Colorado has six schools that offer a total of 13 master’s in communication programs, nine of which are on-campus, and four 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 several major cities within Colorado offer on-campus master’s in communication programs. For example, the University of Colorado’s campuses in Boulder and Denver 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 campus-based 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 that features a Thesis Track and a Deliberative Practices Track. The Thesis Track includes courses in rhetorical theory and criticism, communication research methods, media theory, college teaching, and speech communication pedagogy, and students must complete an original work of communication scholarship to graduate. The Deliberative Practices Track requires similar courses in rhetorical theory and criticism, media theory, and communication research, but also includes coursework in applied deliberative techniques, theories, and practice, and requires an applied research project for graduation. The Deliberative Practices Track emphasizes communication for civic engagement, nonprofit work, and community outreach and improvement.

CSU’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication also offers a Master of Science in Journalism and Media Communication that features areas of study in Digital Culture and Identities; Science Communication; Strategic Communication; and Storytelling, Media, and Democracy. This program features core courses in communication research and evaluation, communication processes and effects, and communication theories and strategies, before students can choose electives in areas such as digital media tools and communication technologies, health and risk communication, information design, and strategic communication. Students learn about how media and mass communication intersect with other fields such as health, science, government, technology, and public relations. They also gain insight into communication management and 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 Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations; AI Strategy and Application; Learning and Development; Marketing Communication; Organizational Communication; Organizational Development; Public Relations, User Experience Strategy. Students take core courses in applied critical thinking in communication, analyzing communication trends through scholarly inquiry, and storytelling through research and measurement. Depending on their chosen concentration, students may take courses covering AI capabilities and tools in communication practice, organizational diversity, transformational change leadership, brand management, marketing analytics, and instructional design. The program also offers students the option of completing courses on-campus or online, and students can elect to create a hybrid course of study by taking courses in-person and online, with program advisor approval. The final graduation requirement is a portfolio capstone.

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.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Colorado

At present, four 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 Colorado Colorado Springs offers an online Master of Arts in Communication that prepares students for a wide variety of media and communication-related professions. Students can craft their area of focus within the program through electives, and can elect to focus on Professional Communication or Applied Media Studies. This program features core courses in contemporary communication theory, research for problem solving, and data-informed insights, and electives in areas such as social media management, crisis communication, virtual teams, integrated marketing communication, communication problems, entertainment theory, virtual trainings and presentations, and public speaking. Students can choose from between a thesis and a capstone project for their culminating experience.

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 Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations; AI Strategy and Application; Learning and Development; Marketing Communication; Organizational Communication; Organizational Development; Public Relations, User Experience Strategy. This program is the same in terms of curriculum and capstone requirements as the campus program, which allows students to complete some or all of their coursework online.

In addition to the online master’s in communication programs offered at the aforementioned in-state schools, 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)

Colorado State University - Fort Collins

(Fort Collins)

Department of Communication Studies

• Master of Arts in Communication Studies (with Areas of Study in Rhetoric and Civic Engagement, Relational and Organizational Communication, and Media and Visual Culture and a Specialization in Deliberative Practices)

  Interview with Karrin Vasby Anderson, Ph.D. - Colorado State University

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

• Master of Science in Journalism and Media Communication (with Areas of Study in Digital Culture and Identities; Science Communication; Strategic Communication; and Storytelling, Media, and Democracy)

• Online Master of Communications and Media Management

University of Colorado Boulder

(Boulder)

College of Media, Communication and Information

• Master of Arts in Communication (with Areas of Emphasis in Community & Social Interaction, Organizational Communication, and Rhetoric and Culture)

• Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Design

• Online Master of Arts in Corporate Communication

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

(Colorado Springs)

Department of Communication

• Online Master of Arts in Communication (with an Emphasis in Professional Communication (Organizational), or an Optional Focus in Applied Media Studies)

  Interview with Christopher Bell, Ph.D. - University of Colorado Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Denver

(Denver)

Department of Communication

• Master of Arts in Communication (Generalist Program with Electives)

  Interview with Hamilton Bean, Ph.D. - University of Colorado Denver

University of Denver

(Denver)

Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies

• Master of Arts in International & Intercultural Communication (with Specializations in Global Health Communication, Global Environment, Human Rights, International Administration, International Politics, Media Practices & Production, Global & Multicultural Strategic Communication (Non-Profit or Corporate), and Media, Globalization and Culture)

• Master of Arts in Media & Public Communication (with Specializations in Media & Globalization and Strategic Communication)

  Interview with Nadia Kaneva, Ph.D. - University of Denver

University College (College of Professional and Continuing Studies)

• Master of Arts in Communication Management (with Concentrations in Learning and Development; Marketing Communication; Organizational Communication; Organizational Development; Public Relations, User Experience Strategy)

  Interview with Magdelana Red, Ph.D. - University of Denver

• Online Master of Arts in Communication Management (with Concentrations in Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations; AI Strategy and Application; Learning and Development; Marketing Communication; Organizational Communication; Organizational Development; Public Relations, User Experience Strategy)

  Interview with Magdelana Red, Ph.D. - University of Denver

University of Northern Colorado

(Greeley)

School of Communication

• Master of Arts in Communication (General Program with Electives)