Master of Arts in Communication Studies

Gain expertise in the areas of communication that interest you most.

Our flexible program provides rigorous, thought-provoking examinations of theory, research methods and applied practice. Designed to accommodate a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and interests, our curriculum allows you to focus on specific areas of communication, including journalism; media studies; organizational and persuasive communication; and rhetoric and public communication. You’ll be able to customize your degree to your academic needs, in consultation with your faculty advisor.


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At a Glance


36 credit hours


In person


Full or part time


Start in the fall or spring semester

Testimonials


Career Outlook for M.A. in Communication Studies Graduates

Average mid-career salary for alumni:

Top job titles for alumni:

Top employers for alumni:

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How to Apply

You can apply if you meet all the requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School.

You’ll apply through the Graduate School.

Fall Admission

  • Priority deadline: Jan. 15
    • To be eligible for priority consideration for graduate assistantship funding.
    • Late applicants may be considered, funding permitting.
  • U.S. students: July 15
    • Application will be reviewed; assistantship cannot be guaranteed.
  • International students: May 1
    • Application will be reviewed; assistantship cannot be guaranteed.

Spring Admission

  • U.S. students: Dec. 10
    • Application will be reviewed; assistantship cannot be guaranteed.
  • International students: Oct. 15
    • Application will be reviewed; assistantship cannot be guaranteed.

Application Materials

Your application materials will include:

  • At least two letters of recommendation (letters from professors are preferred)
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of purpose (less than two pages) that addresses your motivation, experiences and goals, potentially including the following:
    • Specific areas you wish to explore in our program
    • How you plan to utilize your degree after graduation
    • Unique experiences or perspectives you bring to the program
    • Why you chose NIU and our program for your studies
  • GRE scores: not required
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores: may be required for international students (read more information for international applicants)

Costs and Funding

Our competitive tuition and fees helps ensure an excellent return on the investment of your time and resources. Learn about additional funding opportunities for graduate students.

Assistantships

Assistantships are competitive and provide a tuition waiver and yearly stipend. They begin in the fall and are offered only to full-time students starting in the fall semester. Graduate assistants are assigned indirect instructional duties, typically as a COMS 100 instructor, TA for another course or the forensic team.

You’ll be invited to apply for an assistantship after you receive an admission decision from the department. To ensure full consideration, complete your application to the M.A. program by the priority deadline for fall admission.

As part of the evaluation process, you may be asked to attend an online interview with committee members.


Curriculum and Requirements

Our program requires you to:

  • Complete a thesis or nine hours of written comprehensive examinations
  • Take COMS 691: Research in Communication Studies during your first 12 hours of enrollment
  • Take at least one 600- or 700-level course from each of the department’s four areas
  • Take COMS 630: Seminar in Communication Education the first semester you hold an assistantship in the department (if applicable)

View Degree Requirements


Faculty

Our faculty bring diverse experiences and scholarship in major areas of communication: journalism; media studies; interpersonal, organizational and persuasive communication; and rhetoric and public communication. They’re committed to providing learning experiences that prepare students for career success.

More About Our Faculty


Frequently Asked Questions

Program

What are your program's areas of strength?

Our program has faculty strengths in most major areas of communication. Specifically, the department includes four areas: journalism; media studies; interpersonal, organizational and persuasive communication; and rhetoric and public communication. You will have the opportunity to take courses in all four areas. For more information about faculty interests, see  faculty. For current and recent course offerings, see  courses.

What is the comprehensive examination like?

The comprehensive examination is a nine-hour written examination (two days). Your committee will decide on the three areas of questions and prepare you for the exams. The exam is typically on the 10th week of spring semester.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The program is designed to be completed in two years. That requires you to take nine credits (three courses) per semester. You can enroll in more than nine credits in a semester (pending the advisor’s approval). The department does not recommend attempting to complete the program in less than two years.

Admissions

What criteria do you weigh most heavily in deciding whom to admit?

All aspects of an application are important. We seriously consider applicants' undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. We have found that a strong undergraduate GPA is highly predictive of success in our program. However, an especially high GPA is neither necessary nor sufficient for admission.

The statement of purpose is an important document to explain your interest, your fit with our department, your background, and your future plan. The committee members will assess the candidates’ potential to succeed in our department, and your interest fit with our curriculum and faculty. Make sure you are familiar with our programs before you put together your statement.

If English is not my native language, must I take the TOEFL?

As per the Graduate Catalog, applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. This can be demonstrated by achieving an IELTS score of 6.5, a PTE Academic score of at least 53, or a TOEFL score of at least 80. The score must be from an examination taken within 24 months prior to the start of the academic term for which admission is sought.

Alternatively, possessing a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and certain other countries is considered evidence of sufficient English proficiency for admission.

If you are already enrolled and in good academic standing at NIU, there is no need to submit English language proficiency scores.

Does my M.A. application include the assistantship application?

No, the M.A. application is through the graduate school online system. The assistantship application needs to be filed and emailed directly to the graduate director of the department. You will be invited to apply for an assistantship after you receive the admission decision. You will not be automatically considered for an assistantship unless you submit the assistantship application.

I missed the Jan. 15 priority consideration deadline. Can I still apply?

We continue to accept applications after the Jan. 15 deadline, but we can't assure them full consideration for offers of funding. The Graduate School's final application deadline for the fall semester is May 1 for international students living abroad and July 15 for applicants residing in the U.S.

Applicants and Admitted Students

When will I find out whether I've been admitted?

Fall semester: For applicants who meet the Jan. 15 priority deadline, most admissions decisions are made by early March, though in some cases a final decision may not be made until April. (Note that the department typically makes initial admissions decisions before it makes funding decisions.) For applicants who apply after the Jan. 15 priority deadline, admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, after decisions are made on applications submitted by Jan. 15.

Spring semester: The department will start the initial review after Sept. 15, and most admissions decisions will be made by the end of October.

When will I find out about funding?

After the admission decisions are made, we will reach out and invite you to apply for an assistantship. Committee members may invite you for an online interview in order to determine the assistantship offers. Our department typically starts extending funding offers in early March. However, in many cases, admitted students might receive assistantship offers either just before or even after April 15. In some instances, offers may be made as late as May.

The reason for this timing is that we often don't have a clear picture of how many students will accept our initial offers until the April 15 deadline. Consequently, we may not be able to provide you with a funding offer before that date. However, if we are in a position to make you an offer, we will communicate this to you as promptly as possible.

Furthermore, if you're waiting for our funding decision but decide to accept an offer from another program, we kindly request that you inform us as soon as possible. This consideration benefits other applicants in the process. Your timely communication is greatly appreciated!