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There are currently 16 schools in Illinois that offer a total of 29 master’s in communication programs. Of these 29 programs, 24 are campus-based programs, and four 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 and Roosevelt University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC); both programs allow students to take a number of electives according to their interests in these fields.

In DeKalb, Northern Illinois University’s Department of Communication has a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with focus areas in Media Studies, Rhetoric and Public Communication, Journalism, and Interpersonal, Organizational, and Persuasive Communication. At both its Evanston and Chicago campuses, 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. Students who enroll in the hybrid version of the IMC Professional Program attend in-person course components in Chicago. The curriculum for the IMC Professional Program is slightly different from the full-time, campus-based M.S. in IMC program.

Northwestern’s School of Communication offers a Master of Science in Health Communication and a Master of Science in Communication (MSC). The MSC program is an applied communication program that is offered in two formats: an on-campus version called the Custom Leadership program, and a Hybrid Leadership program that holds classes online but requires 3-5 campus visits for students to interact with course faculty and peers. 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 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 Department of Communication has a generalist Master of Arts in Communication that allows students to customize their program of study. 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, Human Communication Processes, and Critical/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 and a Master of Science in Mass Communications with concentrations in Professional Media Practice and Media Studies. 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. Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications offers an online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional Program, which features 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. 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.

In addition to these offerings within the state of Illinois, there are numerous out-of-state schools that offer online master’s in communication programs that enroll students residing in Illinois. This 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 a good option for any students who cannot commute to campus for weekly classes due to either personal or professional reasons.

For students interested in online programs, there are programs that are entirely online and do not require any campus visits. However, some online programs require students to attend on-campus events, also known as campus intensives. The format, length, and frequency of these campus-based sessions vary by program. For example, some online programs only require students to meet on-campus at the beginning of their enrollment for an orientation, while other programs require students to attend one or two campus intensive annually (either on-campus or at a third-party location). Due to the variances, students should thoroughly research their programs of interest to determine if they have any in-person requirements. In addition, students are typically responsible for travel and lodging expenses involved in attending these intensives, and therefore should factor these expenses into their program cost estimates and budget.

Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

Online Master's in Communication Programs that Accept Students from Illinois
Johns Hopkins University Online Master of Arts in Communication with Concentrations in Public and Media Relations, Political Communication, Health Communication, Digital Communication, and Corporate and Non-Profit Communication Program Website
University of Delaware Online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication with Optional Concentrations in Public Relations or Digital and Social Media Program Website
Butler University Online Master of Science in Strategic Communication Program Website
Southern New Hampshire University Online Master of Arts in Communication with Optional Concentrations in New Media & Marketing, and Public Relations Program Website
Georgetown University Online Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications Program Website
West Virginia University Online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications with Specializations in Creative Strategy, Data Marketing Communications, Digital and Social Media, Healthcare Communication, Higher Education Marketing, Management, and Public Relations Leadership Program Website
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All Master’s in Communication Programs in Illinois

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)

DePaul University

(Chicago)
College of Communication
College of Communication, College of Computing and Digital Media

Eastern Illinois University

(Charleston)
Department of Communication Studies

Governors State University

(University Park)
Department of Communication Media and Performing Arts

Illinois Institute of Technology

(Chicago)
Lewis College of Human Sciences - Department of Humanities

Illinois State University

(Normal)
School of Communication

Loyola University Chicago

(Chicago)
School of Communication

Northeastern Illinois University

(Chicago)
Department of Communication, Media and Theatre

Northern Illinois University

(DeKalb)
Department of Communication

Northwestern University

(Evanston)
Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
School of Communication

Roosevelt University

(Chicago)
College of Arts & Sciences

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

(Carbondale)
Department of Communication Studies

Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

(Edwardsville)
Department of Applied Communication Studies
Department of Mass Communications

University of Illinois at Chicago

(Chicago)
Department of Communication

University of Illinois at Springfield

(Springfield)
Department of Communication

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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

Western Illinois University

(Macomb)
Department of Communication