COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Communication at University of Colorado Denver is a flexible 30-credit graduate program that combines communication theory, research, and applied professional skills through a blend of online, hybrid, and in-person learning formats. The curriculum includes five required courses and five elective courses designed to support both academic development and professional advancement. Students begin with foundational courses in communication theory, research skills, and research methods, building the analytical and methodological abilities needed for advanced communication studies. The program also includes two advanced seminars focused on specialized areas of faculty expertise such as Communication and Healing, Critical Media Studies, Communication, Culture and Technology, and Environmental Communication. In the later stages of the program, students complete either a professional project or internship experience and present their work at a final symposium, helping them connect academic learning with practical communication applications. Elective coursework allows students to customize the degree according to their interests and career goals, with opportunities to study strategic communication, health communication, digital studies, travel-based learning, and additional internships. Students may also earn specialized certificates in Strategic Communication, Health Communication, or Digital Studies through elective selections. The program’s hybrid structure is designed to support working professionals, with many courses offered online, asynchronously, through Zoom, or during evening class sessions. While much of the coursework is flexible and online-based, the degree also includes important in-person learning experiences and collaborative engagement. The program emphasizes ethical communication, civic engagement, and social responsibility while developing advanced skills in research, critical thinking, writing, digital communication, and public presentation. Graduates learn to apply communication theories to solve professional and community problems, conduct and evaluate research, communicate effectively across multiple platforms, and critically analyze communication practices. Overall, the program prepares students for careers in media, public relations, nonprofit leadership, education, advocacy, corporate communication, digital communication, and advanced doctoral study in communication and related fields.