Kansas has six schools that offer a total of nine master’s in communication programs, seven of which are campus-based and two of which are online. Across these programs’ offerings, students have a choice to specialize in areas such as organizational communication, public relations, mass communication, and political communication. All the schools listed on this page are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and are non-profit universities.
Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Kansas
Fort Hays State University’s College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Department of Communication Studies offers a Master of Science in Communication Studies with options for a General course of study as well as an Organizational Communication course of study. Students who pursue the General track take classes in persuasion, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, general semantics, organizational communication leadership, and conflict management. While the General track does have options for courses in organizational communication, the Organizational Communication track focuses on topics within organizational communication more deeply, and courses in this concentration cover topics in management through communication, interviewing strategies, human resources communication, and organizational culture and climate.
Kansas State University’s A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies program that provides students with a strong understanding of the theory, methods, and history of communication, as well as knowledge of how to optimize communications for corporate, political, interpersonal, health-related, and other contexts. Classes students may take in this program cover topics in communication and technology, communication research, community building rhetoric, leadership communication, and intercultural communication.
The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications also offers a Master of Science in Mass Communications with Focus Areas in Strategic Communications, Health and Science Communication, and Mass Communication. Students in this program take core classes in communication theory, research methods, and applied research in mass communication and mass media before progressing to electives that they select in collaboration with an academic advisor.
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Pittsburg State University offers a flexible Master of Arts in Communication degree program that enables students to design their course of study according to their academic and professional interests. Students in the program complete core classes in mass communication theory and human communication, as well as the principles of graduate study and research, before taking classes in more specialized areas such as mass media management, editorial writing, media analysis, international communication, and organizational communication.
The University of Kansas’ Department of Communication offers Master of Arts in Communication Studies programs at both its Lawrence and Edwards campuses. While the program at the Edwards Campus offers a single emphasis in Organizational Communication, the program offered in Lawrence allows students to select from areas of emphasis in Relationships and Social Interaction, and Rhetoric and Political Communication. Students in this program take classes in organizational communication, communication leadership, corporate training, interpersonal communication, and communication technology.
Wichita State University’s Elliot School of Communication offers a Master of Arts in Communication that prepares students for careers across a wide variety of communication-related fields. Core courses in this program cover topics such as the fundamentals of communication research, qualitative and qualitative research methodologies, contemporary communication theory, the history of communication, and rhetorical analysis and criticism. Students can then choose electives from the Elliot School’s offerings, and also have the option to take courses outside of the department with the approval of their advisor. Students must also fulfill a graduation requirement that consists of a master’s thesis, a professional project, or 21 additional credits’ worth of coursework.
Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Kansas
At present, two schools in Kansas offer online master’s in communication programs. Kansas State University offers a 100% online version of its Master of Science in Mass Communication. This program has the same curriculum and Focus Area options that the campus-based program has in Strategic Communication, Health and Science Communication, and Mass Communication. In addition, Washburn University’s Communication Studies Department offers an online Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership that prepares students for leadership roles in strategic and collaborative communication. This program is comprised of ten courses that students take in sequence, and which cover topics in systems leadership, resource stewardship, organizational improvement and innovation, public policy and global leadership, conflict management and negotiation, team and organizational communication, and persuasion. For their culminating experience, students complete a capstone project through which they apply what they learned in their courses to a concrete deliverable that helps prepare them for their career advancement post-graduation.
There are several out-of-state schools with accredited online master’s in communication programs that accept students who are residents of Kansas. These online programs may be good options for students who do not live near a campus-based program (for example students who live in Western and Southwestern Kansas), or who do not want to relocate for graduate school. Prospective students should note that not all online programs accept students from all 50 states. Therefore, students should consult the admissions offices of their schools of interest to get the most up-to-date information regarding whether or not they accept students from Kansas.
Furthermore, students should note that while many online master’s in communication programs are 100% online, others may require students to attend one or more campus visits during their enrollment. Campus visits, also known as campus intensives, are typically multi-day events on the program’s main campus, or at another designated location, during which students interact with program faculty and classmates during in-person lectures and discussions, practical exams or hands-on activities, and career development events. While some programs may only require one visit throughout the program, others may require students to attend one or more of these sessions every year they are in the program. Due to these variations in requirements, students should thoroughly research the online programs they are interested in to determine their campus visit requirements.
Directory of Master’s in Communication Programs in Kansas
| Online Master's in Communication Programs that Accept Students from Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Drake University | Online Master of Arts in Communication with Tracks in Communication Leadership, Brand Communication, and Public Affairs and Advocacy | Program Website |
| Maryville University | Online Master's in Strategic Communication and Leadership with an Optional Concentration in Emerging & Digital Media | Program Website |
| Georgetown University | Online Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications | Program Website |
All Master’s in Communication Programs in Kansas
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)
