{"id":332,"date":"2018-08-21T07:14:12","date_gmt":"2018-08-21T14:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vendor.hub.wp.nau.edu\/communication\/ma-communication\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T19:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T19:38:34","slug":"ma-communication","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/ma-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Arts in Communication"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- NAU SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION --><br \/>\n<!-- MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION --><br \/>\n<!-- UPDATED WITH PROGRAM VIDEO --><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:17px;color:#222;line-height:1.6;width:100%;max-width:1100px;margin:0 auto;clear:both\">\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- HERO --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"position:relative;width:100%;margin:0 0 26px !important;padding:0 !important;border-radius:18px;overflow:hidden;clear:both\">\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plus.unsplash.com\/premium_photo-1753346515163-e367dbe017ce?auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;q=85&amp;w=1800\" alt=\"University students collaborating around a laptop\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:420px;object-fit:cover;object-position:center\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;background:linear-gradient(to top,rgba(0,0,0,.85),rgba(0,0,0,.12))\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;padding:36px\">\n<h1 style=\"font-size:clamp(34px,4.5vw,48px);line-height:1.12;color:#fff;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n        Communication, Master of Arts<br \/>\n      <\/h1>\n<p style=\"font-size:18px;line-height:1.5;color:#fff;max-width:800px;margin:0 !important\">\n        Advance your expertise in communication through research, creative storytelling, professional practice, and emerging media.\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- INTRODUCTION --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 30px !important;padding:0 !important;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Turn Your Interests into Expertise.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      The MA in Communication at Northern Arizona University can help you turn your expertise into your next opportunity. Whether you see yourself leading communication strategy, producing documentary media, conducting research, working with communities, or exploring the future of artificial intelligence and communication, you&#8217;ll build skills and experience to pursue your goals.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      Choose an emphasis in <strong>Communication Studies<\/strong>, <strong>Strategic Communication<\/strong>, or <strong>Documentary and Media Storytelling<\/strong> to focus your graduate experience. Depending on your path, you can develop expertise in social media analytics, crisis communication, audience engagement, documentary filmmaking, media production, storytelling, and digital media.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin:0 !important\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.nau.edu\/Catalog\/details?plan=APCOMMA&amp;catalogYear=2627\" style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#002454;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n        View the MA in Communication in the NAU Catalog &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- MA COMMUNICATION HIGHLIGHT REEL --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:25px 0 28px !important;border-top:1px solid #ddd;border-bottom:1px solid #ddd;clear:both\">\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0075a9;font-weight:bold;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n      Graduate Study \/ School of Communication\n    <\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(30px,4vw,42px);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-1px;line-height:1.15;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Ideas into Impact.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:18px;line-height:1.65;max-width:820px;margin:0 0 22px !important\">\n      Discover graduate study in communication at NAU, where research, strategic thinking, and creative storytelling intersect.\n    <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- NAU WORDPRESS VIMEO EMBED --><br \/>\n    <!-- shortcode-video-iframe -->\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1234234554\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px;margin:14px 0 0 !important\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1234234554\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"color:#002454;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n        Watch the MA in Communication Highlight Reel &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- CHOOSE YOUR EMPHASIS --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:0 !important;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      Choose Your Emphasis<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:18px;width:100%\">\n<p>      <!-- COMMUNICATION STUDIES --><\/p>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 280px;min-width:0;background:#f7f7f7;border-radius:14px;padding:22px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n          Communication Studies<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Explore how communication shapes people, organizations, communities, and culture. Develop advanced research and analytical skills while examining topics such as health and risk communication, media effects, communication technologies, and cultural criticism.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- DOCUMENTARY --><\/p>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 280px;min-width:0;background:#f7f7f7;border-radius:14px;padding:22px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n          Documentary and Media Storytelling<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Turn ideas into stories that inform, engage, and make an impact. Build skills in documentary filmmaking, media production, and digital storytelling while developing your voice as a creative media professional.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION --><\/p>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 280px;min-width:0;background:#f7f7f7;border-radius:14px;padding:22px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n          Strategic Communication<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Learn to develop communication strategies that connect organizations with their audiences. Build expertise in social media analytics, crisis communication, audience engagement, and emerging technologies while preparing to communicate across platforms.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- CONNECT IDEAS WITH PRACTICE --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:25px;background:#fafafa;border-radius:16px;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Connect Ideas with Practice.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Shape your graduate experience around the kind of communicator you want to become. The MA in Communication brings scholarly research, professional practice, and creative storytelling together in one program, giving you opportunities to explore communication from multiple perspectives.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Work alongside active scholars and creative professionals on contemporary topics including health and risk communication, crisis communication, media effects, cultural criticism, communication technologies, and generative artificial intelligence.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 !important\">\n      Through research, creative projects, real-world learning experiences, and conversations with emerging and established scholars, you&#8217;ll develop new ways to understand audiences, work with communities, navigate emerging technologies, and communicate across platforms.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- BUILD ADAPTABLE EXPERTISE --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:0 !important;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      Build Adaptable Expertise.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:16px;width:100%\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 210px;min-width:0;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:14px;padding:20px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Research<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Investigate communication, audiences, media, organizations, and communities through advanced research.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 210px;min-width:0;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:14px;padding:20px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Strategy<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Develop approaches to audience engagement, crisis communication, social media, and organizational communication.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 210px;min-width:0;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:14px;padding:20px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Storytelling<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Build skills in documentary filmmaking, media production, digital storytelling, and creative communication.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 210px;min-width:0;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:14px;padding:20px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.3;color:#002454;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Emerging Media<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Explore communication technologies, generative AI, digital platforms, and evolving forms of media.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- CAREER PATHS --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:25px;background:#fafafa;border-radius:16px;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Take Your Skills Anywhere.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      An MA in Communication can open doors across industries where strong communication, strategic thinking, research, and storytelling matter.\n    <\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:16px;width:100%\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 240px;min-width:0\">\n<ul style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;margin:0 !important;padding-left:22px\">\n<li>Public relations<\/li>\n<li>Social media strategy<\/li>\n<li>Crisis communication<\/li>\n<li>Brand management<\/li>\n<li>Health communication<\/li>\n<li>Organizational communication<\/li>\n<li>Research<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 240px;min-width:0\">\n<ul style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;margin:0 !important;padding-left:22px\">\n<li>Higher education<\/li>\n<li>Documentary filmmaking<\/li>\n<li>Journalism<\/li>\n<li>Media production<\/li>\n<li>Nonprofit leadership<\/li>\n<li>Community engagement<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:18px 0 0 !important\">\n      Whether you want to lead communication strategy, create stories that make an impact, explore emerging technologies, or pursue doctoral study, you&#8217;ll graduate with adaptable skills for an evolving professional landscape.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORK --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:0 !important;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Investigate Communication in Action.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Turn your interests into research and creative work that addresses real-world challenges facing communities, organizations, and society.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      You might explore how documentary and creative storytelling can contribute to social change, how social media and emerging technologies can strengthen audience engagement, or how communication strategies can encourage positive behavior change.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Your work may also examine how communication influences decision-making, public policy, and community values. Depending on your interests and goals, you can pursue traditional academic research, creative projects, field-based experiences, or community-engaged work.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 !important\">\n      Along the way, you&#8217;ll build experience investigating meaningful questions and using communication to better understand\u2014and potentially influence\u2014the world around you.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- ACCELERATED PROGRAMS --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:25px;background:#f7f7f7;border-radius:16px;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Earn Two Degrees in Less Time.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      There are currently two accelerated programs available to NAU undergraduates interested in pursuing an MA degree.\n    <\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:18px;width:100%;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 280px;min-width:0;background:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:22px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:22px;color:#002454;line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Creative Media &amp; Film<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Creative Media &amp; Film BS to Communication MA\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 280px;min-width:0;background:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:22px;margin:0 !important\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size:22px;color:#002454;line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10px !important\">\n          Strategic Communication<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 !important\">\n          Strategic Communication BS to Communication MA\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n      Eligible NAU undergraduates can begin working toward the Accelerated MA in Communication while completing their bachelor&#8217;s degree.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 !important\">\n      Students may apply after completing 60 undergraduate units, including 12 units in their NAU major.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- GRADUATE ADMISSIONS --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;margin:0 0 32px !important;padding:25px;background:#fafafa;border-radius:16px;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#002454;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Ready to Take the Next Step?<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 14px !important\">\n      Learn more about graduate admission requirements, application deadlines, and eligibility for study at Northern Arizona University.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/admissions\/graduate\/\" style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#002454;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n        Graduate Admissions &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n      Ready to apply? Begin your graduate application online.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.applyweb.com\/northazg\/index.ftl\" style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#002454;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n        Apply to NAU &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n      International applicants may have additional admission requirements and documentation.\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin:0 !important\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/center-international-education\/apply-graduate\/\" style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#002454;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n        International Graduate Admissions &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- ===================================== --><br \/>\n  <!-- GRADUATE CONTACT --><br \/>\n  <!-- ===================================== --><\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;background:#1a1a1a;color:#fff;border-radius:16px;padding:28px;margin:0 0 24px !important;clear:both\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:30px;line-height:1.25;color:#fff;margin:0 0 12px !important\">\n      Connect with Our Graduate Program.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;color:#fff;margin:0 0 18px !important\">\n      Have questions about the MA in Communication, emphasis areas, admission requirements, or accelerated programs?\n    <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin:0 !important\">\n      <a href=\"mailto:comgrad@nau.edu\" style=\"color:#fff;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline\"><br \/>\n        Contact the School of Communication Graduate Program Coordinator &rarr;<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Communication, Master of Arts Advance your expertise in communication through research, creative storytelling, professional practice, and emerging media. Turn Your Interests into Expertise. The MA in Communication at Northern Arizona University can help you turn your expertise into your next opportunity. Whether you see yourself leading communication strategy, producing documentary media, conducting research, working with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1870,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"my-templates\/catalog.php","meta":{"ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-332","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":101,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2476,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332\/revisions\/2476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/school-communication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}