Marquette University's Graduate School of Management and Diederich College of Communication - Online Master of Arts in Corporate Communication Program

Marquette University offers an online Master of Arts in Corporate Communication through its Graduate School of Management in conjunction with the Diederich College of Communication. The master’s degree can be completed 100 percent online and does not require in-person campus visits. However, students who live near the campus in Milwaukee can choose to complete the program through a hybrid of online and on-campus courses. Students who hold a current Accreditation in Public Relations professional certificate can also waive six course credits from their program of study, thereby saving them time and tuition. Marquette University uses the Desire2 Learn (D2L) learning management system to facilitate online instruction. Through D2L, students can access their course syllabi and instructional materials, communicate with professors and classmates, participate in class discussions, submit assignments, and more.

The Master of Arts in Corporate Communication requires 30 credit hours of study to complete, with most full-time students finishing the program in approximately 18 months. An interdisciplinary program, the master’s degree combines coursework from the Graduate School of Management and Diederich College of Communication. Students traditionally take 15 credit hours from each college. Curriculum blends business education with coursework in communication theory and central public relations principles to prepare graduates for management- and executive-level communication positions.

The 11-class curriculum is divided between corporate communication coursework (five courses for 15 credits), business coursework (four courses for 9 credits), leadership (one course for 3 credits), and a business elective (3 credits). The five corporate communication classes include: Organizational Consulting, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Advocacy, Financial Communication and Investor Relations, and Communication Consulting. While the four business classes include: Leading People and Change (1.5 credits), Economic Foundations for Marketing Decisions (3 credits), Accounting and Finance for the Non-Financial Manager (3 credits), and Leadership Coaching and Development (1.5 credits). Students then select a leadership course that helps them develop and hone their practical skills in areas such as change leadership, negotiations, conflict mediation, and strategic communication. Finally, students complete one additional business elective to complete their studies.

While this program does not require a culminating experience in the form of a capstone project or master’s thesis, it integrates applied projects throughout the coursework in order to ensure students receive the opportunity to apply what they have learned to real-world scenarios. Through the interdisciplinary courses that students complete, they gain well-rounded training in business and financial management, partnership-building, social responsibility and advocacy, and how to support these elements of sound business strategy through communication leadership. Students who understand the interplay of business development and effective communication at the organizational and external-facing communication levels are particularly well-equipped to step into advanced corporate leadership positions.

Marquette University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.