Graduate Program
Masters of Arts
Communication, Professional
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Communication
907-474-6591
M.A. Degree
Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30 – 34 credits
The communication program prepares students to handle the challenges of communicating effectively and ethically in a rapidly changing world characterized by diversity in gender, cultural background and belief.
The M.A. in professional communication provides advanced education for individuals in or pursuing communication related careers in public/nonprofit organizations, media organizations, health care organizations or in higher education. Students take courses that focus on organizational communication theory and practices.
The program is both theoretically and pragmatically oriented to prepare students for the professional workplace or for doctoral study in organizations.
Graduate Program — M.A. Degree
- Complete the general university requirements.
- Complete the master’s degree requirements.
- Complete the following:
- COMM F600—Introduction to Professional Communication—3 credits
COMM F601—Communication Research Methodologies (Social Science)—3 credits
COMM F602—Communication Research Methodologies (Human Science)—3 credits
COMM F625—Communication Theory—3 credits
COMM F675—Training and Development Communication—3 credits
COMM F680—Communication and Diversity in the Professional World—3 credits
COMM F699—Thesis—6 credits - Complete two of the following electives:*
COMM F622—Interpersonal Interaction—3 credits
COMM F631—Teambuilding—3 credits
COMM F635—Organizational Culture and Communication—3 credits
COMM F642—Health Communication—3 credits
COMM F682—Seminar in Communication—3 credits - Teaching assistants complete the following:
COMM F661—Mentored Teaching in Communication**—1 – 4 credits
- COMM F600—Introduction to Professional Communication—3 credits
- Minimum credits required—30 – 34 credits
* Students may take F400- and F600-level courses in art, education, English, journalism, communication, marketing, business administration and northern studies as well as graduate level independent studies to fulfill 6-credits of the elective requirement, if approved by the student’s committee. Students will also be able to apply up to 6 credits of appropriate graduate level course work from other universities in the elective area if approved by the student’s committee.
** This 1 credit course may be taken up to four times.
Note: A maximum of 6 credits of approved F400-level courses may be included in the 30 – 34 credit requirement.
Note: The comprehensive examination is to be taken no later than the student’s fourth semester of work.
Graduate Student Opportunities
Teaching Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships are available to full-time graduate students. For further information, please contact our Department Chair, Robert Arundale, Ph.D. at ffrba@uaf.edu or 474-6799.
Graduate assistants can be paid for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students with assistantships must be registered for at least nine credits during the fall and spring semesters and six credits during the summer (no audits).
Teaching assistantships include a tuition payment by the university:
- For no more than 10 credits if the workload is 15 to 20 hours per week.
- For no more than 5 credits if the workload is 10 to 14 hours per week.
- If the assistantship appointment begins on or before the first day of instruction and ends on or after the last day of final examinations for that semester (16 or more weeks).