Colorado has six schools that offer a total of 13 master’s in communication programs, 10 of which are on-campus, and three of which are online. The specializations available to students vary depending on the program they select, but examples of available specializations include communication studies and media management, health communication, and international communication. All the schools listed on this page are non-profit organizations that have been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado

Colleges and universities in many major cities within Colorado offer on-campus master’s in communication programs. For example, the University of Colorado’s campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver all offer master’s in communication programs, while Colorado State University at Fort Collins (CSU), University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and the University of Denver also offer master’s programs in the field.

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Northern Colorado

Students living in the northern area of Colorado have several options for graduate programs in communication. For example, Colorado State University at Fort Collins’ Department of Communication Studies offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, with areas of emphasis in Rhetoric and Civic Engagement, Relational and Organizational Communication, and Media and Visual Culture. CSU’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication also offers a Master of Science in Journalism and Media Communication that covers topics in communication theories and strategies, digital media tools, and how media and mass communication intersect with other fields such as health, science, government, technology, and public relations. Students learn about communication management strategies, organizational communication strategies, digital media policies and ethics, and human behavior with communication technology.

The University of Northern Colorado offers a Master of Arts in Communication program through its School of Communication. Students have the option to specialize in either Communication Theory or Rhetorical Theory. Courses in the program cover topics such as rhetorical criticism, communication theory, quantitative and qualitative research methods, communication and technology, and interpersonal communication.

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Denver

In the Denver – Aurora metropolitan area, the University of Colorado Denver, the University of Denver, and CSU Fort Collins all offer master’s programs in communication or communication studies. The University of Colorado Denver’s Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication that allows students to tailor their course selections to match their individual academic and career interests within communication. Students can choose among lecture and seminar courses in media criticism, writing practicum, organizational communication, communication and national security, and communication research methods.

The University of Denver (DU) offers three different master’s programs in communication through different departments. DU’s Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies offers a Master of Arts in International and Intercultural Communication that provides students with advanced training in global media and communication, intercultural communication, and contemporary and comparative politics. This program features specializations in Global Health Communication, Global Environment, Human Rights, International Administration, International Politics, Media Practices & Production, Global & Multicultural Strategic Communication for either Non-Profit or Corporate settings, and Media, Globalization, and Culture. The Department of Media, Film, & Journalism also offers a Master of Arts in Media & Public Communication with specializations in Media & Globalization and Strategic Communication, featuring classes in mass media research and theory, mass media law, digital culture, strategic messaging, and public diplomacy.

DU’s University College (College of Professional and Continuing Studies) offers a Master of Arts in Communication Management with concentrations in Learning and Development, Marketing Communication, Organizational Communication, Organizational Development, Public Relations, and User Experience Strategy. This program emphasizes critical thinking in communication, professional communication in organizations, and the intersection of communication and society. The program also offers students the option of completing courses on-campus or online.

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Boulder

For students who live in Boulder, the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Media, Communication, and Information offers a Master of Arts in Communication with emphasis areas in Organizational Communication, Community and Social Interaction, and Rhetoric and Culture. The Organizational Communication concentration covers organizational structures, the role that communication plays in collaboration and decision-making within organizations, and how organizations form culture and symbolism. The Community and Social Interaction concentration covers the ethnography of communication, communication research methods, public engagement, and communication for community problem solving, while the Rhetoric and Culture concentration focuses on rhetorical criticism, inquiry, and applications to civic community.

The University of Colorado Boulder also offers a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Design through its College of Media, Communication, and Information. This program features courses that train students to work at the intersection of communication, technology, and strategic design. Students of this program take classes in brand innovation, developing cultures around brands, user experience research and design, design influence, and emerging communication technologies. Students also engage in 3-week design sprints with industry partners and complete a final capstone project wherein they create, pitch, and launch a product that is relevant to their career interests in design.

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado Springs

Finally, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers a Master of Arts in Communication with optional focus areas in Professional (Organizational) Communication and Media Studies. Students also have the option to shape their own focus area through their selection of program electives. The Professional (Organizational) concentration includes courses in organizational communication, leadership, and change, while the Media Studies concentration covers topics in the social effects of media, communication’s role in the empowerment and oppression of cultures, and media criticism.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado

At present, three universities in Colorado offer online master’s in communication program. Online programs can be a viable option for students who cannot commute to campus or do not live in close proximity to a campus-based master’s in communication program (e.g. students residing in Grand Junction, West, South, and Southwest Colorado). Online programs may also offer students the opportunity to explore different specializations not offered by the campus-based programs.

Colorado State University at Fort Collins’ Department of Journalism and Media Communication offers an online Master of Communications and Media Management. This program teaches students how to leverage new technologies to craft and disseminate impactful messages for the public, as well as optimize internal and external-facing communications for organizations. Students also study the impact that new media technologies have had on society, ethical issues in media management, the principles of communication systems management, strategies for digital media research and evaluation, and methods for both organizational and external-facing media production.

The University of Colorado Boulder offers an online Master of Arts in Corporate Communication program that is designed to prepare students to lead effective communication campaigns and initiatives within diverse corporate contexts. Students take courses that emphasize business communication in an increasingly globalized world. Students take core courses in strategic corporate communication management, global corporate communication, corporate communication ethics, research in corporate communication, and corporate communication evaluation and measurement. From there, students choose from a variety of specialized courses to help tailor their training to their specific interests in areas such as public affairs, crisis and risk communication, media relations, and digital and social media for corporations. Students in this program take just one course at a time over the course of 7 weeks, with two 7-week course terms per academic semester.

The University of Denver’s University College, College of Professional and Continuing Studies offers an Online Master of Arts in Communication Management with concentration options in Learning and Development, Marketing Communication, Organizational Communication, Organizational Development, User Experience Strategy, and Public Relations. This program is the same as the campus program which allows students to complete some or all of their coursework online.

In addition to the University of Denver’s online master’s in communication program, several out-of-state online master’s in communication programs accept applications from Colorado residents. Prospective students of these programs should note that some online programs require attendance at one or more on-campus intensives during the program. These campus intensives, which aim to give students the opportunity to interact with course faculty and to engage in hands-on learning experiences, can vary in length and frequency depending on the program. Please visit our Online Master’s in Communication Programs page for more information.


Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado

All Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado

Campus programs, Campus/Hybrid programs, Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~5 campus visits per year)

University of Northern Colorado

(Greeley)