At present, only one school in Maine offers a master’s in communication program. The University of Maine’s Department of Communication and Journalism offers a campus-based Master of Arts in Communication program with areas of study in Communication and Mass Communication. For students who do not live near Orono, there are online master’s in communication programs that accept students from Maine. While many online master’s programs in communication are applied communication programs designed for students interested in careers in marketing communications, media relations, media management, public relations, or related professions, there are some online programs that prepare students for doctoral programs in communication.
The University of Maine is a public, non-profit institution that is regionally accredited through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
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Campus-Based Master’s in Communication Programs in Maine
The University of Maine’s Department of Communication and Journalism offers a Master of Arts in Communication program with areas of study in Communication and Mass Communication. Students of this program complete core courses in mass communication, research methods, and communication theory, as well as an additional research methods class of their choice in rhetorical history, rhetorical criticism, or qualitative communication research. Students then select two seminars with the approval of their Advisory Committee, which helps them to narrow their focus down further within the areas of Communication and Mass Communication. Elective courses that students can take include courses in media history, propaganda and political communication, environmental communication, media ecology, organizational communication, risk communication, contemporary issues in communication, and interpersonal communication. Students are also allowed to take up to six credits of electives outside of the Department of Communication and Journalism. All students identify a faculty advisor within their first semester; this advisor helps students to craft their program of study. By the end of their first year, students will have selected two other faculty members to comprise their Advisory Committee that oversees their progress through their courses as well as students’ culminating experience. For their culminating experience, students have a choice between a research paper and a thesis.
Online Master’s in Communication Programs for Maine Residents
For students interested in online programs, there are several out-of-state schools that offer online master’s in communication programs that accept applications from residents of Maine. Students who do not live in close proximity to the University of Maine, who cannot commute to campus for personal or professional reasons, or who wish to pursue different specializations may want to explore out-of-state online options. Prospective online students should note that not all online master’s in communication programs maybe authorized to accept students from all states. Schools with online programs seeking to enroll students outside of their home state must first obtain authorization from the states from which they would like to admit students. Therefore, students should check with admissions offices of prospective programs for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding a school’s state authorizations status and their ability to enroll students from Maine.
Another important consideration for prospective students of online programs is whether they are fully online or if they require in-person, campus visits (which may also be referred to as residencies). A limited number of online master’s in communication programs require students to attend one or more campus visits during their enrollment. The goal of these intensives is to reinforce the concepts that students learn in their courses, and to give them the opportunity to connect with course faculty and peers. As such, these intensives tend to involve such activities as in-person lectures, seminars, exams, and learning activities, as well as career development workshops or networking events. Online programs that require campus visits vary in terms of the frequency and duration of these sessions. While some programs require students to attend one campus intensive annually, or to just attend one on-campus orientation at the start of their enrollment, other programs require students to attend one or two intensives every year they are enrolled. As students are typically responsible for the travel and lodging costs associated with attending these campus intensives, they should thoroughly research any campus visit requirements of the programs that interest them prior to applying.
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