MA Communication Studies at Arizona State University

Programme overview

If you wish to advance in your existing career or pursue a new career as a communication professional, the Master of Arts program in communication studies is designed for you. With emphasis on both advocacy and social technologies, the program enables you to tailor the program to your personal goals; you can focus on topics such as interpersonal, family, organizational, sport, environmental, global and intercultural communication; social media and politics; or technology-mediated interaction.

What you will study

36 credit hours and a written comprehensive exam, or 36 credit hours including the required applied project course (CMN 593) and a written comprehensive exam, or 36 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam and a thesis Required Core (12 credit hours) CMN 502 Theory and Practice in Communication and Persuasion (3) CMN 505 Methods in Applied Communication Research (3) CMN 506 Humanistic Inquiry and Field Research in Communication (3) CMN 522 Argumentation and Advocacy (3) Electives (18-24 credit hours) Culminating Experience Options (0-6 credit hours) CMN 593 Applied Project, with written comprehensive exam (3) CMN 599 Thesis, with written comprehensive exam (6) written comprehensive examination (0) Additional Curriculum Information Electives with the CMN prefix are selected in consultation with the student's program advisor.

Career pathways

Graduates are prepared for jobs in corporate communication, journalism, mass media, social media, politics and a wide variety of other areas. Career examples: fundraising manager, human resources manager, internal communications manager, journalist, learning and development analyst, marketing account executive, consultant or research analyst, political campaign manager or speechwriter, sales account executive.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts statement of purpose three letters of recommendation an academic writing sample (preferred) or professional writing sample proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The statement of purpose should describe the applicant's educational background, scholarly interests, and academic and professional goals.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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