Murray State University offers an online Master’s in Organizational Communication with both a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Arts (MA) option. The programs are offered through the Department of Organizational Communication within the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business. Both programs can be completed entirely online, and require no campus visits. The curriculum employs both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and can be completed in between 16 and 24 months, depending on whether students take one or two courses per term.
While Murray State University’s Master of Science in Organizational Communication is comprised of 30 course credits, the Master of Arts in Organizational Communication is comprised of 33 course credits. The difference between the MS and the MA program is the MA program includes the completion of a thesis, and is therefore more suitable for students who want to pursue an academic course of study post-graduation (such as pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication or engaging in rigorous research as part of their profession). For the MS program, students have a greater degree of flexibility in terms of the courses they select to comprise their curriculum, as they are not required to complete nine credit hours towards a master’s thesis
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Communication Program
The Master of Arts in Organizational Communication requires 18 hours of required coursework, which includes courses in Advanced Organizational Communication, Philosophy and Future of Communication, Research Methods in Organizational Communication, Readings in Communication Research, and a culminating Thesis. In addition, students take one of the following four courses for three credits: Communication Technology in Organizations, Interpersonal Communication at Work, Seminar in Conflict Resolution, and Crisis Communication before progressing to their electives.
From there, students progress to their communication-specific and broader electives. Students of the MA program must choose two courses (6 credits) from within the Department of Organizational Communication, as well as two courses (6 credits) from either inside or outside of this Department (as long as the classes are at the 600-level or above). Elective courses include but are not limited to Communication Technology in Organizations, Seminar in Intercultural Communication, Health Communication, Customer Communication, Seminar in Crisis Communication, Leadership Communication, Organizational Learning and Dialogue, and Seminar in Communication Variables.
Once students have completed the majority of their graduate coursework, they start their independent work on their master’s thesis, under the supervision and guidance of a faculty advisor and committee. The thesis is an original work of scholarship wherein a student investigates a research question that is of personal and/or professional significance. Students who elect to do a thesis must write, submit, and present a research proposal before conducting their research and writing their final thesis chapters discussing the results and their implications.
Online Master of Science in Organizational Communication Program
The Master of Science in Organizational Communication requires nine credits of required courses: Advanced Organizational Communication, Philosophy and Future of Communication, and Research Methods in Organizational Communication. From there, students choose one course from the following four: Communication Technology in Organizations, Interpersonal Communication at Work, Seminar in Conflict Resolution, and Crisis Communication.
After completing the 12 required course credits, students have a degree of freedom in terms of their remaining 18 course credits. Students take nine credits of electives from within the Department of Organizational Communication, and nine credits from either within or outside of the Department (as long as these courses are at the 600-level or above). While the MS program does not require a thesis or capstone project, students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam in order to graduate.
Murray State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Online Master's in Organizational Communication (MS or MA)
Overview
Department: Department of Organizational Communication
Websites: Department
and Program
Program Format
Structure: Online program with no required campus visits
Instruction Methods: Program uses both synchronous and asynchronous instruction
Campus Visits Required: No
Program Length: Program can be completed in 16 to 24 months
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
Thesis Required: No
Capstone Options: Thesis plus comprehensive exam and oral defense (MA program) or comprehensive exam (MS program)
Credits Required: 30-33 credits (MS vs MA) (10-11 courses)
Example Courses: Communication Technology in Organizations; Interpersonal Communication at Work; Advanced Organizational Communication; Readings in Communication Research; Research Methods in Organizational Communication
Application Requirements
Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
GPA Requirements: Minimum GPA 3.0 (GPA greater than 2.5 for conditional admission)
Testing Requirements: GRE not required
Work Experience: Undergraduate degree or at least a minor in business, communication, or a related field for unconditional admission; any undergraduate degree for conditional admission
Start Dates: Fall, Spring and Summer admission
Tuition Costs
Estimated Tuition*: ~$19,320 to ~$21,252 + fees
Cost per Credit Hour: $644 per credit hour
State Authorizations: Program accepts students from all 50 states
