Degrees Offered
Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor's Degree Program
The communication program teaches students to communicate effectively and ethically in a rapidly changing world characterized by diversity in gender, culture and belief. It offers a comprehensive background in the discipline in preparation for employment or further education. Students majoring in other disciplines find communication electives valuable additions to their programs.
The program is both theoretical and pragmatic, designed to prepare students for the professional workplace or for advanced study.
Choose from three concentrations offered through the Communication department:
- COM F431 Public Relations Campaigns
- COM F433 Public Relations Theory and Practice
- COM F445 Organizational Communication
- *COM F353 Conflict, Mediation and Communication
- *COM F441 Persuasion
- *COM F467 Communication Activism, Advocacy and Social Movements
- COM F211 Introduction to Science Communication: Theory & Practice
- COM F312 Science Communication & the Environment
- COM F313 Science & Intersectionality: Race, Gender and Sexuality
- *COM F410 Public Engagement in Science Communication
- *COM F462 Communication in Health Contexts 1
- COM F331 Advanced Group Communication
- COM F422 Communication in Interpersonal Relationships 1
- COM F445 Organizational Communication 1
- *COM F353 Conflict, Mediation and Communication
- *COM F462 Communication in Health Contexts 1
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* recommended electives |
COM F467 Communication Activism, Advocacy and Social Movements
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants
This course will delve into activism and social change from a local and global perspective in order to enhance students’ perspectives of social change as it manifests via communication. This course will also introduce and analyze activist rhetoric, strategies for social justice and methods for communicative organizing.
Minor in Communication
In addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Department of Communication at UAF also offer minors in Communication, Global Studies and Science and Environmental Communication.
Graduate Degree Program
Master's Degree in Professional Communication
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.
Learn more about what a MA in Professional Communication can do for you:
Research
Faculty maintain active research agendas in a variety of communication sub-disciplines, including but not limited to gender, health, organizational, public relations, science, interpersonal, and activism communication.
Teaching
Career Development
Students are encouraged to work internships in the community to get hands-on experience.
Teaching Assistantships are available to full-time graduate students. For further information, please contact the Communication Department Chair, Amy May, amay11@alaska.edu or 907-474-7761.
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).`
Accelerated BA to MA Program
The accelerated B.A./M.A. in Communication allows students to accelerate through a traditional undergraduate Communication concentration to begin completing core M.A. classes during their undergraduate years. Accelerated B.A./M.A. students also take two core undergraduate courses and two undergraduate elective courses at the graduate level.
The accelerated B.A./M.A. in Communication builds foundational knowledge and provides practical application to teach students to communicate effectively and ethically in a rapidly changing world characterized by diversity in gender, culture and belief. Through coursework, research, and service to the department, students develop a comprehensive background in the communication discipline, preparing them for employment or further education at the doctoral level. The B.A./M.A in professional communication also provides advanced education for individuals in or pursuing communication-related careers in public/nonprofit organizations, media organizations, health care organizations or higher education.
The program is both theoretically and pragmatically oriented to prepare students for the professional workplace or for doctoral study in communication.
Minimum Requirements for accelerated B.A./M.A. Degree: 138 credits
For students currently pursuing their BA in COM interested in grad school, this program combines both programs into a 5 year plan of study, while allowing them to earn additional skills related to instructional design, course facilitation, assessment, etc. As current students, the application process for grad school is streamlined - they just walk on over to grad school assuming they meet the admission criteria.
Students within the UA system are encouraged to apply. Transfer students who have 24 credits in COM or a related discipline and meet all other UAF requirements for transfer degree completion will be considered for admission with the understanding that all remaining credits at the undergraduate and graduate level must be completed at UAF. Undergraduates admitted to the program will be allowed to apply for Teaching Assistants (TAs) when they reach senior standing.