Communication (MComm)

Communication (MComm) Overview

Chatham’s Master of Communication (MComm) is a flexible, accelerated professional degree program that equips you with a strong understanding of theory and a thorough grounding in practice to share information persuasively, reliably, and ethically in a variety of contexts and media. In addition to building skills as practitioners, you will also acquire foundations in research and theory that equip you to pursue doctoral work in communications or in a related field.

Degrees Offered

Program School

School of Arts, Science & Business

Application Deadline

Varies by Term

Fall entry: July 1
Spring entry: November 1

Applications will continue to be accepted and considered for admission as long as seats remain in the cohort.

Credits Required

30

Students who have taken graduate coursework elsewhere can transfer up to six credits into the MComm program.

Cost Per Credit

$1,017

Cost consists of program tuition (cost per credit times number of credits) as well as any applicable University and degree-specific fees.

Learning Options

Hybrid Education

The MComm a hybrid program, blending on-ground courses with select online offerings for increased flexibility.

Explore the Master of Communication Degree:

Students may select one of three tracks to pursue a specialization in: Health Communication, Environmental Communication, or Strategic Communication. Tracks consist of nine credits. All students round out their program of study with six credits of electives.

Have a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with an overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale. (Probationary admission may be granted for applicants with a GPA of less than a 3.0 who show extreme promise through their other achievements.)
Completed application for admission, including:
- Online application
- One to two page admissions essay explaining why you want to pursue a master's degree in communication and identifying your intended concentration (strategic, environmental, or health communication)
- Curriculum vita or resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Admissions Materials may be submitted to:
Chatham University
Office of Graduate Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Fax: 412-365-1609
Email

COM525: Communications Research and Theory

Course provides an overview of the major theoretical and research developments in the communications discipline. The emphasis will be on the application of theory to practice and on applied research. Topics include quantitative and qualitative research methods, research ethics, and the history of development of communication theories.

COM528: Risk and Crisis Communication

Students acquire an understanding of crisis management and risk communication. Course topics include public opinion research, data collection and analysis, crisis and risk management theory, and communication tactics and strategies. Students develop case studies relating to their areas of professional interest.

COM625: Communications Campaigns

Students explore the use of communication campaigns to effect changes in attitude and behavior. Course prepares students to develop, implement, and assess strategic campaigns. Drawing on behavior theory and communication research and theory, students work on case studies and develop original campaigns employing multiple communication channels.

View Full Curriculum

Our accelerated program allows students to focus on what really matters to employers in the field. They develop practical, specialized, current skills that serve them well in health education, sustainable communication, social marketing, and many more careers.

—KATHERINE CRUGER, Ph.D., program director

Our Faculty

Faculty members are accomplished teachers, scholars, practitioners, and active leaders in the field.

Full Faculty

Katie Cruger

Associate Professor, Communication and Program Director, Communication & Professional Writing

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Chatham offers a 20% tuition reduction through its partnerships with selected employers in the Pittsburgh area.

Yes

Internal

A limited number of research, special project, and teaching assistantships are available to help defray the cost of tuition while allowing you to earn valuable, hands-on experience. These assistantships are in the form of tuition remission and will reduce your final tuition bill. Please contact your admission counselor to learn more.

Yes

Internal

How to write a compelling grant proposal? How can we address the digital divide in healthcare communications? What’s the role of social media in non-profit campaigns? Investigate these and other best practices in strategic communication, culled by MComm students and faculty.

Yes

External

Watch Program Director Katie Cruger, PhD reflect on teaching at Chatham.

Here are some of the positions that our graduates have held: manager of marketing & engagement, <a href="https://carnegiemuseums.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh</a>; improvement specialist, <a href="https://www.upmc.com/about/why-upmc/quality/about" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Center of Quality, Safety, & Innovation at UPMC</a>; partner operations manager, <a href="https://www.google.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Google</a>; communications specialist at <a href="https://supplychain.fedex.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">FedEx Supply Chain</a>; network enablement lead, <a href="https://www.sap.com/index.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">SAP</a>.

Through<a href="https://fccchatham.squarespace.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> Flanagan Communication Consulting</a>, our student-run communication and social marketing firm, students have the opportunity to assist local nonprofit organizations with their communications strategy at the same time that they are building a robust portfolio of work.

Yes

External

Students have presented original communication research at the <a href="https://pcasite.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank" title="Pennsylvania Communication Association">Pennsylvania Communication Association</a> (PCA), <a href="https://www.natcom.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">National Communication Association</a> (NCA) and <a href="http://osclg.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender</a> (OSCLG) Conferences.

Communication (MComm)