication and allied industry.
• To familiarize students with current new media and digital technologies in the media and communication industries; as well as a critical understanding of their transformative and disruptive potentials.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply theories and concepts of communication as they relate to the discipline's practices and discourses within national, regional, and international contexts.
• Demonstrate strategic level analysis and critical thinking when evaluating communication programs of an organization.
• Design knowledge-driven strategic communication plans using appropriate hardware and software technologies.
• Conduct a sound academic research based on a socially relevant topic; and using appropriate research tools and methodologies.

Degree Requirements

Required Credit Hours: minimum 36 hours

Core Courses (Req CH:9)

• MASC611: Mass Communication Theory (3 hours)
• MASC612: Mass Communication Research Methods (3 hours)
• MASC641: Media Ethics (3 hours)

Concentration Requirements (Req CH:27)

Students should take one of the following concentrations: (27 hours)

1- Media Practices Concentration (Req CH:27)

• Required Courses (9 hours)
  • MASC613: Multimedia Storytelling (3 hours)
  • MASC621: New Media Data Analysis (3 hours)
  • MASC630: Media Management (3 hours)
• Elective Courses (Students must select four courses from the list below) (12 hours)
  • MASC620: Integrated Communication Campaigns and Strategies (3 hours)
  • MASC622: Contemporary Journalism in Context (3 hours)
  • MASC623: Multimedia Production (3 hours)
  • MASC633: Seminar in Media and National Identity (3 hours)
  • MASC642: Seminar in Media, Innovation, and the Creative Industries (3 hours)
• Thesis (6 hours)
  • MASC650: Thesis (6 hours)

2- Media Studies Concentration (Req CH:27)

• Required Courses (18 hours)
  • MASC610: Communication and Social Change (3 hours)
  • MASC625: History of Mass Media (3 hours)
  • MASC631: Media in a Global Context (3 hours)
  • MASC632: Media, Policy, and Regulation (3 hours)
  • MASC633: Seminar in Media and National Identity (3 hours)
  • MASC642: Seminar in Media, Innovation, and the Creative Industries (3 hours)
• Elective Courses (Students must select one course from the list below) (3 hours)
  • MASC620: Integrated Communication Campaigns and Strategies (3 hours)
  • MASC622: Contemporary Journalism in Context (3 hours)
  • MASC623: Multimedia Production (3 hours)
• Thesis (6 hours)
  • MASC650: Thesis (6 hours)