There are currently 16 schools in Illinois that offer a total of 27 master’s in communication programs. Of these 27 programs, 22 are campus-based programs, and five are online master’s in communication programs. Specializations offered through these programs include those in organizational communication, global communication, strategic communication, technical communication, and communication studies.

All of the schools listed on this page are non-profit educational institutions that have been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

In the northern Illinois region, there are several schools in Chicago, DeKalb, Evanston, and University Park that offer master’s in communication programs. In Chicago, DePaul University, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, and Loyola University Chicago offer master’s in communication programs, many of which have a wide variety of specializations for students to choose from. For example, DePaul University’s College of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication and Media with concentration options in Media and Cinema Studies, Multicultural Communication, Organizational Communication, and Interpersonal Communication.

Some schools in Chicago offer programs with one choice of concentration, but with a degree of flexibility in terms of the classes students can take to fulfill their degree. Illinois Institute of Technology’s Lewis College of Human Sciences – Department of Humanities offers a Master of Science in Technical Communication and Information Architecture, while Roosevelt University’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences offers a Master of Science in Marketing Communications. Both of these programs allow students to take a number of electives according to their interests in these fields.

Governors State University’s Department of Communication Media and Performing Arts, located in University Park, offers a Master of Arts in Communication, Media, and Performance program. In DeKalb, Northern Illinois University’s Department of Communication has a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with focus areas in Media Studies; Rhetorical Studies; Journalism; and Interpersonal, Organizational and Persuasive Communication.

In Evanston, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications offers a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) with sequences in Consumer Insight and Analytics, Brand Strategy, Strategic Communications, and Media. In addition, Northwestern offers a Master of Science in IMC Professional Program, which can be completed through either a hybrid or fully online course of study. The curriculum for the IMC Professional Program is slightly different from the full-time, campus-based Master of Science in IMC program. In addition, the IMC Professional Program gives students the option of completing some or all of their coursework online. Northwestern’s School of Communication offers a Master of Science in Communication – Custom Leadership Program (CLP), which features a customizable curriculum that focuses on leadership and change management through strategic communication across different platforms. This program is an applied communication program that is offered in on-campus.

In central Illinois, schools in Springfield, Normal, Urbana, and Charleston offer a wide variety of master’s in communication programs. The University of Illinois at Springfield’s School of Communication and Media has a generalist Master of Arts in Communication Studies that allows students to customize their program according to their interests. Illinois State University’s School of Communication in Normal also offers a generalist Master’s Degree in Communication, while the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication.

Eastern Illinois University’s Department of Communication Studies in Charleston has a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with concentrations in Strategic Communication, Interpersonal Communication Processes, and Media and Cultural Studies, along with a Communication Pedagogy track for students who are interested in teaching post-graduation. In Macomb, Western Illinois University’s Department of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication that allows students to select courses that match their academic interests and professional goals.

In southern Illinois there are two schools that offer master’s in communication programs. Southern Illinois University (SIU) – Edwardsville’s Department of Applied Communication Studies has a Master of Communication in Applied Communication Studies with specialization options in Interpersonal Communication, Corporate and Organizational Communication, Health Communication, and Public Relations. SIU – Edwardsville’s Department of Mass Communications also offers a Master of Science in Integrative Studies – Marketing Communications. Southern Illinois University – Carbondale’s Department of Communication Studies offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with areas of study in Gender, Sexuality, and Relational Communication; Intercultural Communication and Pedagogy; Performance Studies; and Rhetoric and Society.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

There are currently three in-state schools that offer online master’s in communication programs. In addition, there are numerous out-of-state schools that offer online programs that enroll students residing in Illinois. These programs may be a good option for students who live in Northwest Illinois where commuting to a campus-based program may not be ideal. In general, online programs are also a good option for any students who cannot commute to campus for weekly classes due to either personal or professional obligations.

Eastern Illinois University has an online Master of Arts in Communication Studies with a concentration in Communication and Leadership that is designed to prepare working professionals who want to step into management roles within their field. This program features a combination of courses in organizational and interpersonal communication skills, digital communication strategy, leadership principles, and communication theory, research, and ethics.

Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications offers an online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional Program, which has a flexible curriculum that covers IMC strategy, marketing research, and finance principles, as well as diverse topics in IMC that students can explore through their electives. Additionally, Northwestern’s School of Communication offers a Master of Science in Communication – Online Leadership Program, which features courses on collaborative leadership, persuasion, information design, data-informed decision-making, and AI in media. Students of this program also engage in virtual practicums.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers two online master’s in communication programs: an Online Master of Science in Strategic Brand Communication, and an Online Master of Science in Health Communication. The MS in Strategic Brand Communication includes courses in consumer insights, media measurement and evaluation, promotional strategies, branding and reputation management, and strategic data analysis and visualization. The MS in Health Communication has classes about cultural considerations in healthcare, provider-patient communication, health disparities, health marketing, and family health communication.

Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

All Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

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

DePaul University

(Chicago)

College of Communication

• Master of Arts in Communication and Media (with Concentrations in Media and Cinema Studies, Multicultural Communication, Organizational Communication, and Interpersonal Communication)

  Interview with Blair Davis, Ph.D. - DePaul University

• Master of Arts in Health Communication

  Interview with Elissa Foster, Ph.D. - DePaul University

College of Communication, College of Computing and Digital Media

• Master of Arts in Digital Communication and Media Arts (with Tracks in Digital Communication, and Media Arts)

  Interview with Paul Booth, Ph.D. - DePaul University

Eastern Illinois University

(Charleston)

Department of Communication Studies

• Master of Arts in Communication Studies (with Concentrations in Strategic Communication, Interpersonal Communication Processes, Media and Cultural Studies, and a Pedagogy Option)

• Online Master of Arts in Communication Studies (with a Concentration in Communication and Leadership)

Governors State University

(University Park)

Department of Communication Media and Performing Arts

• Master of Arts in Communication, Media, and Performance

  Interview with Jayne R. Goode, Ph.D. - Governors State University

Illinois Institute of Technology

(Chicago)

Lewis College of Human Sciences - Department of Humanities

• Master of Science in Technical Communication and Information Architecture

Illinois State University

(Normal)

School of Communication

• Master’s Degree in Communication (with Interest Areas in Organizational Communication, Instructional Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Public Relations, Mass Communication, and Rhetoric)

  Interview with Aimee Miller-Ott, Ph.D. - Illinois State University

Loyola University Chicago

(Chicago)

School of Communication

• Master of Communication in Digital Media and Storytelling

• Master of Science in Global Strategic Communication

Northeastern Illinois University

(Chicago)

Department of Communication, Media and Theatre

• Master of Arts in Communication, Media and Theatre (with Subject Areas in Communication, Media, Theatre, and Education)

Northern Illinois University

(DeKalb)

Department of Communication

• Master of Arts in Communication Studies (with Areas of Study in Media Studies; Rhetorical Studies; Journalism; and Interpersonal, Organizational and Persuasive Communication)

Northwestern University

(Evanston)

Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

• Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications (with Sequences in Consumer Insight and Analytics, Brand Strategy, Strategic Communications, and Media)

  Interview with Jenna Massey - Northwestern University

• Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional Program

  Interview with Jenna Massey - Northwestern University

• Online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional Program

  Interview with Jenna Massey - Northwestern University

School of Communication

• Master of Science in Communication - Custom Leadership Program (with Specializations in Organizational Leadership, and Strategic Communication)

  Interview with Randall Edward Iden, Ph.D. - Northwestern University

• Master of Science in Communication - Online Leadership Program

  Interview with Randall Edward Iden, Ph.D. - Northwestern University

Roosevelt University

(Chicago)

College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences

• Master of Science in Marketing Communications

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

(Carbondale)

Department of Communication Studies

• Master of Arts in Communication Studies (with Areas of Study in Gender, Sexuality, and Relational Communication, Intercultural Communication and Pedagogy, Performance Studies, and Rhetoric and Society)

Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

(Edwardsville)

Department of Applied Communication Studies

• Master of Arts in Applied Communication Studies (with Specializations in Interpersonal Communication, Corporate and Organizational Communication, Health Communication, and Public Relations)

  Interview with Sorin Nastasia, Ph.D. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Department of Mass Communications

• Master of Science in Integrative Studies - Marketing Communications

University of Illinois at Chicago

(Chicago)

Department of Communication

• Master of Arts in Communication (with Areas of Study in Media Studies, and Intercultural Diversity)

University of Illinois at Springfield

(Springfield)

School of Communication and Media

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

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

(Urbana)

Department of Communication

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

  Interview with Leanne Knobloch, Ph.D. - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Online Master of Science in Health Communication

  Interview with John C. Lammers, Ph.D. - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Gies College of Business and Sandage Department of Advertising (College of Media)

• Online Master of Science in Strategic Brand Communication

  Interview with Shachar Meron, M.S. - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Western Illinois University

(Macomb)

Department of Communication

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

  Interview with Josh Averbeck, Ph.D. - Western Illinois University