MA in Communication | Course Requirements

Curriculum Overview

Elective courses address best practices in the communication professions. The core curriculum teaches students to read and conduct applied research they can use at work. Students enrolled prior to summer 2010 may follow either the former curriculum or the current one. Students may not combine old and new requirements. Students have the option of following a thesis or non-thesis track.

Thesis Track

• Students must take a total of 10 courses.

o Research and Writing Methods
o At least two core courses from the Informing Practice through Research group
o At least one course from the Applied Research for Communication Professionals group
o Five electives
o 480.800 Thesis (required in the last semester of study): All core courses must be completed before starting Thesis. Graduation is subject to completion of the thesis course and approval of the thesis by the thesis committee. Students who do not finish their theses in one semester must register for Thesis Continuation for every subsequent semester (including summer) until they complete their degrees. Students may not take leaves of absence while completing their theses.

• Students may have to take some courses online.

Non-Thesis Track

• Students must take a total of 10 courses.

o Research and Writing Methods
o At least three core courses from

480.601 Introduction to the Digital Age
480.602 Changing Behavior through Communication
480.604 Media Effects
480.606 Persuasion
480.608 Applied Quantitative Research
480.609 Applied Qualitative Research

o Six electives

• Students may have to take some courses online.

Required Courses

• 480.600 Research and Writing Methods (required as the first graduate course)

Students who earn a C or below in a required course may not count that course toward graduation requirements. 

Core Requirements

Thesis-track students should complete their core requirements PRIOR to beginning the thesis class. Students who earn a C or below in a core course may not count that course toward core requirements.

Informing Practice through Research Group

Students must complete Research and Writing Methods before they can take a course in this group.

• 480.601 Introduction to the Digital Age
• 480.602 Changing Behavior through Communication
• 480.604 Media Effects
• 480.606 Persuasion

Applied Research for Communication Professionals Group

Students must complete Research and Writing Methods before they can take a course in this group. Students planning to use quantitative methods in their theses must take 608. Students planning to use qualitative methods in their theses must take 609.

• 480.608 Applied Quantitative Research
• 480.609 Applied Qualitative Research

Electives

Students may take electives in any of the areas listed below, regardless of concentration. Students may take up to two communication courses in other Johns Hopkins University departments, subject to the approval of the associate program chair. Students may take additional core courses as electives.

Concentrations

All students earn an MA in Communication. Students are not required to specify a concentration. Students who want a concentration may identify one, or occasionally two, of the fields listed below. A concentration requires at least three courses in an area. A single course cannot count toward two concentrations. Students who want to earn two concentrations must take six electives. Students may take electives in any area regardless of concentration. Although it is possible for online students to earn a concentration, we cannot guarantee enough courses will be available online for all concentrations.

Concentration in Public and Media Relations

• 480.629 Public Relations in the Age of Digital Influence
• 480.631 Effective Web Design and Strategy
• 480.634 Publishing and Journalism in the Digital Age
• 480.635 Communication.org: Not-for-Profits in the Digital Age
• 480.637 Using Social and Digital Media
• 480.642 CSR Communication Strategies
• 480.643 Branding and Advertising
• 480.653 Communicating for Social Change
• 480.654 Strategic Communication Program Management
• 480.657 Introduction to Public Relations
• 480.658 Public Relations Writing
• 480.659 Crisis Communication
• 480.660 Media Relations
• 480.661 International Public Relations and Public Diplomacy
• 480.662 Opinion Writing
• 480.663 Integrated Marketing Communication
• 480.665 Speech Writing
• 480.668 Understanding Markets and Audiences
• 480.669 Emergency and Risk Communication
• 480.670 Law for Communication Professionals
• 480.678 Spokesperson Development and Training
• 480.690 Communication in China
• 480.692 Public Relations and Public Affairs from a European Perspective

Concentration in Political Communication

• 480.631 Effective Web Design and Strategy
• 480.623 Political Communication Campaigns
• 480.624 Press Secretary: Theory and Practice
• 480.632 Digital Political Strategy
• 480.637 Using Social and Digital Media
• 480.658 Public Relations Writing
• 480.659 Crisis Communication
• 480.661 International Public Relations and Public Diplomacy
• 480.662 Opinion Writing
• 480.665 Speech Writing
• 480.668 Understanding Markets and Audiences
• 480.669 Emergency and Risk Communication
• 480.670 Law for Communication Professionals
• 480.671 Government Relations and Lobbying
• 480.672 Polling for Strategic Communication
• 480.675 Public Policy Management and Advocacy
• 480.677 Grassroots Communication
• 480.678 Spokesperson Development and Training
• 480.690 Communication in China
• 480.692 Public Relations and Public Affairs from a European Perspective
   

Concentration in Health Communication

Concentration in Digital Communication

Concentration in Corporate and Non-Profit Communication

Current students can check which courses that are no longer offered count for which concentration.

For a complete listing of courses see the Course Descriptions page.
For a current list of courses offered this semester see the Current Schedule.
For a list of our faculty see the Highlight on Faculty page.