About the M.A. in Communication

Overview

• Select an emphasis: Integrated Marketing Communications or Organizational Leadership & Change.

• 30 credit hours, six of which are customizable electives to your particular interests.

• Two- or three-year completion options. Can be completed in as few as 18 months.

• Courses include a mix of evening (seated), blended (seated & online), and online formats in 8- or 16- week intervals (degree program is not currently offered 100% online).

Student Experience

• Blends theoretical understanding of ethical and effective communication principles with cutting-edge knowledge of new communication technologies and social media. 

• Courses feature collaborative work with real community clients to solve real world problems in the nonprofit and corporate communities.

• Students will work closely with faculty who are drawn from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds dedicated to your success.

• Drury’s small class sizes, averaging only 15 students in a class, allows you to receive a challenging and personal learning experience.

M.A. Communication Alumni

• Projects connect students with peers, as well as various community and business leaders, creating extensive networking opportunities and life-long connections.

• Graduates hold key positions in sectors such as health technology, nonprofit management, digital marketing, development, and educational leadership.

• For more information on Drury alumni events and benefits, visit the Office of University Advancement

M.A. Communication Learning Outcomes and Assessment

1. Ethical Commitment: Graduates will demonstrate understanding of theories of effective and ethical communication and skills of ethical messaging. 
2. Conceptual Maturity: Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of major theoretical and methodological frameworks for the explanation, evaluation and improvement of human communication phenomena. 
3. Strategic Vision: Graduates will demonstrate ability to identify need, analyze opportunities, articulate vision and develop/execute appropriate strategies of integrated marketing communication and organizational leadership in multiple media. 
4. Advocacy: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to write and speak in ways that inspire internal commitment and external belief and action. 
5. Performance Measurement: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to establish and measure key performance metrics, and communicate results to stakeholders. 

As no single measure provides sufficient evidence, assessment will be accomplished on project, course and programmatic levels. Each course will have learning objectives that tie to program outcomes, along with demonstration of the relevance of each individual learning experience to accomplishing those objectives. Professional and community partners will actively participate in annual external assessments of current students’ and graduates’ achievement of program learning outcomes and likelihood of future professional and/or scholarly accomplishment.