Edwards Campus Masters Program

The Master of Arts in Communication Studies is designed to help you understand and explore the extensive and powerful role communication plays in organizations, teams and interpersonal relationships. The program's coursework will help you develop greater proficiency in writing, speaking, critical reading and group interaction to improve your own communication abilities. A degree in Communication Studies will enhance your competency in a dimension critical to success in any work environment, even if you change careers.

Organizational Communication

The Communication Studies program at the KU Edwards Campus is focused in the area of organizational communication, exploring the role of messages, language, emotions and symbols in creating and sustaining organizations. In particular, courses examine the networks and cultures that are created and reflected through communication processes and the role of communication in organizational effectiveness. This includes interactions between superiors and subordinates, among team and group members, and with stakeholders and other constituents. Organizational communication also examines how organizations use and misuse technology and how they use rhetorical strategies to persuade their members and publics.

In addition to learning from faculty who are recognized as topical experts and outstanding educators in their field, students in this program benefit from the breadth of experience and wide-ranging backgrounds of their peers in the classroom. This creates lively and meaningful class discussions, and often leads to relationships that last well beyond the program.

Who will benefit from the degree?

• Those who know the "subject" of their jobs but want additional tools and knowledge to enhance their work performance.
• Those who seek leadership and management positions and want a degree that will set them apart from the crowd.
• Those who want to be challenged - who are invigorated by critical thinking, analysis and lively discussion.
• Those who sense communication is at the heart of the human experience and seek to better understand that experience.
• Those who recognize the advantages of having a degree from KU, including the national reputation, alumni network and career services.

A schedule designed for working adults

• All Communication Studies classes at the Edwards Campus meet on a weekday night (Monday-Thursday).
• During spring and fall semesters, each class meets for three hours, one night a week for 15 weeks.
• During the shorter summer session, classes meet two nights per week.

Student Testimonials

"Throughout my educational career, I have never had an experience that compares to KU. Rock-chalk, baby!" Robert Vogelaar, Graduate, Communication Studies  

"Being able to work at my own pace has helped me balance multiple responsibilities and commitments." Laura Schopp, Graduate, Communication Studies  

"Communication forms the foundation for every other human discipline - find another degree that can boast that!" Shawn Sheffler, Graduate, Communication Studies  

"I was particularly fascinated by the organizational communication topics, which so closely paralled issues I was facing at work." Ruth Stricklen Pullins, Graduate, Communication Studies  

"I wanted knowledge and skills I would actually use on a daily basis. I saw the potential for those things in the study of communication." Steve Minshall, Graduate, Communication Studies  

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Please contact us if you are thinking about applying. We'd love to speak with you more about the program and answer any questions you have.

Dr. Tracy C. Russo, Edwards Campus Program Director
785-864-9877
trusso@ku.edu

Rebecca Cates
(913) 897-8510
rjcates@ku.edu

*For information about the COMS graduate program at the Edwards Campus, visit the Edwards Campus Web site.