Master’s in Communication in North Carolina

Aspiring communications experts have a variety of schooling options in North Carolina. Seven schools offer master's in communication programs across the state, including two fully online programs that allow students to complete their coursework wherever and whenever it fits their schedule. There are also several professional concentrations to choose from, including healthcare communication, public relations, organizational communications, digital communication, and strategy, among many others, that are aimed at preparing students for the next step in their careers or doctoral programs following graduation. In addition to local newspapers, television and radio stations in Charlotte, Durham, and Winston-Salem may offer potential employment opportunities for aspiring journalists. Master's program graduates may also find job opportunities at communications companies in these cities or in one of North Carolina's significant industries of aerospace and defense, automotive, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and business and financial services. Major companies that call North Carolina home include Bank of America, Bayer, LabCorp, BB&T, Hanes Brands, Inc., and Lowe's.

Review the listings below for more information about the master's in communication programs available in North Carolina:

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

East Carolina University in Greenville offers a Master of Arts in Communication program with an emphasis on health communication.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication with an emphasis on health communication program is a 30-credit hour program that offers coursework in the theory and application of communication strategies in a healthcare setting. The program offers thesis and non-thesis options.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition and fees for the fall 2018 semester are $3,742 for full-time students who are North Carolina residents and $10,317 for non-residents who are full-time students.

Anything Else?: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with June 1 the deadline for consideration for the fall and October 15 for consideration for the spring semester.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

North Carolina State University in Raleigh offers a Master of Science in Communication program in an on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Science in Communication program is a 36-credit hour program that allows students to specialize in various areas of communication, including public relations, organizational communication, cultural studies, mediated communication, interpersonal communication, and digital media.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year is $5,747 semester for North Carolina residents taking 9 or more credits, and $13,991 for non-residents who are taking 9 or more credits.

Anything Else?: The application deadline for admission to the program is February 1.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - GREENSBORO

The University of North Carolina in Greensboro offers a Master of Arts in Communication program in an on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is a 30-credit hour program that prepares students for Ph.D. programs or professional careers in various areas of communication. The program culminates in a capstone, or independent research project, that reflects their personal interests and areas of expertise.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition and fees for the fall 2018 semester is $3,739 for North Carolina residents taking 9 credits per semester and $10,598 for non-residents taking 9 credits per semester.

Anything Else?: To be considered for fall admission and an assistantship, applications must be submitted by February 15. The final application deadline for the fall is April 1. For spring admission, applications must be submitted by October 1.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL

The University of North Carolina in Greensboro offers a Master of Arts in Media & Communication program in an on-campus format, as well as a fully online Master of Arts in Digital Communication program.

What to Know: The on-campus Master of Arts in Media & Communication program is a two-year program in which students can specialize their study in journalism, strategic communication, visual communication, theory and research and interdisciplinary health communication.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year are $8,273 per semester for North Carolina residents and $16,299 per semester for non-residents.

Anything Else?: The program enrolls new students in the fall semester only. The application opens in early August and the application deadline is December 11.

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY

Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem offers a Master's in Communication program in a traditional on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master's in Communication program is a four-semester generalist program that includes two research methods courses and the rest of the coursework are communications elective seminars. The program culminates in a thesis or comprehensive exam.

What Does It Cost?: Full-time graduate-level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $38,650 for both North Carolina residents and non-residents.

Anything Else?: The application deadline is January 15 for admission in the fall semester. Later applications are welcomed until the class is finalized.

Charlotte Master’s in Communication Programs

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE

Queens University of Charlotte offers a Master of Arts in Communication program in an online or on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is a 36-credit hour program that allows students to customize their degrees by taking 18 credit hours of electives that suit their interests. The program also offers an optional concentration in Integrated Digital Strategy.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $825 per credit hour for the Master of Arts in Communication program.

Anything Else?: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHARLOTTE

The University of North Carolina in Charlotte offers a Master of Arts in Communication program in an on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is a generalist program that allows students to tailor their coursework to their particular interests. The 30-credit hour program culminates in either a thesis, directed project or a comprehensive examination.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year is $3,784 per semester for North Carolina residents taking 9 or more credits and $10,501 per semester for non-residents taking 9 or more credits.

Anything Else?: The program admits new students for the fall semester only. The priority application deadline is January 15 for early decisions and to be considered for an assistantship. The final application deadline is March 1.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in North Carolina

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE

Queens University of Charlotte offers a Master of Arts in Communication program with an optional concentration in Integrated Digital Strategy as a fully online program. To learn more about the online Master of Arts in Communication program at Queens University of Charlotte, click here.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL

The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill offers an online Master of Arts in Digital Communication program that is a two-year, part-time program in which students complete nine courses over two years and spend the final semester working one-on-one with a faculty member on a comprehensive project. For more information about the University of North Carolina's online program, click here.

North Carolina Colleges That Offer Accredited Master's in Communications Programs